Rolling a tyre

When swinging a regular golf club, we are always encouraged to swing down to ball in a descending blow. However, whilst this principle may ring true for 13 of the 14 clubs in the bag, Gareth Johnston encourages a rather different philosophy with the putter, suggesting its best to swing up.

By using the analogy of a rolling tyre, it’s clear to see that in order to get it to roll, you have to push through the tyre and not at it. The same principle applies in putting a golf ball, and the best way to get through it, is to putt up at it. By swinging up at the ball, you are less likely to produce an inconsistent jabbing stroke and more likely to get the ball rolling towards the hole at the correct speed.