Putting is one of the most maddening elements in golf. You can use two or three strokes to travel 400 or 500 yards, yet it might take another three strokes to send it 15 feet to the hole. Following a few putting tips can help you shave strokes off your game.
Wrist Action
One of the culprits of poor putting is poor wrist action. While using your wrists is essential to having a good golf swing on the tee or in the fairway, using your wrists while putting is trouble. Wrist action can make you pull or push the ball, which will cause it to take a different line than the one you're aiming at. The wrist needs to be locked and the player needs to imagine that the putter is an extension of his arms. The arms and the club need to move in one fluid motion. This will make it easier to replicate an effective stroke and cause the ball to come off the face of the putter more smoothly, leading to more solid contact.
Pick Your Line
It does no good to lock in your wrists if your aim is off. Picking your line on the green is essential to making sure your ball has a steady path to the hole. Because of the contours of a golf green, picking a straight line to the hole most of the time won't cut it. When you're on on the green, crouch behind your ball and hold your putter shaft up in front of you as a sight line. Use the curve of the green to determine where you think the ball might go based on how hard you hit it. Depending on whether you're putting up or downhill, you should pick a spot behind or in front of the cup as a target.
Choose Your Speed
Several factors can have an effect on ball speed on the green, all of which will affect the way your ball rolls to the hole. If the weather is hot and sunny, the greens will likely be hard, causing the ball to roll faster. If it's been raining and cool, the greens will damp, causing the ball to roll more slowly. A freshly cut green will cause the ball to roll faster than a green that's waiting to be trimmed. Take all of these factors into consideration when you're getting ready to putt. You'll need to take them into account and adjust your stroke accordingly.
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