Golf Practice Putting Tips
1. Place two clubs parallel to the line towards the cup on either
side of the ball. Check to see you are swinging your putter
through a straight line.
2. Place a two by four parallel to the line towards the cub outside
of the ball. Check to see you are swinging your putter through in
a straight line.
3. Mark the sweet spot with a piece of tape (a half inch by a half
inch should do it). See if you can it the sweet spot with each putt.
4. Place 6 balls in a circle around the hole about 4 feet away. Putt
each one in turn. Can you make all six? Remember to read the
green before each.
5. In order to aim for the center of the hole, Place four tees in front
of the hole with enough room for a golf ball to squeak through.
Try from two and four feet out.
6. For long putts, use the distance on the practice green. Start with
your short putt routine and then hit three from 20 feet. Then
three more. Then three more. Are they getting closer?
Remember 90 percent of long putting is judgement of distance.
Putting Tips to Read the Green:
Remember 90 percent of long putting is judgement of distance. But
we all know that the greens can be harsh. There are two tiered
greens, sloping greens, upside down plate greens, and greens that
just happen to be an optical illusion.
Here are seven tips to read the green better.
1- as you approach the green look for slope (note that most greens
slope back to front-I did say most!)
2- look for the grain. Treat it like slope. If the grain is away
from you, it will be faster. If the grain is towards you, it will
be slower.
3- look at the terrain. Grass grows towards the sea, towards a
setting sun, away from mountains (tricky in a ravine), or with the
direction of water supply.
4- think about moisture. Shaded, early morning, or evening greens
can be slower. Goes for rain and sleet also.
5- think about sunshine. Sitting in the hot sun can dry and make a
green faster.
6- watch the line of your partner’s putts. Enough said.
7- lastly, is the wind strong enough to have an effect?
Golf Putting Tips For The Stroke
14. Develop a routine for your putt.
- review the slope, grain, and layout of the green.
- estimate the distance.
- select your aiming point.
- setup your grip, feet, head, and putter head alignment.
- decide on your stoke for the distance.
- take a parallel practice swing.
- smile confidently to yourself.
- swing smoothly.
- wait.
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Dropping in Those Long Putts
15. When faced with a long putt, carefully study the green for overall slope, individual breaks, grain, wind speed and other factors that may influence your stoke.
Having decided on the proper target line, pick a spot along the line a few feet in front of your ball and aim for that.
16. Once your feet and the face of your putter are squared to the target, begin to think in terms of speed and distance.
Try to visualize the ball rolling along the desired path and into the hole. Then make your putt with confidence.
17. Putt Like a Pendulum
When putting, your hands should always be slightly ahead of the club head and the ball.
Your arms and shoulders should form a triangle that moves in unison during your back swing and stroke-much like a pendulum.
Just slide the club back without breaking your wrists and the forward again. Be sure to follow through straight along the line of your putt.
by Mitch Tarr
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