Putting  Focus on Distance not Direction

Do you know why most amateurs three-putt more times on their first nine holes than their last nine holes? By the time they get to the last nine they have the feel of the greens! My colleagues have always agreed that in order to become a great putter you must have the ability to read greens. However, I have always believed you must also have

I have just given you an incredible tip. You have to develop your touch in order to control your speed. I can not tell you how many times I have asked an amateur golfer after they hit their putt if they thought the putt was going uphill or downhill. Most amateurs reply with, “I completely forgot about the speed!” Most of them struggle more with speed more than direction. So how do you apply this advice?

Always look towards the front of the green so you can decide if you are going uphill or downhill. Empty your mind of every mechanical thought you have and just stroke the ball. FORGET the mechanics when putting. Don’t ever hit a putt until you have visualized your golf ball going into the hole first. Make it in your mind before you hit it.

Another great putting tip

Sinking Those Short Putts

 

Ever miss an easy two-footer? Who hasn't? If you're missing more

than your share of short putts, it may be because you're

decelerating the putterhead before impact, causing you to hit

the ball offline.

Acceleration is the increasing speed at which the clubhead moves

through the ball. It's important for all shots--even putts. The key

to accelerating when putting is keeping your hands ahead of the

ball, which prevents excessive wrist motion on the forwardswing

and sends the ball rolling off line.

One technique for encouraging acceleration is the left-hand low

grip (for right-handers). It forces you to accelerate through the

stroke. The grip prevents the hands from releasing too much and

helps keep the putterhead square to the target line, even after

contact. But for those who like a traditional grip, here's a drill

that teaches acceleration.

Sand Wedge Drill
Find a hole on the practice green that let's you to set up for a

flat and straight putt. Place a sand wedge perpendicular to the

line of the intended putt so that the face is down and the

thinner part of the shaft is across the line of the putt. The

shaft should lie just at the edge of the cup.

From a distance of three feet, putt the ball so that it hits the

shaft, pops into the air and falls in the hole. If you decelerate

the putterhead through the stroke, you'll generate insufficient

speed for overcoming the shaft in front of the hole. If you

accelerate through the stroke, you create enough speed for

the ball to hole the putt over the shaft.

Try this drill on breaking putts, if you feel adventuresome. Just

make sure you set the shaft perpendicular to the break to

ensure the ball pops into the cup.

After practicing the drill a few times, take it to the course.

Visualize the wedge's shaft in front of the hole. Visualizing

fosters acceleration and focuses you on the process of making

the putt, not on the outcome.

Make this drill part of your regular practice sessions. It

encourages you to accelerate through the putting stroke

and provides the confidence to make those short putts

critical to good scoring.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

<<>>