Columbus Wired - Central Ohio's Premier Online Magazine
 

" Putting"

The putter is the best stroke saving club in your bag. Most golfers use a third of their total score - that's 30-35 shots per round on the putting green. And most can get better with practice.

That's why it's important to groove a putting stroke that you can trust under pressure. The best place to improve your putting is on the practice putting green. Here are some practice tips that can help.

  • PRACTICE STROKING THE BALL WHILE LOOKING AT THE TARGET, INSTEAD OF THE BALL.
    This teaches you to trust your stroke. It also helps show you to concentrate on the target line. It's a great drill for keeping a steady hand. Try it. You'll be surprised how effective this is on short distances.
  • PRACTICE STROKING THE BALL ONE FOOT PAST THE CUP.
    This helps develop a feel for distance. Don't hammer it too far past. Don't leave it short. And don't worry about making it. It's just a drill. Try it from different lengths to get a feel for different distances. And make it go one foot past the cup.
  • PRACTICE GETTING UP AND DOWN FROM VARIOUS DISTANCES OFF THE GREEN.
    Any chance you have to putt, instead of chip, you should. Because most people use better putters than chippers. And confidence will flow into the rest of your game if you know you can get up and down from off the green.
  • ON LONG PUTTS, PRACTICE CORRELATING THE LENGTH OF THE PUTTS WITH THE LENGTH OF THE BACK SWING.
    Usually, one inch of backswing is needed for every two feet of putt. On medium to fast greens, a twelve inch backswing is often enough to hit a 24 foot putt. Another tip - place the back foot where it will correspond with the back of the backswing. Then simply stroke through the ball.
  • PRACTICE TWO TO THREE FOOTERS TILL YOU CAN'T MISS.
    Then move back a foot and work at that distance till you can't miss. Then move another foot back. Pretty soon, you will become really good on those THREE TO SEVEN FOOT PUTTS you always seem to be facing. And if you get good at them, your scores WILL DROP!

    Most golf courses and driving ranges have putting greens that are free. Golfers, you are crazy to not utilize these facilities to improve upon the most important stroke saving part of your game. And EVERYBODY has room to improve on their putting.