TOUR TECHNIQUE
Stalk Your Putts Get over the ball thinking, This is going in BY PATRICK CANTLAY
CONFIDENCE breeds success in putting. When I’m confident in my mechanics, putter and
process, and locked in on making the best stroke possible, I’m surprised when a putt doesn’t go in. My advice on how to hole more putts is to start with a smart and efficient pre-shot routine. This includes “stalk- ing” your putts. Walk around the green to get a sense for the contouring and speed of the putt and how much the ball will break before you get over it. The more information you process, the more your confidence will grow. Then get comfortable at address. (I often take little steps with my feet until I feel set.) From there, let the energy of your stroke flow into the ball. No mat- ter how far you want the ball to roll, the interaction between the putterface and ball should always be smooth. Don’t worry about the length of your follow-through; the only thing that changes is the length of the stroke into the ball. Make sure to turn off all me- chanical thoughts when you’re stand- ing over the putt. Trust that your inner athlete knows how to roll it to the hole. – WITH MIKE STACHURA
34 GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2026
PHOTOGRAPH BY JENSEN LARSON
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