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Tyler Ferrell is the only person in the world named to Golf Digest's list of Best Young Teachers in America AND its list of Best Golf Fitness Professionals in America.

Understanding Putting Aids: When and How to Use Them

After this video, you'll be able to:

  • Identify the limitations of using training aids in your putting practice.
  • Learn how to use putting aids as a feedback tool rather than a crutch.
  • Develop a better feel for your putting stroke by comparing practice with and without aids.

In this video, you'll learn the appropriate use of putting training aids and how they can enhance your feel for putting. Discover why reliance on these tools can hinder your development and how to use them effectively for feedback.

Video Transcript
WEBVTT

1
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.320
I get a lot of questions about things like the putting arc and training aids

2
00:00:04.320 --> 00:00:05.020
for putting.

3
00:00:05.020 --> 00:00:11.770
And as you've noticed, most of these drills, I'm not very fond of training aids

4
00:00:11.770 --> 00:00:12.600
in general.

5
00:00:12.600 --> 00:00:16.040
And the reason is, it's kind of like having the answer sheet sitting next to

6
00:00:16.040 --> 00:00:16.440
you while

7
00:00:16.440 --> 00:00:18.980
you're taking a test.

8
00:00:18.980 --> 00:00:22.600
It can be good in the very early stages of learning, but I've seen way too many

9
00:00:22.600 --> 00:00:23.220
players,

10
00:00:23.220 --> 00:00:27.910
especially juniors, get obsessed with being good on a training aid and not

11
00:00:27.910 --> 00:00:28.860
developing a

12
00:00:28.860 --> 00:00:31.920
proper feel or using it correctly.

13
00:00:31.920 --> 00:00:37.260
So training aids should be used as a feedback tool, potentially after the fact.

14
00:00:37.260 --> 00:00:41.940
So here I've got a, I'll show you what I mean by after the fact.

15
00:00:41.940 --> 00:00:45.510
Here I've got the learning curve, which is similar to the putting arc, it's

16
00:00:45.510 --> 00:00:45.940
stand at

17
00:00:45.940 --> 00:00:46.940
least training device.

18
00:00:46.940 --> 00:00:47.940
I like it.

19
00:00:47.940 --> 00:00:51.660
I think it's a pretty good, pretty good little tool.

20
00:00:51.660 --> 00:00:57.410
So if I was having trouble making a good arcing motion with my body connection

21
00:00:57.410 --> 00:00:58.500
and stuff,

22
00:00:58.500 --> 00:01:02.760
I would, I would take some strokes just letting the heel of the putter kind of

23
00:01:02.760 --> 00:01:03.500
slide along

24
00:01:03.500 --> 00:01:06.980
this arc or on this incline plane.

25
00:01:06.980 --> 00:01:10.680
And because it's on an incline plane, the putter moves in along the arc, just

26
00:01:10.680 --> 00:01:11.140
like the

27
00:01:11.140 --> 00:01:12.460
putting arc.

28
00:01:12.460 --> 00:01:16.150
But I prefer this to the putting arc because the putting arc is straight up and

29
00:01:16.150 --> 00:01:16.820
down where

30
00:01:16.820 --> 00:01:19.540
this one is on the actual swing plane.

31
00:01:19.540 --> 00:01:23.180
So I would then use this as a feedback tool.

32
00:01:23.180 --> 00:01:29.880
So I might step away from the object and hit a few putts and then step over to

33
00:01:29.880 --> 00:01:30.900
the object

34
00:01:30.900 --> 00:01:34.820
and say, okay, that felt about the same.

35
00:01:34.820 --> 00:01:40.110
Rather than setting up the ball on the actual learning curve and hitting putts

36
00:01:40.110 --> 00:01:41.140
with it forcing

37
00:01:41.140 --> 00:01:44.370
me to do it correctly, if you have an object that's forcing you to do it

38
00:01:44.370 --> 00:01:45.220
correctly, I can

39
00:01:45.220 --> 00:01:49.340
guarantee you that it's not going to transfer onto the course.

40
00:01:49.340 --> 00:01:53.350
There's a lot of research in motor learning that says that does not transfer

41
00:01:53.350 --> 00:01:54.300
very well.

42
00:01:54.300 --> 00:01:58.660
But this one's fun because I like it both as the incline plane.

43
00:01:58.660 --> 00:02:03.620
And actually more specifically, I like the arc on the inside.

