World Class Putting^™ – A QLG Master Class

Introduction

Before we go any further, it’s worth returning to the moment that sparked this entire system.

The moment Irene missed a simple three-foot putt.

Irene later sent me two short video clips.

One showed the putt she missed.

The other showed the very next putt she holed.

At first glance, the two strokes look almost identical.

But when I studied them carefully, I spotted a subtle difference.

I asked Irene to watch the clips several times.

She couldn’t see it.

Very few golfers would.

Can you spot the difference?

The video is shown in two parts.

First at full speed.
Then again at half speed.

Watch carefully.

There is one small change that completely alters the outcome.

In the first putt, the ball is positioned slightly further forward.

This means the putter reaches the ball later in the arc, when the face has already begun to close.

The face is no longer square.

The result is predictable.

The ball is pulled left of the intended line.

It misses.

In other words, the First Universal Law is broken.

On the second putt, the ball returns to its correct position.

The putter arrives square at impact.

The ball starts perfectly on line.

This is how putting works.

Even small changes in setup alter the geometry of the stroke.

And geometry determines outcome.

This leads directly to a problem that affects most golfers.

The Problem Most Golfers Face

Like many golfers — including professionals — Irene had been experimenting.

Trying different ideas.
Different strokes.
Different approaches.

If something worked, she stayed with it.

If it stopped working, she changed.

This is extremely common.

And it creates a serious problem.

Eventually, you become lost in the experimentation.

You no longer know what is right.

You no longer know what is wrong.

You are simply trying things and hoping something works.

In a scientific environment, this would never be allowed.

A clear method is required.

Variables must be controlled.

Principles must be understood.

Otherwise, the results mean nothing.

Putting must be approached in exactly the same way.

This is where the system begins.

Law 2 – The Hands Continue Toward the Target

The second law defines the direction of motion through impact.

The hands must continue toward the target.

This ensures the ball is delivered cleanly along the intended line.

No manipulation. No steering.

First example — correct motion.

The hands move toward the target.

The putter flows through the ball.

The stroke finishes on line.

The wrists remain stable.

The result is predictable.

The ball travels cleanly along the intended line.

Second example — incorrect motion.

The hands stop.

The wrists break down.

The stroke loses direction.

The result is also predictable.

The ball misses the target line.

This is why Law 2 matters.

The Three Universal Laws Working Together

Law 1 controls direction.

Law 2 controls delivery.

Law 3 controls roll.

Together, they control outcome.

The ball starts on line.

It travels cleanly.

It rolls predictably.

This is the system.

A Note on Equipment

At this point, many golfers think about equipment.

If optimum roll requires four degrees of loft…

Should every putter have four degrees?

Not necessarily.

Putters vary between one and five degrees.

What matters is not the stated loft.

It is the effective loft at impact.

This depends on your setup and stroke.

Once your system is working, consistency becomes critical.

Changing equipment changes the system.

Ball position may shift.
Setup may change.
Roll characteristics may change.

This is why unnecessary changes should be avoided.

Tiger Woods used essentially the same putter throughout his career.

He trusted his system.

That is the model.

Once you have found a setup that produces a square face, a stable stroke, and optimum roll, the smartest decision is usually very simple:

Keep it.

Why These Laws Matter

When these laws are understood and applied, something powerful happens.

You discover the putting setup that is just right for you.

And once you have found it, there is no need to constantly change or experiment.

Your setup becomes stable.

Your stroke becomes repeatable.

Putting becomes simpler.

At that point, the only things you need to focus on are the two variables that control every putt:

Line and Pace.

Every putt is simply a combination of these two variables.

When Line and Pace are combined with the Three Laws:

Putting becomes predictable.

This is where performance improves.