How to Really Improve Your Putting in Golf -- No Kidding

Good putting is about being optimistic, making a good soft stroke, and controlling your distance.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A putter
• 6 golf balls
• a putting green
• an open mind
• patience

1. In putting, you're obviously trying to roll the ball, and do it with the proper direction and distance. You'll be surprised to find how often it bounces. Watch others putt and see if the ball immediately bounces, or if it rolls as it comes off the face.

2. Start by going to part of the putting green without any holes around. Don't use a target. Use about 6 balls so you don't have to change every time. Browse other explanations for accepted positions, but know that comfort is important when you set up. Generally, the ball should be positioned left of center, or closer to your target side foot.

3. A quick note -- the better your putter fits you, the better you can putt. See the link at the end for more information...

4. The movement should be very soft and rhythmic so you can barely feel the ball when the putter makes impact. Try to make the backswing and follow-through about the same distance, or a little longer in the follow-through. You must not hit, jab, punch, or tap the ball when making a putting stroke.

5. As you try this, watch the ball as it leaves the putter. Is it bouncing or rolling? The more 'hit' or 'tap' you use, the more it bounces. The softer it is, the better it rolls.

6. To make the ball go farther, don't hit it harder. Just make a longer swing. Try to make it feel soft every time.

7. Now find a hole you can putt to from about 10 feet away. Don't worry about whether the balls go in. Think about the length of your stroke -- if the ball went past the hole your stroke was too long, and if the ball stayed short of the hole the stroke was too short. Don't try to hit the ball harder or softer -- it should always be soft.

8. Now, close your eyes and try it. Listen for the impact and think about how it feels. You'd be surprised at how some people actually putt better with their eyes closed! This is a great method -- try it with your kids too.

9. Distance control may well be more important than aiming -- most people aim a little better than they control distance. After about 20 putts, walk about 7 paces from the hole (about 20 feet) and try again. To make the ball go farther, make your swing longer. Try alternating: one putt with your eyes open and one with your eyes closed.

10. Distance control is about how long you swing the putter, not about changing how hard you hit the ball. If you're 60 feet away and need to swing the putter past knee-high, even to waist-high, that's fine. Don't hit the ball harder, let the length of the swing make it go farther.

11. Now, start being optimistic about actually making the putt. It doesn't matter where you are on the green -- 3 feet away or 60 feet away -- you have the same chances of making the putt: 50-50. It's either going in or it's not. Your goal is to actually make the ball go in the hole, right? There's no room for realism here, because you're playing a game. Be optimistic: play a game with your mind too and try to MAKE EVERY PUTT GO IN THE HOLE.

12. If the ball doesn't go in, don't blame yourself. There are many imperfections in the grass that can cause the ball to go off line. Proceed with optimism and you will become confident. Proceed by blaming yourself and you will become negative and performance will suffer.

13. In perhaps no other game is patience so important. Impatience impairs learning. Golf rewards the patient.

Tips & Warnings

• There is custom-fitting available for putters. This is relatively new in golf, but it is very helpful. You can be fitted for the length, lie, head design, the grip design and size, and even how many lines there are on the putter head.
• Many shops offer a small degree of putter fitting, such as the proper length, but each piece is important.
• If the sole of your putter isn't lying flat on the ground when you set up, it will be harder to control what the ball does. This is called the lie, and it can be changed on some putters. If the lie on a putter can't be changed, then you'll have more difficulty aiming and rolling the ball.

Resources

• Learn more about putters
• Learn more about clubfitting

[mtn2top]

on 5/24/2008 When you mark your ball, align the logo up so that it points to the hole. Then there's a handy reference to ensure your club face is exactly aligned for a straight putt.

[CCrock]

on 1/11/2008 Thanks for all the great tips!