The Ultimate Touch ®

Developing the Ultimate Touch® Putting Stroke

Most golf experts agree that the ideal putting stroke emulates a pendulum. Based on the composite of 19 professional golfers, research has shown about a 1 to 1.5 length ratio of backswing to follow through. In other words, the follow through is at least 50% longer than the backswing. Using this knowledge (coupled with a few other principles) you can develop consistent distance control through regular exercise using a simple training device I designed - I call it the Ultimate Touch®. Diligent practice using the Ultimate Touch® guarantees that you will own four repeatable distances between 4 - 32 feet (assumes flat green, stimp reading ~ 9.) Once these four distances are learned and internalized with repeatability, all other length putts between these landmark distances become just minor adjustments (allowing for various green speeds/slopes.)

THE ULTIMATE TOUCH®
THE ULTIMATE TOUCH

    Here's what you will need to build your Ultimate Touch®:
  • 36" yardstick (metal if possible so it won't warp)
  • Metronome (preferably an electronic portable model)
  • Post-It Flags (5 color arrow shape pack)
  • Commitment to practice about an hour a week.
Dr. Beat DB-12 MetronomePost-it Flags

  1. Mark up a 36" yardstick with Post-It flags using the 4 colors as shown below.

    01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36                    
    <=== <=== <=== <=== | ===> ===> ===> ===>

  2. Set a metronome to a comfortable natural tempo. I found 68 beats per minute to be right for me.

  3. Begin practice with a good setup by placing your feet about a 12" apart and 10" to the side of the Ultimate Touch®. Set your putter head perpendicular to the center marker at red 15 .

  4. Next, match the metronome clicks by swinging your putter straight back and forth directly over the Ultimate Touch® using the exercises below. Do not use a ball with this drill until your backswing and follow through can match up the beat of the metronome to the color you are using. Observe your swing by using your peripheral vision only - keep your head and body still. Make sure the putter head is perpendicular to the Ultimate Touch® throughout the entire swing. It is essential, regardless of the color you're working with, that each swing takes the same amount of time!

ULTIMATE TOUCH®
Exercises
Start at red 15 then
swing back and forth with same tempo...
A. from red 9 to red 25~ 4 foot putt
B. from yellow 7 to yellow 29~ 8 foot putt
C. from blue 4 to blue 33~ 16 foot putt
D. from purple 0 to purple 39~ 32 foot putt

The Ultimate Touch® can also be used to help build a putting routine using a 4 beat sequence. Count 1-2-3-4 aloud until you can synchronize yourself along with your metronome setting. Choose any of the exercises (A, B, C or D) based on the length you want to practice. Remember to always start with your putter at the red 15 center, for example:

Practice the 4 beat sequence along with the metronome by swinging your putter directly over the Ultimate Touch®. After 3 practice strokes, move in and place the putter behind the ball. Try the putt within the next 4 counts. Set a goal of putting about 10 of the same brand balls into a tight pile before moving on to the next color. It is imperative that your focus remains on swinging the putter head from color-to-color... the ball just gets in the way of the swing! Try all the exercises with each of the remaining colors.

By using a pendulum like stroke with these exercises, you will produce consistent ball distances for each of the colors on the Ultimate Touch®. Be very careful not add additional force to the putt with your body or hand muscles. On a flat green, balls putted from each of the four different colors will result in a distance separation X factor that doubles, i.e., Red=X, Yellow=2X, Blue=4X, Purple=8X.

Send your comments to Roy SeGuine - enjoy, and may all your putts take 2 strokes or less!