How to Putt in Golf

Fundamentals on Learning How to Putt

2009-11-17T11:51:00.000-08:00

Overview: In learning how to putt we will be focusing on the most important fundamentals of putting in order for you to become consistent and confident in your game. Putting is the most vital aspect within the game of golf and no professional has ever won a major tournament putting poorly.

There is nothing more frustrating than playing a decent round of golf only to end the day with a lousy score because of the number of missed putts. Although there is a lot to learn in order to master the putter, there are certain basics that each golfer should follow.

The golf putting lessons here will take you step by step to develop the proper techniques to achieve a consistent and effective putting stroke.

In addition at golf how to putt we will also cover how to read greens and go over the steps to having an effective preputt routine.

Each fundamental is presented one at a time in the order you should learn them. The idea is to make every putt as uncomplicated as possible. Each fundamental must be learned fully in order to be proficient at putting and after time and practice your putts will soon become second nature.

Furthermore, these are excellent lessons for any beginner to golf and are also great for advanced players to periodical review the basic elements of a proper putting stroke.

Components of Putting: In order to learn how to putt successfully you need a smooth repeatable stroke that has the proper form so you can be both accurate and consistent. It also requires a great deal of practice to gain a high level of confidence. Here we have broken down the game of putting into the following components:

GRIP: As in your golf swing, starting with a proper grip is vital to a good putting stroke. There are a variety of effective putting grips used by both amateurs and professionals. We will explain the different grips used and go into greater detail on the one that is most popular by professionals.

SETUP: Proper stance and the position of your shoulders, feet, hips, head and eyes are the next step in the learning processes.

PUTTING STOKE: We will breakdown each element of the putting stroke and what you need to be accomplishing. The stroke needs to be consistent with the objective of keeping the putter head square at impact.

READING GREENS: To master putting one needs to have the ability to pick the correct target line. We will next cover how to judge speed and slope.

PREPUTT ROUTINE: In order to be consistent you need a routine to follow on each putt to be physical and mentally prepared.

By not becoming proficient at any of these elements you will have a weak link in the chain and never be able to fully master putting.

MENTAL ASPECT: Anyone who has putted well understands the mental side and how challenging it can be. A punter in football will practice relentlessly to gain the ability but also the confidence for when the time comes and he is faced with that must have punt to win. A seemingly simple routine punt that he has done hundreds of times in practice is now an enormous stressful challenge when the game is on the line. Sounds familiar.

Developing confidence in your putting game is crucial. We will cover things you can implement to overcome any psychological difficulties you may be experiencing in your game.

PRACTICE DRILLS: Although roughly 40% of your stokes in a game is with the putter, the average golfer does not spent nearly that proportional amount of time on his or hers putting game.

Once you feel confident that you know the proper fundamentals start a practice routine. Commit yourself to improving your putting game and remember that it does take a lot of practice and patients. To help in this area visit Golf-Putting-Drills.blogspot.com where you can find effective putting drills that you can use in your practice routine.

Continue to Next How to Putt Lesson Golf Putting Grip

Golf Putting Grip - How to Putt Chapter 1

2009-10-08T11:35:00.000-07:00

Overview: Learning how to putt begins with an understanding of putting grips. When it comes to the grip in putting there are a variety of grips used, whether pro or amateur. This is something that is very personal to each golfer. Four of the more well known types of grips are the reverse overlap grip, the cross-handed grip, the claw grip and the Bernhard Langer grip.

The reverse overlap grip is by far the most popular and we believe the most effect so it will be the one we will go into in further detail. The cross handed grip is where the left hand is lower than the right and the left arm takes a more dominate role in the stroke.

The claw grip is where the right hand is used to help keep the putter club face square. While the langer grip is where the right hand grips the shaft and left arm above the wrists. Developed by Bernard Langer to help keep the wrists from flexing and avoid any sudden jerky movements.

Reverse Overlap Grip: This is not only the most common grip used but is the most fundamentally sound putting grip and the one I would recommend to new players

Place both of your hands on the putter handle so they are facing each other and then slide your right hand down about three inches.

The club handle should rest under the the butt of your left hand. Also, the palms should be facing each other and the back of your right hand should be parallel to the left hand.

The right thumb extends down the club to just slightly below the right index finger.

The left thumb will also face directly down the top of the shaft and will fit nicely into the palm of your right hand.

The left middle finger will overlap the pinky finger of the right hand.

There are three variations to the position of your left forefinger, which are, lay it around the little finger of your right hand, on top of your ring finger of your right hand or run it down on top of the ends of your right hand fingers. On the image to the above we are laying the left index finger accross the fingers of the right hand. I prefer this method because it helps reduce wrist movement during your stoke.

