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