Page 14 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 54

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Sports Energy Asks Our Local Club Pros

Greater Cornwall & Areas Community Sports Newspaper
Hello Club Pro’s, I have been out on the putting green and seemed to have developed
a bad habit. For some reason I have started to “Double Hit” the ball on some of my putts.
What can I do to correct this? Also, If I do it during a game, does it count as two strokes?

Robyn Campbell Tristan Holder

PGA of Canada
Head Golf Professional

have some good news and some ouble Hits are caused when the
have some good news and some
I bad news. The bad news is that yes, D
I bad news. The bad news is that yes,
Dclub face passes the hands on the
unfortunately it is a one-stroke penalty for
unfortunately it is a one-stroke penalty for downswing and follow-through. To
downswing and follow-through. To
double hitting your ball, even if it occurs
double hitting your ball, even if it occurs
on the putting green, but the good news reduce the number of strokes made on
is that it can be corrected easily! The the green from double hitting the ball,
issue that may be causing the double- we are going to be sure that, at impact,
hit is the speed of your follow-through. our bottom hand (conventional grip) is is
hit is the speed of your follow-through.
our bottom hand (conventional grip)
By speeding up your follow-through, you pressing forward ahead of the club face on
By speeding up your follow-through, you
pressing forward ahead of the club face on
may make improper contact either with the
may make improper contact either with the
the downswing through impact. This will
ground before the ball or on the ball itself, the downswing through impact. This will
ground before the ball or on the ball itself,
causing the double-hit. To avoid this, try to make a nice clean ensure the club face stays behind the ball longer, allowing
putting stroke by keeping your back-stroke and follow-through the ball roll out to the target. If a double hit occurs, the player
at a steady and equal pace. To practise this, head to the practice must count the stroke and add a penalty stroke, making two
green before your round and hit a few balls while paying close strokes in all. Final thought: to remove ‘double hitting’ from
attention to how fast your back-stroke and follow through are. Upper Canada Golf Course 613-543-2003 uppercanada.com

Try to keep the stroke at a steady pace while keeping your eye your golf vocabulary, always be sure to make a confident strike
on the ball. Eventually your putting stroke will improve, and the through the ball, keeping the bottom hand ahead of the club face
double-hits will be eliminated! through impact.

Carol Ann Campbell Allen McNairn

LPGA Class “A” Pro Shop Manager

Teaching Professional

F irst of the all the penalty - it’s one shot T wo things could cause this
Ffor striking the ball more than once so
your actual putt, plus the penalty makes
your actual putt, plus the penalty makes Tissue. The fi rst could be your
ball position is too far back in your
ball position is too far back in your
two strokes in all.
Secondly, although double hitting a putt stance. Also if you are hitting the
is not all that common (it’s much more ball with a downward stroke this
common to double hit a chip shot) it
may also cause a double hit. To
may also cause a double hit. To
sure can play with your confi dence when
sure can play with your confidence when
correct either issue, move the ball
you have the short stick in your hand. correct either issue, move the ball
you have the short stick in your hand.
Sometimes this can happen when we get too forward in your stance, this should
Sometimes this can happen when we get too
forward in your stance, this should
much focus on the follow-through. When you force the follow-

solve the problem. Head to the putting green to find
through you may be accelerating faster than the ball is travelling
toward the hole and in fact, you hit the ball a second time. I’m your best position to hitting the ball square.
not normally one to promote a “pop” motion when putting but And yes if you double hit the ball, it counts as 2 strokes.
certainly if you are plagued with double-hitting putts it would
A quick stop at the practice green prior to your game
certainly be worth practising with an abbreviated follow-through -
hence “popping” the putting into the back of the ball. will help your scores all season long.

Cornwall Golf 613-931-1300 cornwallgolf.com