| I had a request, after a previous | | | | short of a 3 feet marker. |
| article on Putting Statistics, for some | | | | If you are missing putts every round in |
| fixes for the common Putting faults. You | | | | the less than 3 feet radius, then ask |
| see this sort of thing all the time in | | | | yourself are you positive enough on |
| the golf magazines. | | | | these shots? Is your concentration not |
| Yes, there are more common problems, | | | | what it should be? Do you have a |
| almost all related to the basic | | | | consistent routine? |
| technique, but you can isolate your own | | | | If you are missing more than 50% of your |
| individual problems a little further by | | | | putts in the 3 feet to 6 feet radius |
| keeping a few basic statistics on the | | | | then celebrate because with just a |
| next three or four rounds and then doing | | | | little practice, using some simple |
| some simple analysis. | | | | drills, you can improve this quickly and |
| After each green record the following | | | | take a lot of shots off your scorecard. |
| information on a separate scorecard: How | | | | Finally, look at the distance you are |
| many putts did you take? What | | | | left with on your second putts. Is your |
| approximate length was each putt and if | | | | first putt leaving you with too much to |
| you missed was it short or long and | | | | do? If it is then again there are some |
| missed left or right of the hole? | | | | easy and quick practice routines that |
| At the end of each round, take 5 minutes | | | | will enable you to drop shots from your |
| to analyse the card. Some things to look | | | | handicap. |
| for are: | | | | If you have identified where you are |
| If you are missing the hole far more | | | | going wrong then come and chat to me and |
| often on one side then there might be a | | | | I'll give you some pointers and ideas of |
| technique problem but there is equally a | | | | how to improve. But remember, as with |
| chance that you have one eye that is | | | | all things in golf, good fundamentals, |
| much stronger than the other leading you | | | | that you have learnt and know how to |
| to 'see the line incorrectly'. | | | | check in your game, will not only |
| If you are short far more often than | | | | improve your game now, but will enable |
| long, especially on putts up to 30 feet, | | | | you to continue playing good golf even |
| then you are clearly missing out on the | | | | when you' haven't had the chance to play |
| opportunity to hole a few (never up, | | | | quite as frequently. |
| never in) in which case practice a drill | | | | Visit your local PGA Golf Professional |
| that rewards you for putts that you sink | | | | for expert advice on all aspects of |
| AND putts that go past the hole but stay | | | | golf. |