| If you are seriously considering lowering your scores, | | | | front of you before you putt and gently shake them. |
| then you must take your putting seriously, as roughly | | | | This should relax your muscles enabling an enhanced |
| half the strokes you play in a round of golf are likely | | | | sensation of feel and touch, both vital for reliable |
| to be on the putting green. However good you are | | | | consistent putting. |
| at driving, pitching and chipping, if your putting is not | | | | Tips for the swing |
| up to standard, you will never make the next level. | | | | Your grip should not be too tight, and your arms |
| My Dad told me the famous quote when I was | | | | should be relaxed. Gently and smoothly in a one piece |
| probably about 12 or 13, 'Drive for show putt for | | | | action, sweep the putter backwards. It is important |
| dough', this says it all! That is why it is quite incredible | | | | to keep the triangle formed between your arms and |
| that putting is not often concentrated on. | | | | the line joining your shoulders consistent through the |
| Tips for setup: | | | | whole shot and the shape should not change. The |
| First of all I'd just like to say that there is no one | | | | move backwards should be like a pendulum |
| correct putting grip/posture/stroke, there are wide | | | | movement with your arms, while your wrists remain |
| variations, so if your technique is different, don't | | | | stiff. A good tip for making sure that this is correct is |
| worry, some of the top golfers have very different | | | | by starting the action by dropping your left shoulder; |
| putting actions e.g. Bernhard Langer, Ben Crenshaw | | | | this will get the pendulum motion started. |
| and Tom Watson all have very different techniques. | | | | Keeping the triangle mentioned before in tact, in a |
| These are basic tips that can be applied to most | | | | pendulum motion, accelerate the putter smoothly |
| techniques to help improve your game. | | | | through the ball; the ball should be hit on the up. |
| An ideal putting stroke should strike the ball on the | | | | Throughout this whole period, keep your eyes fixed |
| up, to do this the ball should be placed opposite the | | | | on the ball to avoid fluffing the putt and keep the |
| inside of the left heal (for a right hander), this results | | | | eyes fixed on that spot after impact. |
| in the ball being hit on the up and top spin is | | | | It is vital after impact that the left wrist remains firm |
| generated. | | | | and does not break; the follow-through should go |
| In relation to setup, the hands should be either inline | | | | inline with the direction you were aiming and should |
| with the ball or ahead of the ball, if the hands are | | | | be the same length as the backswing. |
| behind the ball, then a clean consistent strike of the | | | | Key points: |
| ball is not likely, and the common result is the ball | | | | Try and relax before playing the stroke, this will help |
| popping up in the air. | | | | enhance your feel and touch and help avoid the yips |
| Tension on the green is one the most destructive | | | | due to excess tension |
| things that can happen to your putting, especially | | | | The stroke should be a pendulum action swinging |
| with the short putts, this is known as getting the | | | | with your shoulders and arms while the wrists remain |
| 'yips', this is caused by moving during the stroke. This | | | | stiff. |
| causes you to 'fluff' your shot and miss your putt. To | | | | Don't move your head during the swing. |
| avoid this happening, concentrate on the spot where | | | | Swing in a relaxed smooth fashion with a smooth and |
| the ball was after impact rather than following the | | | | constant rhythm. |
| ball. This ensures that you do not move your head | | | | Keep the wrists firm throughout the stroke. |
| during impact and will help give you the clean smooth | | | | Play the ball from underneath the eyes. |
| impact you require. | | | | Have the ball in the front of the stance to ensure |
| A simple technique to reduce the tension in the body | | | | that the ball is hit on the up. |
| and the stroke is simply to let your arms dangle in | | | | |