| Two keys to better putting and lowering your 18 | | | | determine how far above the hole or how far |
| holes score are a positive mental attitude toward | | | | below the hole you will align the ball. Now pick a |
| putting and a repeatable routine on the green. | | | | spot between the ball and the direction you plan |
| Most troubles on the putting green are related to | | | | to putt the ball. The spot should be around 8 to |
| being nervous and not being sure about the putt | | | | 12 inches in front of your ball. You will use the |
| you need to save a par or make the first birdie | | | | spot to line up the putter and your body to the |
| of the round. A positive mental approach and a | | | | line of the putt. |
| repeatable routine on the green are more | | | | You now need to determine the speed you will |
| important than a routine on the tee or in the | | | | impart to the ball to get the ball rolling in the |
| fairway. The foundation of a sound putting routine | | | | direction you selected and to fall in the hole. The |
| is reading the green, determining the line, and | | | | speed is a feeling you need to have in you hands |
| determining the speed. You might consider | | | | that is transmitted from you mental computer |
| practicing your putting stroke on a putting mat. | | | | from the data gathered in reading the green and |
| Reading the green should begin as you approach | | | | determining the line. Remember the length of the |
| the green. When you first walk on the green | | | | backswing should determine the speed of the |
| check the direction the grass lies - the grain. The | | | | putt. Make a couple practice swings, trying to |
| second thing to look at is the slopes between | | | | reproduce to stroke you plan to apply to the ball |
| your ball and the cup. Determine whether you are | | | | to generate the speed of the ball. |
| putting uphill, downhill, or across the slope? Next | | | | Now you are ready to make the putt that will |
| you want to look at the length of the grass. All of | | | | result in the ball rolling into the hole. You want to |
| these factors will have an effect on the direction | | | | put the putter face behind the ball square to your |
| you start the putt and the speed needed to get | | | | selected line and the spot you selected earlier. |
| the ball into the hole. | | | | Position your feet square to the line and get into |
| After you have read the green you need to put | | | | a comfortable position. Take the putter back and |
| all the data together in your mental computer and | | | | accelerate through the ball with the correct speed |
| visualize the line of the putt. You have to | | | | to make your birdie or par. |