The reverse overlap grip will create a solid unity and you want your hands as close together as possible so they will work as one. This grip method also helps in preventing one of your hands from becoming to dominant during your stoke

Grip Pressure: The lighter you grip the better you will be able to reduce any tension and have a better feel of the putter head.

Hold the club just firmly enough to maintain control.
On a scale of one to five, this would be about a two and half to three.
Experiment with different grip pressure variations on a practice green to find the one that works best for you.
However, once you have decided, make sure to maintain the same pressure throught the entire putting stroke. This is a very important fundamental for consistent putting is to keep the pressure from all of the fingers and the thumbs constant throughout the stoke.

Jim Farrell, Head Golf Professional at Oakwood Country Club in Kansas City, Missouri, shares his putting tip for finding the right grip. http://www.odysseygolf.com/

In the next How to Putt Chapter we will be covering the proper setup, posture and eye postion.

Continue to Next Lesson Putting Setup and Posture

Putting Setup - How to Putt Chapter 2

2009-10-07T13:00:00.000-07:00

Overview: In this how to putt chapter we will be covering how your body should be postioned, posture and eye alignment. There are two fundamentals to all good putting posture and that is getting as comfortable as you can and secondly making sure your eyes are directly over the ball at address. Although many professionals have slight variations in their stance, there are key elements that will enable you to be a successful putter.

Setup: First, square the putter head to the ball and target line then position your feet so they are also parallel to the target line.

Your feet should be spread about the width of your shoulders and your weight distributed evenly between both feet .
You now want to align your knees and hips so they are also square to the ball and line of putt.
The ball should be positioned slightly forward of the middle of your stance.

Posture: Bend forward at the hip so your arms hang down in a comfortable manner. You will also want a slight bend in your knees.

Finally, make sure your eyes and shoulders are also parallel to the target line.

The most important things with your putting setup is that your feet, knees, hips and shoulders are parallel to the target line and that your eyes are directly over the ball.

Position of Your Eyes: The position of your eyes in relationship to the ball is very critical.

The putter should come right up the center of the triangle formed by your arms and shoulders.

If your eyes are lined up outside the target line you will not be able to successfully strike the ball squarely to the target line.

First you want to be sure your eyes are directly over the ball and secondly, that your eyes are parrallel to the target line.

A way to test the position of your eyes is to have a friend drop a ball from the bridge between your eyes. If the ball dropped hits your putting ball you will know you are properly set up.

Drop a ball to test your eye position.
If the test ball hits your putting ball you know your eyes are lined up properly.
This is an excellent check before a game on the practice green to make sure you have the proper eye alignment.

Butch Harmon Putting Eye Alignment

World renown golf instructor and golf coach for PGA TOUR stars, Butch Harmon, presents a golf tip that helps you set up the alignment of your eyes in your putting set up.

In the next How to Putt Chapter we will be covering the proper putting stroke fundamentals.

Continue to Next Lesson The Putting Stroke

Putting Stroke - How to Putt Chapter 3

2009-10-06T11:46:00.000-07:00

Overview: The basics of a fundamentally sound putting stoke is one where the lower body stays stationary, the head is properly positioned and the upper body, the arms and shoulders, form a triangular shape and moves with a pendulum motion.

Idealy, you should swing the putter back and through at the same speed with a sense of rhythm. The goal is to return the clubface back to a square position at impact along the the target line and that stokes the ball with topspin towards the hole.

Triangle Pendulum Motion:

To begin with, let us first explain what is meant by forming a triangle with your upper body.

An imaginary triangle is formed between your arms and shoulders. Notice what is meant by this with the image to the right.

Through out your swing you will want to keep this triangle intact and the arms and shoulders working together as one unit.

Then like the pendulum movement of a grandfather clock is how you want to stoke the ball.

You want almost no wrist or hand action because they are too hard to control and keep your putter head square and on the target line. Never allow your wrists to unhinge.

Putting Stoke Length: The lengthen of your backstroke should be about the same distance as your follow through length.

It is important to regulate your distance by changing the length of your stroke and not by trying to apply sudden burst of power with your hands.

For instance, you do not want to make a 30 foot by taking the club back only a few inches and then suddenly trying to hit hard to make the hole.

In the example to the right on a shorter putt the back stroke and follow through length should be the distance of the two inner guide balls. While the two outer balls mark the putting stroke length for a longer putt.

Your goal is a smooth, slow and even pace stroke with the shoulders moving in steady pendulum motion.

The length of the backstroke is an area where some pro trainers recommend different advice. Some advocate the 1/3 - 2/3 rule. That is, take the putter back 1/3 the length and the follow through should be 2/3 of the total length.

However, the one thing that is agreed upon is do not have your backstroke greater than your follow through. Secondly, your controlling distance by varying the length of your stoke.

A fundamental key to successful putting is having your shoulders, arms and putter act as one unit. The stroke is a smooth one piece action upper body motion with no body rotation.

