Dan Frost is a leading golf coach and gives golfers of all ability the chance to improve their games by offering free, first golf lesson to all golfers.
Frost uses innovative coaching and video analyses to help break down golfers problems. As well as this, he has his own Youtube channel featuring hundreds of golf instruction and tip videos.
Here he shows a new putting technique which can help improve golfers scores and how to avoid the anchored putter scandal.
The Arm Lock – Adopting a grip that keeps hands and arms quiet
Arm locking is a method very similar to the style of putting used by PGA Tour player Matt Kuchar. The concept involves using slightly longer-than-standard shafted putter with a fractionally increased loft.
The key to this technique is that as you complete the grip by using your right hand to apply the pressure. Doing this forces the butt-end of the grip touches and maintains contact with your left forearm.
Constantly connecting with the forearm will encourage the hands to remain passive to the extent that they become passengers. You control the stroke by smoothly rocking the shoulders back and through, while keeping the head still.
The Technique
Slightly turn your left hand and run the grip high through the palm of left hand. Then wrap your fingers, holding the lock in nicely.
Apply your right hand parallel to the grip and place your right thumb on centre at the top of the shaft. Then grip slightly push the butt-end of the grip against the inner part of your forearm to create a gentle pressure on the grip
Embracing Change
Before you set about changing your putting stroke, it is important to understand how change occurs when we are actively engaged in changing habit or technique.
Why is this important?
Well, to make it a lasting change you have to create a new pathway and then condition and strengthen it. You have to do this so the new pathway becomes stronger than the old one.
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Golf is played between the ears and any change that is made has to start within the brain.
If you want to enjoy real success when changing techniques you need to associate the technique with a good feeling. Simply smiling while putting with the new technique will have a positive impact.
Have you ever looked at players practising their putting stroke and wondered why they have an iPod on their belt with their earphones in?
Well the reason for this is that playing music is another technique that can be used to create a positive feeling while practising a new technique.
A new technique to help improve your anchor putting
To help feel like you are activating your shoulders try opening up your left hand so the thumb and the palm have no contact with the handle.
This will help improve the fluidity of your putting stroke. It does this by encouraging your shoulders to govern the tempo of the stroke.
This technique is great for relaxing grip pressure, to the point that you may even try this technique on the course.
The Body Anchor & Quiet Hands Drill
One of the most overlooked aspects of putting is our connection with the ground.
You would be astonished how many players start with their weight predominantly on their right side and the amount of excessive weight shift occurs throughout the stroke.
Think of your set up like a sky scrapper. If the foundation moves, the top floor will sway.
Drill
You need to select a club that reaches your belt buckle or hip, this is normally your 6 or 7 iron. then carefully secure the butt e of the club under your belt as you take your stance.
Make strokes back and through, focusing on keeping the shaft still. Work on this for several minutes and then remove the club and try and feel the same rock-solid stroke in regular action.
This will help keep the right hand maintains that pressure to keep the butt-end on the left forearm throughout.
The body will also stay nice and still the more you practice the technique and will help you control your left side to stop the right side dominating the putting stroke.
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