THELOWDOWNONLEFTHAND LOWTwelve differentplayers have wonon the PGA Tourthis season using thecrosshanded method.What does thatmean for you? Dropyour left hand andsee what happens.

72 GOLF.COM NOVEMBER 2017

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Photography by PATRICK JAMES MILLER

By Top 100 TeacherMark Blackburnwith DYLAN DETHIER

Led by JordanSpieth, KevinChappell,

Pat Perez and BillyHorschel, left-hand-low putters won athird of all Tour eventsduring the 2016-2017season. But don’t call ita coincidence. Whilehardly new, puttingLHL has proven timeand again to producea more stable stroke.In fact, Jack Nicklaushas said that if he hadto teach someone toputt, he’d start themout crosshanded. A lotof you have tried left-hand low but didn′tlike it. The truth? Youwere doing it wrong.Turn the page to get itright—and dominateon the greens.

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WINNER!JORDAN SPIETH

British Open (+2 others)

WINNER!KEVIN CHAPPELL

Valero Texas Open

WINNER!BILLY HORSCHEL

AT&T Byron Nelson

WINNER!PAT PEREZ

OHL Classic at Mayakoba

THE REASON ITWENT WRONG

HERE’S THE RIGHTWAY TO

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YOU DID THE“LEFTY LEAN”When you drop yourleft hand on the handle,the tendency is to moveyour weight along with it.Unwittingly, you end upaddressing the ball withtoo much mass over yourfront foot and your leftshoulder much lower thanyour right. From this position,you have no choice but tocome into the ball on a verysteep angle. (Flat is whereit’s at, folks.) The result?A poor roll and putts thatstart out too far to the right.

YOU GAVE IT ACHICKEN WINGAnother common errorwhen first taking a left-hand-low grip is allowing your leftelbow to come off your torso(as when you chicken-wing)while you “reach” for a lowerspot on the handle withyour left hand. Problem is,you need that left-arm/left-side connection to make themethod work. The beauty ofLHL putting is that it’s drivenby your left shoulder, which,when positioned correctly,helps the putter gently risethrough impact (a goodthing). Your hands andarms merely follow its lead.They can’t if your upperleft arm is off your body.

1. USE YOUR PADHold your putter out in front of you,resting the middle of the grip underyour left thumb pad. This ensuresthat the shaft becomes an extensionof your left arm—a huge LHL key.

2. SET THE PINSTo make sure you set up with yourleft arm connected to your torso, pinyour elbows against your sides whilestanding erect. Then bend forward.

Here’s why youdabbled withleft-hand low—then gave it up.

Try these three setuptricks to become aleft-hand-low machine

NO!Leftshoulderlowerthan theright, andtoo muchweightover leftfoot.

NO!Left elbowoff the leftside—aputtingchicken-wing.

Mark Blackburn instructs at Greystone G.C., Birmingham, Ala. (@BlackburnGolf) NOVEMBER 2017 GOLF.COM 75

HERE’S THE RIGHTWAY TO DO IT

HOW TO GROOVETHE RIGHT FEEL

GET GRABBYTuck your gloveinto your left armpit.Once you’re in yourputting stance, takeyour right hand offthe handle andwrap it around yourleft forearm (right).I know it’s strange,but this setup willteach you to keepyour left elbow inclose to your bodywhile diminishingthe role of yourright hand.

The goal of this drill? Keepthe glove tucked throughoutyour entire stroke. Important:Initiate your takeaway with yourleft shoulder, arm and wrist—not your hands—and picturea slight arc to your stroke.

Once you complete yourbackstroke, pull your left shoulderslightly up and around, keepingyour left elbow in tight. Your leftarm will come along for the ride,sweeping the putter head up intoimpact. That feel? Success.

3. COPY THIS!Run your LHL checkpoints: shoulderslevel, ball a bit forward of center, andthe shaft leaning slightly toward thetarget. The last one is a biggie—it’swhat encourages your left shoulderto drive the stroke. You’ll feel a littlemore “bent over” than usual. Stickwith it. It’s essential to maintaining thatcritical left-arm/left-side connection.

A drill formaintainingyour left-sideconnection—and LHLsuccess

STARTStart yourtakeawaywith yourshoulders,not yourhands.

FINISHKeep that

glove underyour arm

and watchthe ball roll

on target!