Putting Tips
How much time do you spend practicing your putting? Most amateur golfers spend 4-5 times more time on the practice range than the practice green. More shots are from around the green in a round yet this is the least practiced area. The game of golf should be learned from the practice green back to the tee. That means the most practice time should be on putting, then chipping, fairway shots, and finally driving in that order! Yet most golfer’s practice time is just the opposite.
Below are a few putting tips to consider:
1. The average golfer typically uses too much of their wrists in a putting stroke which creates loss of control. To become consistent in putting, the perfect combination of shoulders and arms should be used throughout the putting stroke. Any wrist action involved should be caused by the weight of the putter during your stroke.
2. With your putting stroke, concentrate on your shoulders. On the back swing, your right shoulder moves down and your left shoulder moves up, focusing on your shoulders becoming synchronized. Your right wrist should stay nice and firm throughout (this is for left handed golfers; right handed golfers would be just the opposite). Muscle memory of your putting stroke is essential.
3. A big question is how long a putting stroke is needed. A good starting point is one inch for every foot in the length of the putt. As an example, a five foot putt, bring your putter back five inches, follow through five inches. The keys are following through the same distance as the back swing along with keeping the same tempo back and through the putting stroke. This rule of thumb will need to be adjusted based upon your individual putting stroke, the speed of the greens, or whether you have an uphill or downhill putt. That is why practice, practice, practice is so critical.
4. Most putts are missed because the putter head is not square to the target line (regardless if the target line is correct or not) either in the back swing, at contact, or on the follow through of the putting stroke.
5. There are many theories about hand grip, weight shift, and stance over the ball. These topics will not be discussed in this article as our opinion is if you are comfortable when addressing the ball and master what was discussed above, that is plenty to remember when putting.
6. Finally, one major area the pros consider when putting, that amateurs do not, is where should the putt stop if you miss? For example, if the green is sloped back-to-front, the Tour pro will make sure to leave any miss below the hole for an easier, uphill putt.
Putting is complex and has many components to master. But remember the putting tips above, that more time should be spent on the practice green than on the range. If you change this behavior, there is little doubt your putting stroke will improve and several strokes will be shaven from your score.
Tags: Left Handed golfers, practice green, putter, putter head, putting, putting stroke, Putting Tips, target line