| A good quarter of your shots when playing a | | | | tenseness of your grip, if your hands are too |
| round of golf are putts, they’re also some of | | | | tense or holding the grip too tightly this will affect |
| the more stressful shots with games won and | | | | your putt, usually adding too much power. |
| lost on nail-biting finishes on the putting green. | | | | You should have a fair level of grip with your |
| When watching professional golfers on TV you will | | | | forefingers and thumbs but you should be fairly |
| often see them miss putts that many armchair | | | | loose when putting too. You shouldn’t be |
| spectators will claim they could have made but | | | | swinging when putting either; you should have |
| the putt can be one of the tougher shot varieties | | | | more of a side sweeping, pushing motion. It |
| to get right. | | | | looks like this because you are pushing the ball |
| Fortunately there are plenty of ways to improve | | | | towards the hole; if you swing like a normal club |
| your putting skills from reading the green to | | | | then you could hit the ball with the bottom edge |
| judging the weight of the putt needed to reach | | | | of the putter which can take a fair bit of travel |
| the cup. Firstly you need to get your stance and | | | | out of the ball’s rolling motion. |
| grip right, the putt is a shot that can be very | | | | Make sure when you practice to start far enough |
| unorthodox and many golfers claim their method | | | | away to simulate the putt you’d take after a |
| is the best. Some hold the club in a way that it | | | | chip or approaching shot. You should aim to get |
| hangs like a pendulum whereas other golfers will | | | | to the hole but aiming for an imaginary circle one |
| have their rear hand acting like a piston pushing | | | | foot around the hole should leave you in good |
| the club forward. | | | | stead for getting the ball in the hole on your |
| Whilst there are lots of theories there are some | | | | second putt. |
| common rules that all golfers acknowledge such | | | | Practicing on a putting green or on uneven |
| as making sure your palms are both facing each | | | | surfaces will help you develop a sense of where |
| other when holding your putter. This should help | | | | to aim when on a slope which can help you shave |
| alleviate any wobbling or shifting of the club head | | | | off unnecessary putts too. |
| when putting. Another important factor is the | | | | |