| ext">Putting is possibly one of the most | | | | Many putting practice drills can help with judging |
| frustrating and nerve-wracking parts of playing a | | | | the distance you need to hit the ball but you |
| game of golf, especially if there is money or pride | | | | should make sure you practice putting from a |
| on the line. The agony of a ball either stopping | | | | variety of different angles and elevations. A ball |
| just shy of the hole or whizzing past it can make | | | | hit downhill towards the hole gathers speed and |
| or break a golfer’s performance and can | | | | so you won’t need as much power as a |
| be what decides the winner in most cases. | | | | shot going uphill. In time like many other golf shot |
| Learning to putt is one of the first things golfers | | | | types you’ll develop a feel and a sixth |
| will likely do, chances are you may have already | | | | sense for how hard and which way to hit the ball |
| had some practice with the occasional game of | | | | to get it to drop into the cup. |
| crazy golf; believe it or not this can certainly help | | | | When putting you are not necessarily striking the |
| improve vital skills such as judging angles of | | | | ball like a tee shot, you are pushing the ball |
| approach and power. But aside from the fun and | | | | towards the hole, to do this correctly you should |
| games, putting in a real game of golf will have a | | | | have a shorter back swing, some players only |
| multitude of other factors that you will have to | | | | use a few inches for their back swing on a putt |
| consider before you hit the ball. | | | | shot. The most movement should come from the |
| Putting on grass can slow the ball or it could | | | | follow through after making contact with the ball. |
| quicken the ball if the grass is particularly wet. You | | | | The shot motion should be smooth and controlled |
| may also be putting against some form of slope, | | | | so that the club doesn’t hit the ball too |
| this is where approach angles and power come in | | | | fast or with the wrong part of the |
| to effect, and many professionals may look like | | | | putter’s face. |
| they are aiming the completely wrong way but | | | | Over time there will come a time where your |
| when they hit the ball the slope of the green | | | | putts will land where you intend them to and you |
| bends the shot back towards the hole as if by | | | | will help lower your handicap in the process. |
| magic. | | | | |