Despite the fact that the putt looks like it's the simplest stroke in golf, getting the ball to travel from your putter into the hole can be one of the most frustrating aspects of the game. You may control the club, but the friction, speed, break and slope of the green all conspire to test the nerve of even the most seasoned golfer.
Step 1
Stand over the ball correctly. Because you do not need power to putt, you will not need to use your legs or have as low a center of gravity as you do on longer shots. This means you won't need the same stance you use for other shots. For putting, your feet will be closer together, about shoulder width, with the ball slightly forward in your stance, or closer to your front foot than your back foot.
Step 2
Grip the club in a relaxed manner. Control is key to putting, so you will want firm wrists during your putt to keep your club head face straight at contact. A firm, but not tense, grip will keep your forearms relaxed, allowing you to make a smooth back-and-forth swing. Whether you use a more open or closed grip is a matter of preference on a putt, since you will not be snapping your wrists into your putt. Experiment with your grip until you find one that keeps your wrists locked during a putt.
Step 3
Practice several swings before you putt to get into the same rhythm you will use to hit your putt. To create a rhythmic putt, use the same length backswing and follow-through. Using two different lengths can lead to an awkward adjustment during your forward swing, creating the wrong swing path and club face angle at impact.
Step 4
Start your takeback with your arms, rather than the backward shoulder turn you use to generate power on longer shots. This will help you create a straighter path to the ball on the forward swing. Keep the club low along the ground. Lifting the club off the ground during the backswing is one of the main reasons golfers hit the ground before contact on the forward swing. To keep your club low on long backswings, slightly bend your forward knee on the way back.
Step 5
Swing forward with a smooth motion toward the ball, relying primarily on your forearms to move the club. Your intent on your forward swing should be to hit past your ball--not to your ball, stopping at contact. Trying to hit the ball during a putt, rather than hitting through the ball, slows the club and results in hitting the ground, pulling up and topping the ball and short putts. If you have bent your forward knee during your backswing, make sure you do not stand up straight during your forward swing or you will lift your club off the ground. Slightly open your rear hip to straighten your forward leg, rather than standing up on your toes. Unlike the 1-2-3 rhythm used during longer shots, you will use a 1-2, backward-forward motion for a putt.
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