Any golfer knows that putting is the most crucial aspect of the golf game. Some will argue that the driver is more important than the putter, but they must be great putters because I know that nothing does more for my score more than putting well, consistently. Even the days where my driver or iron play is off, I can save my score and my handicap with my putting.
In order to become a good putter there are 3 tips for putting well that every golfer must know:
Tip for putting #1: Practice. I know it sounds cliche and you have heard it over and over, but that is because it is the only way to become a better putter. Most of the pros make sure they practice putting for at least 30 minutes to an hour everyday.
Some pros practice their putting as much as 3 hours a day. Practice your putting as much as you can fit into your golf schedule. If you have fifteen minutes of practice time it would be better spent on the putting green than the driving range.
Practice all kinds of different putts when you practice, but spend the majority of your time practicing putts that are fifteen feet or less. There is no question that you face more short putts than long ones and if you really want to improve your scores, your handicap, and impress your friends then you need to start making more putts inside of fifteen feet. Buy a golf instruction manual that is loaded with putting drills for you to practice.
Tip for putting #2: Keep your head still, and don't watch the ball. When you stand over a putt, your eyes should be focused on the exact spot in the center of the back of the ball where you want the putter to make contact. As you putt through the ball your eyes should not stray from that spot.
Most amateur golfers are too eager to see if their putt is going to go in that they often peak to soon which causes their whole body (and clubface) to lift up, which causes the putter and putt to go offline and miss. Instead of watching the ball go in the hole, listen for it to go in the whole. This is what the pros do. Watch Tiger Woods putt a six footer, his head will not come up until the ball is in the hole.
To practice this place a coin underneath your ball on the putting green. Putt the ball toward the hole, but as the ball rolls off the coin keep your eyes on the coin, no the ball rolling away in your peripheral vision. If you practice this drill a lot you will improve your putting because you will automatically start to do it on the golf course without thinking about it.
Tip for putting #3: Spot Putt to line up correctly. Most people when they line up a putt just try to line their body up in the general direction of the hole and try to align their putter the same way. Here is one problem with this; you are trying to putt a golf ball in hole that is only about twice the size of it so it takes more precision than aiming in the general vicinity of the hole.
When you stand behind the ball to read your putt, first pick out the line and speed at which you want to hit the putt. Then find some type of marker on the green along that line that is within three feet of your ball.
It could be anything from a particular patch of grass, grass discoloration, a ball mark, or spike mark, but pick something in close range that you can line up with that will get the ball rolling on the exact line you wanted when you were reading the putt from behind the ball. Practice this on the putting green first so you get used to it and what to look for. This should help you drain a lot more putts.
It is all up to you to improve and you need to realize that as you practice these tips for putting you need to focus on quality, not quantity. When you are on the putting green, pretend each putt is one that is worth a lot of money.
Treat it as you would on the course, read the putt, line it up, keep your head down and focus on the ball rolling in the center of the hole. Just standing there putting one ball after another does nothing but groove a bad stroke and bad habits.
Follow the above tips for putting and start to make the putts you always used to miss. Every one knows all the scoring in golf is done on the green so I can't place enough importance on practicing and improving your putting. Work on the above tips for putting over and over again, never stop getting better.
Author Resource:-
David Nevogt needs no introduction. His distinguished ability to help golfers of all abilities and ages to play great golf and get more fun out of the game is legendary all over the world. Rather than hit your head against a wall after each round, let David take you by the hand and introduce you to a simple golf swing that is guaranteed to work. Visit: www.DropYourHandicap.com to learn more.
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