| As much as we would like our first putt to be | | | | against the board. Now place a golf ball on the |
| from six feet away or closer, most of the time | | | | ground so it touches the putter right in front of |
| we begin putting from twenty feet or more. That | | | | the manufacturer's center line mark, or one you |
| brings the three-putt green into play. Three | | | | drew with a felt pen |
| principles of approach putting take it out of play. | | | | Slide the putter back and forth against the board |
| Three-putt greens are caused in the main by | | | | as you hit the ball. When you hit the ball on the |
| leaving the approach putt too far away from the | | | | sweet spot, you won't feel the contact at all, the |
| hole, not because of poor aim. Putts that roll five | | | | ball will shoot off the face of the club, and you'll |
| feet past the hole often miss the hole by only a | | | | hear a distinct sound. You might have to adjust |
| few inches. First principle: it's speed, not line. | | | | the position of the ball a few times to find it. |
| Develop a feel for speed by rolling the ball with | | | | Most golfers read the green and pay attention to |
| your right hand (left hand, if you play left-handed). | | | | what's happening near the ball. That's backwards. |
| Once you have the feel for a particular distance, | | | | Third principle: pay attention to the slope around |
| hit some putts from there with the same feeling | | | | the cup. |
| in your hand. I tried this with my 9-year-old | | | | Since the ball will be traveling slowly when it gets |
| grandson one day at the executive course. It | | | | near the cup, slope will have a great affect on it. |
| took him about four holes to get it, but when he | | | | It's not unusual for there to be a slope on one |
| did, his approach putting got scary good. | | | | side of the hole and a flat spot on the other. The |
| Your feel for distance matters only if you hit the | | | | slope could easily carry the ball six feet away. |
| ball consistently. By that I mean do you hit the ball | | | | Aim for the flat spot. But you'll only know it's |
| on the same spot of the putterface every time, | | | | there if you walked up and looked for it. |
| the sweet spot. Second principle: hit the sweet | | | | Good approach putting takes practice. Practice the |
| spot. Miss the sweet spot, and some of the | | | | right things, the three principles I mentioned, and |
| energy of the stroke is used to rotate the | | | | you'll always leave the ball where you have an |
| putterhead. The ball won't roll as far. | | | | easy second putt, you'll avoid three-putt greens, |
| Find the sweet spot on your putter by laying a | | | | and occasionally the first putt will go in! |
| board on the ground. Put the toe of the putter | | | | |