The Role of Your Wrists: Basically, you do not want your wrist to be playing any role in your putting stoke. What you do not want are your wrist to flex like in the photo to the right.

This is normally disastrous and will result in to much play in the putter head. However, on very long putts it is okay for a little amount of wrist hinging because it starts to become too hard to keep your lower body stable and your posture correct.

But never the less, keep in mind that you only want to use your wrists only as much as is absolutely necessary.

The Backswing: Begin to move the putter head back along the target line.

Use your triangle and keep your lower body body still and your head still with your eye focused on the ball.

Remember the length of the backstroke will dictate the length of the putt.

As you move your putter back along the target line your left should will lower and your right shoulder will rise. See the image to the right, the left shoulder lowers while the head remains steady.

Down Swing: The most important thing is to return the club head square at impact. Keep your arms, hands and shoulders working together and your putter should be low to the ground.

Maintain a smooth and steady pace and let the club naturally accelerate.

Your shoulders will rotate during your stroke while your head and lower body remains still.

Maintain a constant putter speed through out your stroke.

The Follow Through: The left wrist should remain flat and the right shoulder will lower. The putting stroke will continue along the target line until the length is the same as the backswing.

Keep a Steady Head: Never look up until well after you hit the ball and fully completed your back swing. Many golfers simply fail at this even though they know not to peek and are anxious to look up. A good practice tip to incorporate into your routine is to count to two before looking up.

Lower Body: Keep your feet, knees and hips from moving and your lower body should not have any movement. Any movement in this area will throw off your upper body and prevent a correct swing path

Wrists: Keep your left wrist flat during impact and follow through. If your wrists bend during impact they may add unnecessary power to the putt or change the putter head direction.

Eyes: Remember to position your eyes directly over the ball. They should always be parallel to the target line of the putt.

Pace and Rhythm: The feeling of your swing should be one of a smooth, flowing motion. Do not force the pace of your swing but do accelerate through the ball. The putter should have the same pace on the backswing and follow through but it is important that it gains speed as it strikes the ball

Putting is a game itself within the game of golf. It takes time and practice to master but with patience and concentrating on developing the proper fundamentals anyone can become good at putting.

In the next two How to Putt Chapters we will be covering how to effectively read greens.

Continue to Next Lesson Reading Greens Part One

Reading Greens Part One - Chapter 4

2009-10-05T11:49:00.000-07:00

Overview: Learning how to putt not only takes a good understanding of putting stroke fundamentals but to master putting one needs to learn how to effectively read greens. Reading greens and determining your line of putt is probably more of an art than a science. But with an understanding of what to look for and how a ball will react to certain conditions on the green will help you become an expert at reading greens.

It does take practice time to get good at and a lot of experimenting with various green conditions but there is no doubt that if you can read the slope of the greens well you will dramatically lower your score.

Survey the Green: Start by surveying the the overall lay out of the green from a distance. When your approaching the green and are about 20 to 30 feet away get a general idea of the layout.

Is the green on a whole tilting left or sloping right or is it relatively flat.
Are there any lakes or ponds around, balls will normally roll towards water.
Are there any mountains nearby, balls will roll away from mountains.

Notice the green above is not laying perfectly flat. In the far left hand corner you will see a pond. And under closer observation you can see a slight overall tilt of the green slanting towards the pond.

On the green below it is clear that the overall green is slanting in one direction however inside the green there are several slopes.

Determining the direction of the grain of the green is next while approaching green.

From where your standing if the grass looks shiny, then the grain is facing away from you and the ball will roll a little faster.

If the grass looks darker, then the grain is facing towards you and the roll will roll slower

Slope and Direction: Your first goal in reading greens is to determine the slope of your putt in order to figure how much the ball may break when you putt. Do you have a left to right or a right to left break. Also you need to determine if it is an uphill, flat or downhill putt.

- Squat down behind the ball and visualize the slope.

- Cup your hands around your eyes to block out any distractions and it will help you better focus.

- Begin to determine how much break and in which direction.

- Now try imagining if you pour a bucket of water from where your standing how would the water flow and in which direction. What you want to do is visualize the roll of ball.

Some people are even able to picture the entire green as a grid with guide lines running in both directions in order to better see how the ball will roll.

Next walk clockwise left and get a side view. Then survey close the last 10-12" inches around the hole.

The ball will loses most of it's speed when approaching the hole and any slight dip or grain of the grass will begin to significantly effect the balls direction.

Remember, the faster the ball is moving the less break it will have and the slower it is moving the more it will be effected by the break.

Stand well behind the hole facing the ball. You are still gathering all the information you can for formulating a decision.

Walk clockwise again to get another side view from the opposite side of the intended target line.

Putts that break from right to left means the slope of the green rises from left to right when standing behind your ball.

