Many pro golfers say that good putting is the most important part of your golf game. How you practice, not just how much you practice, can also affect your game.
A little golf putting instruction goes a long way. Here are some tips for beginners, or refreshers for old pros.
Keep A Skill Set
Keep track of all your putting practice exercises and skills. A skill set is a list of all the stuff you’ve learned before during your training.
Sometimes a basic exercise that you used in your practice routine gets forgotten under all the new stuff you’ve learned. If you keep a good skill set list, you can rotate all your exercises and make sure you hit them all.
Practice Your Address
Be careful when getting ready to shoot. Don’t just go out there and start putting. Spend a little time during your practice session making sure you have a good, well-balanced starting stance.
Make sure you’re posture is good, with your back nice and straight. Don’t hunch over the ball. Your weight should be balanced, but leaning a little bit on your forward foot (left foot for right-handers).
One technique for relaxation is to stand for a few minutes in address position and let all the tension go out of your muscles and body. A little deep breathing might be a good part of the routine.
Your feet shouldn’t be too wide. Most trainers recommend your feet be about shoulder-width apart. Also, don’t get too close to the ball. If you find yourself bending over it like the Hunchback of Notre Dame, you’re too close.
Get A Grip
Always check your grip. It’s important for the consistency of your shot that your grip is the same each time. Like the address position, this is an important part of putting that often gets overlooked.
For practice purposes, it’s probably best to use your usual grip. Now is not the time to try out a new grip you learned from somebody. You can always work that in to another part of your training routine.
Your grip on the ball should be relaxed. When you’re practicing, it’s a good idea to use a lighter grip than you would use during the game. The idea is to practice exercising the right control over the club.
Go With The Short Putts
When you’re practicing, you want to smack those balls into the stratosphere, but actually it’s the short putts that give most golfers a headache. Your putting practice routine should focus more on short shots than on long ones. These can be especially tricky.
Work On Speed
Getting your putting speed just right is more than just a matter of going as fast as you can. Practice getting just the right control over the club, so you can hit the ball at just the right speed you need to make the hole.
As you watch your golf game improve over time, never forget to get back to basics once in a while. It never hurts to review the essentials of putting. And, always keep your ears open when you’re playing with other golfers. You never know when you might pick up some golf putting instruction during the game.
