Every golfer wants to know how to putt better. Whether you’re missing two-foot knee-knockers or struggling to lag a 40-footer close, putting is the part of the game that tests patience—and imagination.
At Next Round, we love seeing what happens when golfers experiment with new gear. So when Golf Ball Addict tested a broomstick-style Odyssey putter, we watched closely. The goal wasn’t to promote broomsticks—those are rare finds—but to see what we could learn about why certain putters, grips, and styles help golfers improve.
What came out of the experiment were a few truths that apply to any golfer trying to make more putts, no matter what’s in the bag.
1. Stability Is Everything
If you’ve ever yipped a short putt or flipped your wrists through impact, you’ve felt what instability can do to your stroke. The broomstick putter immediately exposes that.
Because it’s longer and heavier than a traditional model, the broomstick forces you to use your shoulders instead of your hands. That shoulder-driven motion creates a smoother pendulum stroke and eliminates excess movement.
You don’t need a broomstick to get this benefit—just focus on keeping your wrists quiet and your shoulders rocking in sync. Practicing with a counterbalanced or heavier-head putter can simulate the same feeling of stability and help groove a more consistent motion.
Try this: Place a tee just outside your putter’s toe and another outside the heel. Putt without hitting the tees. This helps train a centered, square-faced strike—one of the easiest ways to putt better fast.
2. Focus on Distance Control, Not Perfection
Golf Ball Addict noticed an instant improvement in distance control during the test. The long, pendulum-like stroke made it easier to produce a repeatable tempo. And in putting, speed beats line almost every time.
Amateurs often obsess over alignment and ignore pace. But if you’re consistently short or long, even the best aim won’t save you. The key to putting better is training your internal clock—getting your eyes and body to agree on how far the ball needs to roll.
Try this drill: Set up three tees at 20, 30, and 40 feet. Putt three balls to each target, focusing only on stopping them within a one-foot zone. Don’t worry about holing them. Over time, your distance control—and your confidence—will skyrocket.
If you’re practicing indoors, tools like putting mats or rollout greens can help you keep that feel alive between rounds. Many golfers underestimate how much at-home practice translates to the course.
3. Feel Comes From Repetition, Not Luck
After the novelty wore off, the broomstick didn’t perform miracles—it just forced commitment. The more Golf Ball Addict practiced, the better it felt. That’s the hidden secret to how to putt better: your stroke needs reps, not replacements.
Constantly switching putters or grips resets your muscle memory. Pick a setup you like and commit to learning its personality—how it feels off the face, how far it rolls with different backswings, how it behaves under pressure.
You’ll make more putts when your brain trusts the feedback loop between your hands, eyes, and stroke. The broomstick experiment proved that even strange-looking gear can work wonders if you give it time.
4. Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment
Most golfers stay loyal to one putter for years. But sometimes, progress requires stepping outside your comfort zone.
Trying a new grip style—like claw, cross-handed, or pencil—can help eliminate bad habits. Testing different head shapes can also reveal what fits your stroke type (arcing vs straight-back-and-through). Mallet designs tend to offer more forgiveness and alignment help, while blades reward precision and touch.
Pro tip: Next time you’re browsing the putting green, grab a few putters you’d never normally try. You might discover that a different head shape or shaft length instantly improves your confidence at address.
At Next Round, we regularly stock new and gently used mallet, blade, and counterbalanced putters—perfect for golfers who want to experiment without paying full retail.
5. Putting Improvement Starts Between the Ears
Even the best mechanics fall apart with the wrong mindset. The broomstick test served as a reminder that putting better is equal parts mental calm and mechanical control.
When you overthink your stroke, you add tension. When you chase a “perfect” setup, you stop listening to feedback. The best putters are those who stay curious, adaptable, and committed to improvement—just like Golf Ball Addict did through this test.
So before you blame your putter, ask yourself:
- Am I practicing with purpose?
- Am I giving new techniques time to stick?
- Am I relaxed enough to let the stroke flow?
If you can answer yes to those three, you’re already on your way to putting better.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need a broomstick putter to learn how to putt better. You just need an open mind, a steady stroke, and a bit of patience. Experiment, pay attention to feel, and don’t expect a magic fix—because improvement happens one roll at a time.
At Next Round, we make it easy to find the right putter for your stroke—whether you’re after forgiveness, feedback, or a fresh start. Explore our latest lineup and see what helps you sink more putts this season.
