Putting is perhaps the best opportunity to make up shots on the golf course. Unlike driving the ball, or hitting draws and fades with irons, putting doesn't take any special physical skill. Any player can roll a golf ball over the green. It is through technique and mental focus that a player excels in their short game. That being said, putting is not easy. Greens are usually uneven, with hills and slopes, and can seem as hard as concrete at times.
Step 1
Grip your putter in a way that is comfortable to you and helps you putt the ball where you want it to go. There is no "right" way to hold a putter. Some golfers cross their hands, some separate their hands, and some interlock their fingers. Experiment with a few until you find one that is right for you.
Step 2
Visualize the golf ball rolling into the hole before you make your putt. The Essential Life Skills website says visualization can stimulate your nervous system the same way the actual event does. It is important not only to see the putt go in, but "feel" it go in, according to GolfMentalGameCoach.com.
Step 3
Swing your putter like a pendulum, using only your arms to make the putt, according to ABC-of-Golf.com. If you are to keep the ball on the proper line, the putter must move straight back and through with no variation.
Step 4
Read the greens before you make your putt to help you find the proper line and tempo for the putt. Variables such as length of the putt, slope, wind, direction the grass is growing and speed of the green all play a factor. You will need to hit the ball at just the right speed to catch the break in the green and roll the ball to the hole.
Step 5
Stand in your putting stance with your eyes directly over the ball, according to GolfSwingTips4U.com; you will be able to see the line of the putt more clearly. Keeping the golf ball in line with your nose and belt buckle in your stance will keep your shoulders square to the hole and prevent pulling or pushing your putt off line.
Tips and Warnings
- Get in the habit of hitting your putts so they have enough momentum to roll a little bit past the hole. No one ever made a putt that didn't make it to the hole.
References
- Golf Tuts: Putting Techniques - Shoulder Line
- Golf Swing Tips 4 U: Learn How To Become A More Consistent Putter And Lower Your Handicap
- ABC of Golf: Golf Putting Techniques
- Golf Mental Game Coach: Visualization for Golf - Feeling with your mind's eye
- Essential Life Skills: Visualization - A Key To Achieving Your Goals
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