| Sometimes we all have a sort of aversion for the | | | | If you start to miss a number of short puts, |
| golf hole. | | | | have a look at yourback swing. |
| We see it, but somehow it seems impossible to | | | | It is probably too long. |
| get the ball to fall. | | | | If you hit the ball from an exaggerated back |
| It is not a matter of hitting the ball too hard, or | | | | swing,with the normal putter head speed you |
| off line. | | | | usefor all puts, you will be away past the hole. |
| It is one of those times when the ball just will not | | | | So, when you take your putter head back, you |
| fall into the hole. | | | | are aware of this. |
| Has this ever happened to you? | | | | What do you do? |
| Of course it has. It happens to us all. | | | | You allow for the longer back swing by slowing |
| I guess a simple example is when a professional | | | | your putter head as youget to the ball. |
| golfer misses put after put. | | | | Instead of accelerating through it, you are |
| His ball does U-turns round the rim of the hole or | | | | doingjust the opposite. I know you don't mean to |
| hits a part of the hole andkeeps going with a bit | | | | but it happens just thesame. |
| of a swerve. | | | | If you have a tendency to do this, work out how |
| If this ever happens to you, here is a drill to get | | | | far back you shouldgo and then put something |
| you back ontrack. | | | | there to stop your club at the rightplace. |
| Put a tee into the ground on the practice green | | | | Then, if you finish with a long follow through, you |
| and try tohit this with your ball. | | | | willaccelerate through your ball and you will be on |
| Don't put from more than 12 feet away, andput | | | | line too. |
| a deal closer than this. | | | | Start placing the object say four inches behind |
| Vary the distance. | | | | your putter headand see what happens. |
| You will no longer be thinking of "golf hole" but will | | | | Don't forget the big follow through. |
| find thatyour stroke improves and your mind | | | | By starting here, you will be able to feel the |
| goes back to the right attitudefor putting. | | | | speed of the putterhead as you hit those puts. |
| When you go back to putting into the golf hole, | | | | Move your stop a little further back and hit some |
| the hole will lookhuge. | | | | puts. |
| I mentioned not to put from further than 12 feet. | | | | Then, using this method, hit some slightlylonger |
| This is because it is imperative for you to practice | | | | puts until you move up to twelve feet. |
| puttingfrom the distance you expect to hole. | | | | Then you can get the feel for longer puts (more |
| Start at three feet and after you have sunk a | | | | than twelve feet) to get the ball nextto the hole. |
| fewfrom here, go to four feet. | | | | I have always said in my articles that the length |
| Gradually move further back until youget to about | | | | ofthe back swing dictates the length of the put. |
| ten or twelve feet, depending on your skill level. | | | | Performing this drill is a great way to get into |
| These are the puts you need to be able to hole | | | | your mind the speed of the putterhead for all |
| during a game. | | | | puts. |
| Practise a great deal on the putting green. | | | | It should be constant and the force with whichit |
| It is a good half or three quarters of your score. | | | | hits the ball is determined by the length of the |
| It is here that you can reduce yourscore more | | | | back swing. |
| than any other part of the golf course. | | | | The longer the back swing, the greater will be the |
| So many players, and I am guilty too, go to the | | | | momentum developedby the putter head. |
| practice rangeand spend a couple of hours there. | | | | Then, you will become a master two putter. |
| Then they make a short trip to the putting green | | | | You will probably find that shortening your back |
| andafter about 30 minutes, pack it in. | | | | swing a great deal will allow you to hityour putt |
| It is a good idea to have a piece of putting carpet | | | | with authority and with a huge improvement in |
| at home andevery time you pass it, have a | | | | accuracy. |
| couple of puts. You will be pleasedby the result. | | | | |