Pendulum Putting Stroke: Stop Missing Short Putts

Struggling with inconsistent putting or missing too many short putts? PGA Golf Coach Meredith Kirk breaks down the pendulum motion — one of the simplest and most effective ways to bring calm and consistency to your stroke on the greens.

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Meredith Kirk – Putting

In this straightforward tip, Meredith explains how thinking of your putting stroke as a pendulum — driven by the shoulders rather than the hands and wrists — can transform your consistency on the green. The concept is simple, but the results speak for themselves, particularly if you find yourself flicking or steering the putter rather than swinging it smoothly. Whether you’re working on short putts or just want a more repeatable stroke, this is a great place to start.

Key Takeaways
Think shoulders, not hands:

The pendulum motion means letting your shoulders do the work, keeping your hands and wrists completely quiet throughout the stroke.

Replicate the rhythm of a clock:

Imagine the gentle tick-tock of a clock pendulum — the putter should move straight back and straight through with no extra input from your body.

Set up to support the motion:

Eyes over the ball and the ball positioned slightly forward in your stance gives the pendulum stroke the best chance of rolling the ball consistently.

Next time you’re on the practice green, try the tick-tock drill — set up with quiet hands and let your shoulders swing the putter back and through with an even, unhurried rhythm. This video is particularly well suited to golfers who struggle with short putts or feel their stroke lacks consistency, and the simplicity of the pendulum image makes it easy to take straight onto the course.