ROLL CALL

Mathilde Delavallade ’23 Bus knows how to score. The Nittany Lion golfer holds the program record for lowest stroke average in a season (72.6). While you may not have Delavallade’s ball-striking ability, you might be able to get better on the greens by following her strategies for putting success. 

GET A GOOD LOOK

Delavallade first reads the putt from behind the ball, then from the opposite side, then from the sides, to gain a feel for the slope and speed. Then she gets one more read from behind the ball and chooses her line, using the alignment marker on the ball to aim.

RESPECT THE ROUTINE

Delavallade might take longer to gather information about longer putts than short ones, but once she’s over the ball, she keeps everything the same, from the number of practice swings to looks at the hole. “It has to be consistent,” she says.

SIMPLIFY THE STROKE

Delavallade uses a mallet-style putter and a reverse (left-hand low) grip, both of which help her make a stroke that has very little arc. “You don’t have to think about it,” she says.

MATCH LINE AND SPEED

Unless the putt is dead straight, there are multiple lines by which it could enter the hole, depending on how fast it’s going. “You want to make sure you pick the line that’s aligned with your speed.”

PUTT-PUTT POINTER

Delavallade reminds those who would prefer to stick to miniature golf  that the artificial playing surfaces are usually much faster than grass, and that many miniature golfers hit the ball too hard. “Keep your stroke short and it’s still going to go where you want it to go.”