Cameron Smith avoids practice strokes while putting. Here’s why it works

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As this 12 months’s Open Championship from Royal Liverpool approaches, Cameron Smith has his eyes set on changing into the primary repeat champion since Padraig Harrington in 2007 and 2008.

Certain, the 29-year-old Aussie has a strong all-around sport, however one in every of his secret weapons has at all times been his placing, as he’s typically thought to be probably the greatest on the planet. He showcased that in his major title last year at St. Andrewsthe place he set an unofficial PGA Tour placing document with 255 ft of putts made in the course of the second spherical.

However what makes Smith’s placing that a lot better than his friends? He digs into the main points within the video above, revealing a number of of his favourite tendencies that may also be duplicated by even essentially the most common golfer.

Cameron Smith’s placing ideas

One of many first belongings you’ll discover about Smith’s placing routine is his confidence. Quite than learn the putt and take a number of follow strokes, he makes use of his eager instinct to get a really feel for the way the ball will transfer — and visualizes it stepping into every time.

“I wouldn’t say I actually work on my tempo a lot,” he says. “I don’t take a follow stroke, so I prefer to form of visualize and really feel lots, relatively than feeling it via physique movement. I suppose I identical to to visualise it.”

It is a distinctive strategy, with Smith saying he makes use of a mix of AimPoint combined with conventional green-reading.

“I take advantage of my ft somewhat bit,” he says. “I suppose I’m form of a midway or in-between AimPoint and a standard reader of the inexperienced. Simply spend extra time on the inexperienced and and attempt to see that ball occurring the highest aspect of the opening.”

Smith makes placing sound so simple as driving a motorbike, saying essentially the most important side for him is duplicating the identical setup earlier than every putt. That is the place he makes use of a coaching support (putting mirror) to assist him lock in.

“For me, I prefer to arrange the identical each time I’m out on the golf course,” he says. “The very first thing I do is whack my mirror on the inexperienced and ensure my setup is equivalent to earlier than.”

So in the event you’re a participant who struggles with having swing ideas, stress and anxiety on the placing floor, it is perhaps value making an attempt Smith’s strategy — and belief your pre-shot course of, locking in and visually seeing the ball go in.

“I don’t even actually know clarify it,” he provides. “I take a very lengthy take a look at the opening earlier than I putt and simply see that ball dripping over the sting and simply hit it.”

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Nick Dimengo

Golf.com Editor