Dear Anonymous,
Just count to three and don't worry about distance. All gravity-based strokes are instinctive, and all gravity systems (Earth, Moon, Jupiter) share a common underlying pattern or rhythm even if the total timing of the gravity differs from planet to planet. That is, a "backstroke" starting from a dead stop is really a version of a freely swinging pendulum from top of follow-thru backwards to top of backstroke, according to the total time given by the particular planet. Preserving this underlying rhythm allows you to use a faster timing than the planet's gravity timing, so you can use a faster tempo, BUT you still need to keep the total backstroke-to-downstroke to impact ratio of 2-to-1. Regardless of your overall timing, the backstroke from dead stop at address to coasting to the top of the backstroke always takes twice as long as the downstroke to impact. You can allow gravity to set the downstroke timing, double that, and then match your backstroke "flight time" to the world, OR you can observe your backstroke timing and make sure you get back to and thru the ball right on the beat that is one-half the backstroke time. This results in very good speed and distance so long as you pay attention to green speed and target distance (including uphill/downhill).
The rebound-itity or -osity of a rubber band VARIES with its stiffness. A human body structure in putting MAY have a decent timing in its responsiveness but it depends upon consistency in the RIGHT LEVEL of muscle tension or tone at setup. AND it depends upon WHICH MUSCLES are rebounding. In a shoulder stroke, the rebound muscles are mostly in the sides of the abdomen, but you don't start with much tension there as a good technique. So golfers wanting to rely upon rubber-band rebound to time their strokes be forewarned: this is a lousy way to putt for touch and leads to too much tension and also inconsistent rebound-osity and timing, which is inconsistent touch. The tension and quickness ofv this sort of stroke also harms line / face control.
When you count to three, it is 3:4 time in music, whereby there are three beats to a measure and a quarter note gets one beat. The stroke is then three equal-duration quarter notes: 1st beat halfway to top of backstroke, 2nd beat at top of backstroke, 3rd beat coincides with "click" of impact through the ball. This pattern applies regardless of the slowness or quickness of the total timing or tempo.
The trick in my experience seems to be not to chicken out when making sure the 3rd click is half the backstroke time and the 3rd beat is "equal duration" to the first two beats. The count in the head has to be very "blockish" so that the three beats are all exactly the same timing in duration and spacing: ONE, TWO. THR in a robotic, metronomic, boring regularity. This pattern protects the mindful golfers from being long or short because it puts the instincts in charge of the backstroke size and hence the speed and force at impact. Instinctive putter head speed at impact is VERY ACCURATE and indeed SAFE and SUFFICIENT, which is very much what every golfer needs.
Try 10-15 footers with a 1-2-3 count without worrying about the size of the stroke or whether the stroke is sufficiently forceful to get the ball all the way to the hole.
A variant of the same is a tempo or timing matched to the verbalization in slow motion of "smooooooth" thru impact. Once impact begins, say to yourself or outloud, "smoooooth" is a slow motion, exaggerated manner / pacing. This avoids quitting on the stroke, babying the nputt, jamming the putt, and makes for a SAFE and SUFFICIENT touch.
These timing patterns are good at any distance really but are especially useful and apt for putts inside whatever is your "core stroke" distance for that green speed, which is the same as saying any putt length that calls for a stroke with the backstroke merely inside the stance is a good candidate for one of the above substitute timing patterns.
Cheers!
Geoff Mangum
Putting Coach and Theorist
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