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