Useful Putting Tips
If you want to get to the PGA tour, or just improve your game to show off to your buddies, you’re not going to get there from only having a strong drive. Your putting game is just as important. So what’s the best way to enhance your put? Here are a few tips to lead you in the right direction:
1) Pick the perfect putter – In order to get the golf ball where it ultimately needs to go, you need to have the right equipment. A square-to-square putter should be used if you need the putter to stay square to the path from your ball to the hole. Tiger is known for his square-to-square putts. Other golfers, like Lee Trevino and Ben Crenshaw, find success in using the open-to-closed putter. The back of the club is open and closes as you swing the club through. Another choice is the closed-to-open putter. With this putter, your upper-body guide the blade and hold it open as you sing through.
2) Practice Drills – Practicing eye-hand coordination is going to help your putting immensely. One drill, called Eye on the Dime, forces the golfer to work on his follow through by placing a dime under the ball. Throughout your stroke, to try and avoid watching the ball after it is hit, keep your eyes focused only on the dime. Another drill, especially useful for three foot putts or longer, are to imagine that there is a bulls-eye behind the hole. This forces you to hit the ball with enough inertia to make it to the hole in a straight line.
Another great putting exercise is to putt with your eyes closed. By doing this, your senses are overloaded and you feel the movements that your body is making. You feel your muscles work together and take note of what muscle group is focused and when. While doing this, try to focus on keeping your head still as well. This is a great tip that you will be more aware of while you are putting if your eyes are shut. Rolling your ball into the hole is another way to practice getting comfortable with the amount of force required to get the ball to the hole
3) Technical Tips – After you’ve picked your putter and practiced some drills, you will be ready to focus on the more technical aspect of the game. For example, adding an arc to your putt will be very useful if your square-to-square game is struggling. To do this, keep the toe of your putter on the green and aim your putter to open and close in a smooth, transition motion to the green’s arc.
Another successful way to enhance your putt is putting through the gates. Place two golf balls approximately 6 to 12 inches apart and one foot ahead of your ball, then strike the ball. This gives your mind the mental picture of having ‘bumpers’ and the line between your ball and the hole doesn’t seem so vast.
