James Sieckmann - Your Putting Solution: A Tour-Proven Approach to Mastering the Greens

J ames Sieckmann has been my short-game coach since the summer of 1996. Its rare for a Tour player to have an uninterrupted twenty-year relationship in the golf business, whether its with a manufacturer, trainer, caddie, or coach. Weve both worked hard and have been good for each other. We both know how challenging golf can be. It hasnt always been easy for meIve had some trying times as a Hogan (now Web.com) Tour, PGA Tour, and currently, Champions Tour player. Despite the struggles, Ive carded six professional victories, and I owe a large part of this success to my relationship with James. Regardless of where I am or how Ive played, James has always been someone I can rely on.

Im excited that hes sharing his putting concepts with you, because its so easy to get distracted and lost along the way. I see it all the time in the pro-ams that I play in each week. There are plenty of people with talent and experience that should do well but are suffering on the greens because they have no idea what to do, despite trying everything under the sun. Thankfully, James has kept me on the right path for nearly two decades. I know that if you have the correct information and approach to putting, youll play better and enjoy the game more.

Because James knows what its like to play for a paycheck and pay your bills with your performance, hes empathetic and all in for his students. He also has the unique gift of being able to understand the science and fundamentals without losing sense of the artistic part of being a great performer. Although he demands discipline from his students, he has a knack for boiling mechanics down to one or two simple keys, so you can free up your stroke and simply go back and through. Ive executed the same set of fundamentals to the best of my abilities since day one. Because of this, and because Ive been organized in my training and thoughts, Ive had weeks where I putted as well as anyone on any tour in the world.

Tom Pernice after sinking the winning putt at the 2014 Charles Schwab Cup Championship. Photo courtesy of PGA Tour.

It doesnt surprise me that my partnership with James has stood the test of time. Hes completely committed to being part of the solution for me. Im confident that youll get a lot out of this book, and Im even more sure that youll improve your game. Good luck, and enjoy the process!

TOM PERNICE, JR.

Murrieta, California

April 17, 2015

Prologue

S oon after I agreed to write Your Putting Solution, I shared the news with PGA Tour player Cameron Tringale, whom Ive taught since 2012. Camerons response wasnt what I expectedhe laughed. James, he said, how are you going to fill up an entire book on putting? You always make it out to be so simple! Panic and doubt immediately struck. Cameron was right, but as I began to draft an outline and jot down topics to discuss, I realized there was more to my putting system than either Cameron or I had realized. In the end, it was harder to decide what to omit than what to publish.

Now that the book is complete, I view Camerons gut-check reaction as a compliment. Im proud that my approach is considered simple. As a coach and former playing professional, I know that simple is better when youre on the greens. Simplicity breeds clarity, and clarity fuels confidence. I could easily unleash a trove of knowledge and opinions on almost every topic that affects putting, but my job is to make you a great putter, not a great putting coach. As the great Bobby Jones once said, the less you have to think about, the better youll play.

Every golfer is different and has a unique set of problems. I have no idea what your stroke looks like. I couldnt fathom a guess as to your weaknesses or miss tendencies. But good putting isnt always about great technique. Its more about developing a clear approach to getting better. Ive organized this book to reflect these truths. As such, youll quickly learn whats necessary for