44
00:02:03.620 --> 00:02:08.420
So you can take a look here and basically there are lines that show the angle

45
00:02:08.420 --> 00:02:08.940
that the

46
00:02:08.940 --> 00:02:14.330
putter face would be if it is square to this normal curve for, I believe it's a

47
00:02:14.330 --> 00:02:15.420
68 degree

48
00:02:15.420 --> 00:02:22.090
putter, I could be very wrong on that though, but basically if you were to set

49
00:02:22.090 --> 00:02:23.020
up to this

50
00:02:23.020 --> 00:02:29.280
like so and make a proper stroke on the way through, this would show you the

51
00:02:29.280 --> 00:02:29.900
angle that

52
00:02:29.900 --> 00:02:31.300
the putter face should be at.

53
00:02:31.300 --> 00:02:36.040
So again, I'm not a big fan of hitting a ton of putts on it, but if I was to

54
00:02:36.040 --> 00:02:36.580
hit some

55
00:02:36.580 --> 00:02:42.460
putts over here and then come forward and just use it as a check, well it'll be

56
00:02:42.460 --> 00:02:43.060
a very

57
00:02:43.060 --> 00:02:47.570
good tool for helping you fine-tune if your putter face and putter path are

58
00:02:47.570 --> 00:02:48.380
correct.

59
00:02:48.380 --> 00:02:51.590
But I don't think it's a great tool for learning them, I think it's a great

60
00:02:51.590 --> 00:02:52.780
tool for fine-tuning

61
00:02:52.780 --> 00:02:56.140
them once you kind of have a good idea of what you should be doing.

62
00:02:56.140 --> 00:03:00.150
So use the drills that I showed you in order to build your repeatable putter

63
00:03:00.150 --> 00:03:00.820
face and putter

64
00:03:00.820 --> 00:03:04.020
path, but then you can use objects like the learning curve or the putting arc

65
00:03:04.020 --> 00:03:04.500
if you really

66
00:03:04.500 --> 00:03:09.900
want to confirm that what you're doing is as specific and as detailed as you

67
00:03:09.900 --> 00:03:10.540
need it

68
00:03:10.540 --> 00:03:11.540
to be.

69
00:03:11.540 --> 00:03:14.340
So that's my take on the putting training aids, not a huge fan but if you're

70
00:03:14.340 --> 00:03:14.860
going to use

71
00:03:14.860 --> 00:03:16.340
them, that's how I would use them.

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Tyler Ferrell is the only person in the world named to Golf Digest's list of Best Young Teachers in America AND its list of Best Golf Fitness Professionals in America.

Understanding Putting Aids: When and How to Use Them

After this video, you'll be able to:

  • Identify the limitations of using training aids in your putting practice.
  • Learn how to use putting aids as a feedback tool rather than a crutch.
  • Develop a better feel for your putting stroke by comparing practice with and without aids.

In this video, you'll learn the appropriate use of putting training aids and how they can enhance your feel for putting. Discover why reliance on these tools can hinder your development and how to use them effectively for feedback.

Video Transcript
WEBVTT

1
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.320
I get a lot of questions about things like the putting arc and training aids

2
00:00:04.320 --> 00:00:05.020
for putting.

3
00:00:05.020 --> 00:00:11.770
And as you've noticed, most of these drills, I'm not very fond of training aids

4
00:00:11.770 --> 00:00:12.600
in general.

5
00:00:12.600 --> 00:00:16.040
And the reason is, it's kind of like having the answer sheet sitting next to

6
00:00:16.040 --> 00:00:16.440
you while

7
00:00:16.440 --> 00:00:18.980
you're taking a test.

8
00:00:18.980 --> 00:00:22.600
It can be good in the very early stages of learning, but I've seen way too many

9
00:00:22.600 --> 00:00:23.220
players,

10
00:00:23.220 --> 00:00:27.910
especially juniors, get obsessed with being good on a training aid and not

11
00:00:27.910 --> 00:00:28.860
developing a

12
00:00:28.860 --> 00:00:31.920
proper feel or using it correctly.

13
00:00:31.920 --> 00:00:37.260
So training aids should be used as a feedback tool, potentially after the fact.

14
00:00:37.260 --> 00:00:41.940
So here I've got a, I'll show you what I mean by after the fact.

15
00:00:41.940 --> 00:00:45.510
Here I've got the learning curve, which is similar to the putting arc, it's

16
00:00:45.510 --> 00:00:45.940
stand at

17
00:00:45.940 --> 00:00:46.940
least training device.

18
00:00:46.940 --> 00:00:47.940
I like it.

19
00:00:47.940 --> 00:00:51.660
I think it's a pretty good, pretty good little tool.

