Aug. 18, 2008 -- Carl Pettersson won the Wyndham Championship by 2 shots over Scot McCarron finishing at -21 for the event. Both players interestingly enough were using long putters.

In fact, five of the top 6 players were all using long/belly putters. And the commentators kept talking about how difficult the greens were on this "restored" Donald Ross course. Speed control was a factor. Could there be a correlation between the two?

Wyndham's greens have a lot of slope, affecting speed. Players had to control their speed and lag their putts close to the hole consistently. Carl Pettersson's long putter stroke was as solid as his golf swing. He was second in putts/gir and t6 putts/per round. He obviously had his fundamentals down packed and was able to focus on his speed.

This week's lesson learned is pendulum putting to control speed.

Here are a few things to practice:

1. Tall legs at address, no bent knees - solid base.

(Fig. 2 .)

2. Putter shaft perpendicular / ball position left. (see fig. 2)

(Fig. 3)

3. Putter head sold flat - sweet spot/aim. (see fig. 3)

(Fig. 4 - Example of incorrect)

The pros this week that used the long putters all seemed to be doing these basics. They started with the club shaft perpendicular to the ground and returned the club to the ball the same way. This allows the ball to roll correctly using the loft of the putter (standard putter loft is 2-5 degrees). You don't want to de-loft the putter by tilting the shaft. (see fig. 4)

During the tournament I didn't see any pros that were using a long putter take numerous practice swings to try and find their stroke during the round. When I am playing in a tournament I never do this because it brings in doubt. The only time to work on your putting method is on the practice putting green. Golfers who want to putt better should copy what the pros do. Notice the fundamentals and try to do the same.

The pendulum action can be created with a standard or long putter. As a putting goal, if you develop this style (pendulum), you then can focus on your speed.

Some pros practice with the long putter then play with a conventional shafted putter. This is a good drill for the player who tends to break down the lead wrist. Consider this practice method the next time you go to the putting green.

The top 6 finishers this week at the Wyndham Championship used the longer shafted putters. If you have never used the long putter and your putting is not where you want it to be, you may want to try it.

Have fun and good luck.

Chris Czaja is regarded as one of South Florida's top PGA golf instructors and is entering his 18th year at Boca West Country Club. A PGA Professional since 1993, Czaja was the 2005 runner-up for South Florida's PGA Teacher of the Year and was nominated the past 2 years for Southeast Chapter PGA Teacher of the Year. Czaja is a graduate of East Carolina University and has also been one of the top playing PGA Professionals in the South Florida section. As a PGA Professional, Chris has won numerous chapter and section PGA events. He has played in 3 National Club Professional Championships and was a member of 3 South Florida Section PGA Cup teams. He also spends significant time involved in a number of national and community charities. Chris can be reached at onplane2@yahoo.com or at the Boca West Pro Shop at 561-488-6924.