Golf Putting


 

When just learning to golf, putting is probably the most neglected part of the game. Everybody wants to get on the driving range and start hitting 300 yard drives or concentrate on hitting their irons straight but learning how to putt consistently and accurately can go a long way to lowering your score in a hurry.

Watching videos or reading tutorials on how to putt can drive you crazy. Everyone has a different idea of how it should be done.

Some instructors will have you open the club face slightly on the backstroke, square it at impact and close it after impact, like a full swing.

Others will advocate keeping the club head square throughout the entire swing.

Some golf training will have you put your weight to the front leg when putting while others will tell you to stand with your weight evenly distributed.

And don’t even get me started on the grip! You’ve got the conventional grip, the cross handed grip, one finger down the shaft, two fingers down the shaft, Oh man! And that’s just a few of the variations you will see not only at your local course but from the professionals as well.

And we’re still not done.

Now let’s look at the putter itself.

You have the conventional putter, the long putter, the belly putter, blade putters, mallet putters, teardrop putters, heavy putters, Is your head spinning yet?

Some golfers stand square to their target line when putting others like an open stance (left foot slightly behind the right foot).

On rare occasion you will see someone use a closed stance.


 

So what’s the answer? What is the best way to putt a golf ball?

The answer is, there isn’t one! The best way to putt a golf ball is the one that works for you. Putting is a very individual choice and you are going to have to find the technique that suits you.

With that being said, there are certain fundamentals that every golfer should strive for when learning how to putt.

Here are 4 videos featuring professional golfers such as John Daly, Chris Dimarco, Jim Furyk, Nancy Lopez, Gary Player and others giving putting tips.

If you watch them all the way through you will notice certain recurring ideas that you should incorporate into your putting stroke.

First: have a pre-shot routine. This is very important. Just like you have a pre-shot routine when teeing off or hitting your irons from the fairway, you should have a pre-shot routine for putting.

Pre-shot routines are great for your golf game. They put a rhythm into your game, they give you confidence and they keep you from thinking too much or tensing up before you swing.

Second: stay relaxed. Let your arms hang from your shoulders. Don’t reach for the ball.

Third: Keep a light grip! The old tube of toothpaste analogy.

Fourth: Accelerate through the ball.

Putting is a matter of using the proper fundamentals, and practice. Lots of practice! Finding your stroke. Have you ever gone to the driving range, hit a bucket of balls and gone home?

If you want to lower your scores you should always try to spend some time chipping and putting when at the range.

Hey, you’re already there. Make the most of it!

If you are a beginner or are not happy with your current putting game, here is what I recommend.

Watch these videos and let everything sink in.

Read the green. Determine how much break your putt will have and pick out your target. If there is a break in your putt, your target will not be the hole. Your target will be a spot on the green where you will expect your putt to start breaking towards the hole.

Determine the speed you will need to reach the hole including the break.

Stand parallel to your target line.

Knees just slightly bent.

Arms hanging comfortably from your shoulders.

Take a regular neutral grip.

Take a couple practice swings. Be sure your practice swings are the exact length and speed you intend to hit the ball with.

Step up to the ball. Look once at your target and stroke the ball.

Keep your club head square throughout the swing.

Remember to accelerate through the ball. By accelerating through the ball I don’t mean you have to be going fast when you hit the ball but you can’t be slowing down!

This will be determined by your back swing. A lot of beginner golfers will take too big of a back swing whether pitching or putting and then compensate by slowing down their swing and trying to hit the ball soft. Do not do this!

Always take a small enough back swing that you feel you have to be accelerating when you get to the ball.

For example a 5 foot flat putt may only require a 2 or 3 inch back swing. If you were to take too long of a back swing you will naturally slow down your swing trying not to hit the ball too far.

The only way to get better at putting is to practice and get a feel for it.

I hope these putting instruction videos and these putting tips have been helpful to you.

Good luck and have fun!