20
00:00:51.660 --> 00:00:57.410
So if I was having trouble making a good arcing motion with my body connection

21
00:00:57.410 --> 00:00:58.500
and stuff,

22
00:00:58.500 --> 00:01:02.760
I would, I would take some strokes just letting the heel of the putter kind of

23
00:01:02.760 --> 00:01:03.500
slide along

24
00:01:03.500 --> 00:01:06.980
this arc or on this incline plane.

25
00:01:06.980 --> 00:01:10.680
And because it's on an incline plane, the putter moves in along the arc, just

26
00:01:10.680 --> 00:01:11.140
like the

27
00:01:11.140 --> 00:01:12.460
putting arc.

28
00:01:12.460 --> 00:01:16.150
But I prefer this to the putting arc because the putting arc is straight up and

29
00:01:16.150 --> 00:01:16.820
down where

30
00:01:16.820 --> 00:01:19.540
this one is on the actual swing plane.

31
00:01:19.540 --> 00:01:23.180
So I would then use this as a feedback tool.

32
00:01:23.180 --> 00:01:29.880
So I might step away from the object and hit a few putts and then step over to

33
00:01:29.880 --> 00:01:30.900
the object

34
00:01:30.900 --> 00:01:34.820
and say, okay, that felt about the same.

35
00:01:34.820 --> 00:01:40.110
Rather than setting up the ball on the actual learning curve and hitting putts

36
00:01:40.110 --> 00:01:41.140
with it forcing

37
00:01:41.140 --> 00:01:44.370
me to do it correctly, if you have an object that's forcing you to do it

38
00:01:44.370 --> 00:01:45.220
correctly, I can

39
00:01:45.220 --> 00:01:49.340
guarantee you that it's not going to transfer onto the course.

40
00:01:49.340 --> 00:01:53.350
There's a lot of research in motor learning that says that does not transfer

41
00:01:53.350 --> 00:01:54.300
very well.

42
00:01:54.300 --> 00:01:58.660
But this one's fun because I like it both as the incline plane.

43
00:01:58.660 --> 00:02:03.620
And actually more specifically, I like the arc on the inside.

44
00:02:03.620 --> 00:02:08.420
So you can take a look here and basically there are lines that show the angle

45
00:02:08.420 --> 00:02:08.940
that the

46
00:02:08.940 --> 00:02:14.330
putter face would be if it is square to this normal curve for, I believe it's a

47
00:02:14.330 --> 00:02:15.420
68 degree

48
00:02:15.420 --> 00:02:22.090
putter, I could be very wrong on that though, but basically if you were to set

49
00:02:22.090 --> 00:02:23.020
up to this

50
00:02:23.020 --> 00:02:29.280
like so and make a proper stroke on the way through, this would show you the

51
00:02:29.280 --> 00:02:29.900
angle that

52
00:02:29.900 --> 00:02:31.300
the putter face should be at.

53
00:02:31.300 --> 00:02:36.040
So again, I'm not a big fan of hitting a ton of putts on it, but if I was to

54
00:02:36.040 --> 00:02:36.580
hit some

55
00:02:36.580 --> 00:02:42.460
putts over here and then come forward and just use it as a check, well it'll be

56
00:02:42.460 --> 00:02:43.060
a very

57
00:02:43.060 --> 00:02:47.570
good tool for helping you fine-tune if your putter face and putter path are

58
00:02:47.570 --> 00:02:48.380
correct.

59
00:02:48.380 --> 00:02:51.590
But I don't think it's a great tool for learning them, I think it's a great

60
00:02:51.590 --> 00:02:52.780
tool for fine-tuning

61
00:02:52.780 --> 00:02:56.140
them once you kind of have a good idea of what you should be doing.

62
00:02:56.140 --> 00:03:00.150
So use the drills that I showed you in order to build your repeatable putter

63
00:03:00.150 --> 00:03:00.820
face and putter

64
00:03:00.820 --> 00:03:04.020
path, but then you can use objects like the learning curve or the putting arc

65
00:03:04.020 --> 00:03:04.500
if you really

66
00:03:04.500 --> 00:03:09.900
want to confirm that what you're doing is as specific and as detailed as you

67
00:03:09.900 --> 00:03:10.540
need it

68
00:03:10.540 --> 00:03:11.540
to be.

69
00:03:11.540 --> 00:03:14.340
So that's my take on the putting training aids, not a huge fan but if you're

70
00:03:14.340 --> 00:03:14.860
going to use

71
00:03:14.860 --> 00:03:16.340
them, that's how I would use them.

Have questions about this video?

Ask Mulligan for personalized guidance on technique, drills, or how to apply what you've learned.

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