You've probably heard instructors talk about clearing your left hip during the swing, so that you can fire your right side through the ball at impact, making a powerful, unrestricted pass at the ball. Golfers that can't "get out of their own way" often get the club stuck behind their right hip and weakly flip at the ball through impact. Or, when their left side fails to clear, they bring the clubhead to the ball on a severely an out-to-in path.

Believe it or not, the same thing can happen to your putting stroke. Many players power their putting stroke with their shoulders and right arm (for right-handers). The problem with this is, the lead (left) arm gets lazy and doesn't swing through-at least at the same tempo-as the right. It becomes a hindrance to the right arm, forcing you to flip at the ball with your wrists, or to decelerate through impact and limit your follow-through.

If this sounds like your stroke, on the practice green, try alternating six putts using just your right hand, with six putts using your regular stroke. While putting one-handed, notice how freely your right hand-and the putterhead-swing through the impact zone and extend down the target line toward the hole. When you put your left hand back on the club, concentrate on retaining that fluid motion with your right hand and arm. To do so, you'll have to activate your left arm and get it out of your own way. Soon, you'll be using both arms in concert and you'll be making a smoother, freer pendulum stroke with minimal wrist action and a full follow-through.

If your left hand, arm and shoulder get lazy, the free-flowing motion of your right side will be inhibited, causing you to "flip" at the ball with a wristy stroke and a linited follow-through.

By stroking a few putts with your right hand only, you'll quickly have the feeling of your right hand (and the putterhead) swinging freely through the hitting zone, to a relatively full finish