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Get in the hole!
Source: This article is from the October 2011 Compleat Golfer.
So many golfers spend all of their practice time on the range smashing balls as far as they can, when the quickest way to save shots on the course is to develop a solid putting stroke. Try these 10 great tips to improve your skills on the green.
Holding out
For three- to four-footers that don’t have too much break, I like to divide the cup into five parts – left edge, inside left, centre, inside right and right edge – and then aim at one of these spots.
It’s easier than aiming for a blade of grass or a spot on the green. Pick your line and commit to it.
Drill
An easy one to start with. Place five balls in different positions around the cup, about four feet away. Now go ‘around the clock’ picking one of each of the five lines on each putt and knocking it in.
It’s a great confidence booster to do this drill before you go out and play.
Mind the wind
When it’s windy, you need to make sure your body is very stable, so as not to be affected by the gusts, so widen your stance and choke down a little on the putter grip.
Drill
For your set-up, stand with your feet a bit wider than normal and then practise your putting without grounding the putter behind the ball. This is because the wind may move your ball, which, if you’ve addressed the ball by grounding the club, will cost you a penalty shot. Be sure to factor any strong wind into your break or pace of putt, even on shorter putts.
Line it up
Many pros draw an alignment line on their ball.
They use this to line up where they want the ball to start.
It will also help you to strike the ball with more authority.
Drill
Mark a line on the ball and then set up the ball so that the line points along the line that you want your putt to travel on.
Now simply putt the ball down that line.
It helps you to focus on a good strike and not worry too much about the hole.
Hint: try to combine this with the first tip and watch the putts drop!
Find the middle
Many ammies suffer from inconsistent ball striking, even when it comes to their putting stroke.This leads to a loss of control in pace and direction, as the club can twist and turn when hit off the heel or toe.
Drill
Place two elastic bands over the edges of your putter to find out how often you are missing the middle of the putter. If you hit the bands often – and you will feel the dead strike when you do – you know that you need to work very hard on getting used to finding the middle of the putterface.
Lag it close
You’re more likely to three-putt a long putt than sink it, so focus more on getting a decent pace and line than actually holing the putt.
The impulse is to make a big, long putting stroke, especially on the follow-through, and try to chase the ball down the line.
This often leads to a breakdown of the wrists and therefore poor contact or a closed putterface at impact. Drive the stroke with your arms and shoulders, not the hands.
You are looking for controlled acceleration as this increases the likelihood of keeping the putterface square at impact.
Drill
On all putts longer than 10 metres, imagine a six-foot circle around the hole and try to get your ball within the circumference of it.
This makes the putt look much easier, and you’ll actually end up holing one every once in a while.
Eyes front
To get a good feel for your putting stroke and how hard you need to hit the ball, I like to take a few putts with my eyes closed. This way you take out all your senses and really feel your body movements, which should allow you to focus on rocking your shoulders properly.
Drill
Another version of this is to set up three balls at different distances from the hole and hit all three putts looking directly at the hole throughout the stroke. You will be amazed at how accurate you are and will get a better feeling for your putting stroke.
Head still
Keeping your head still is a vital aspect to making solid contact on your putts. Head movements will often cause your shoulders to open and your putter to cut across the ball, which will make consistency a major issue. By keeping your head, legs and hands still through the swing, you should be able to concentrate on the feeling of your shoulders controlling the swing of the putter.
Drill
After you have hit your putt, say ‘one thousand’ to yourself, before you lift your head to see where the ball has gone. This will keep your head down for a second after the strike. And you might even get used to keeping your head down for longer as long as you hear the ball landing in the cup!
Find your rhythm
Whether you take the club straight back and through or on an arc, try to make sure the putting strokes are basically of equal length on the backswing and follow-through. If anything, the follow-through can be a touch longer than the takeaway, as this encourages acceleration through the putt and therefore good roll.
Drill
Using an alignment stick, the shaft of one of your clubs, or even just some tees, practise develop¬ing a good putting rhythm by studying the length of your back- swing and follow-through.
In the picture, I’ve placed the tees at the points where I want my putting stroke to reach, so it’s just a matter of getting used to the length of the stroke.
A helpful tip is to not even aim at a cup for this drill – it doesn’t matter whether you sink it or not, what’s important is to get a feel for the equal, pendulum-like stroke.
Use your dominant hand
If you’re naturally right-handed, you need to let the right hand dictate the grip, the feel and the direction.
When gripping the putter, put the right hand on the club first before adding the left hand and wrapping it round.
Drill
Most people are right-handed so get a feel by putting with your right hand only, which will remain dominant during your putting stroke.
Keep your eyes over the ball
It is much easier to line up your putterhead on the correct line if your eyes are directly over the ball. You should be looking straight down over the ball – in other words, your eyeline should be perpendicular to the ground.
Drill
Place a ball on the green and take your address position. Now hold another ball over your left eye. Move your head closer to the ball on the ground until your left eye is directly above the ball on the green.
Try to drop the ball onto the ball on the green – when you hit it you know that you are aligned perfectly over the ball.
Now take your putter and practise a few strokes with your head in this position to get the feel for it.
Meet the Pro
Former Eastern Province junior golfer Etienne Olivier is an A-class PGA professional.
He completed his apprenticeship at Steenberg Golf Club, from where he still teaches.
To contact Etienne, call him on 082 561 7782 or
email him on etienne@cutterbuck.co.za
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