Try and pick out the high point of the break in your putt.

By now you should have a fairly good idea of the slope and how the ball should break. You also have clear idea on the direction of the target line and can visualize this in your mind.

Uphill and Downhill Putts: When determining your target line understand that downhill putts will play more of the break, while uphill putts will be effected less by the break.
For example, let us assume two 30 foot putts, one uphill and one downhill. On the downhill putt your going to hit the ball with less force because gravity is going to take over and carry the ball to the hole. So at impact the ball is going to be moving slower and therefore be more effected by the break.

On the other hand, in order to have enough speed to get to the hole on the uphill putt you will have to hit the ball harder. Immediately after you strike the ball the ball will be moving faster and be effected less by the break. As the ball approaches the hole and losses speed it will suddenly begin to break much more.

Putting Tip: On long putts, measure the distance of your putt based on the number paces you take from your ball to the hole while you are reading the green.

For example, if your looking at a 30 to 40 foot putt but are not quite sure of the distance, count how many paces you are taking from your ball to hole while your surveying the green. If your pace is about 3 feet and you took 10 paces then you have a more accurate reading and your putting distance is about 30 feet.

Use these measurements to become more consistent, rather than rough estimating the distance and also the amount of speed your going to apply to the ball.

In the next How to Putt Chapter on reading greens we will be covering how to choose your spot and go into greater detail on how to play breaks.

Continue to Reading Greens Part Two

Reading Greens Part Two - Chapter 4

2009-10-03T12:11:00.000-07:00

Choosing Your Spot: In our last how to putt chapter you got a good understanding of the slope and how the ball is going to roll. Your goal now is to Pick Out a Spot that you are going to aim towards and how much speed is going to be needed.

Although you have a mental picture of the putt breaking in some direction, you now want to Think about your Putt as a Straight Line.

By thinking about your putt as a straight line you are actually simplifying the task at hand. Remember the slope of the green is what is going to make the ball curve not your stroke.

Choose an imaginary spot past the point as to where the ball will break.

This is where you will be lining up your putt towards.

Now it is a judgment decision as to how much speed you need to apply to the ball.

It is very important to align your body to this imaginary straight target line and also have your putter head square to the ball.

Also, one of the most common mistakes golfers do is that they under estimate the break. After you have an idea as to how the ball will break it is best to slightly over play it.

Your spot to aim for and speed is a judgment decision based on the angle and the degree of the slope and all of the factors you have considered up to this point.

Other final factors to consider are the general conditions of the green, such as, is the grass cut short or dried out or any morning dew .

Let us walk through three examples that will better illustrate the thought process of Choosing your Spot and Determining Speed.

Straight Flat Putt with No Slope or Break

For this example will assume this is a 10 foot putt with no break and our target line is perfectly flat.

Our spot we are aiming for (the blue circle on our diagram) is about six inches directly past the hole.

So we are going to apply a long enough length in our putter stroke, ie speed to the ball, as if we are making a ten and half foot putt.

The reason for the extra six inches is make sure we do not come up short. If we do miss we are only left with a tap in.

Straight Uphill Putt with No Break

Now our putting distance in this example is still 10 feet but we are putting directly uphill with no break to account for.

Based on the slope of the hill we have estimated that in order to make it up the hill we would have to hit the ball with the same speed we would for a 12 foot putt that was on a perfectly flat lie.

So now we line up and make the same stroke we would for a 12 foot putt.

We have our spot and our distance is the amount of speed we need for a 12 foot putt.

Straight Uphill Putt that Breaks Right

Now in our final example we still have a 10 foot putt uphill but our hill rises from left to right leaving us with a putt that is going to break right.

We are going to move our imaginary spot over to the left to account for the break. The amount of speed we are going to apply is the same as if we were making a 12 foot putt.

The only thing we are adding to our putt from the previous example is shifting the spot we are aiming for and therefore our target line.

When we line up our putt we want to be parallel to this imaginary target line ( the yellow line in our diagram). At this point all we are making is a straight 12 foot putt.

The hill will keep the ball from going 12 feet and as the ball loses speed towards the last few feet the slope will cause it to roll right.

What we have just done is take an uphill putt with a slope that rises left to right and simplified it into a straight putt.

In short, all our analyses of reading the green is going to come down to choosing the spot we need to aim towards and apply enough speed to the ball to get it there.

Think about your Putt as a Straight Line. By thinking about your putt as a straight line you are actually simplifying the task at hand. Remember the contour of the green is what is going to make the ball curve not your stroke.

Final Advice:
Three Foot Rule: For long putts imagine a three foot circle around the hole and your goal is to get your putt within that circle.

This not only helps to simplify your but also helps to take some of the pressure off. Even for professional golfers they only sink a few putts over twenty feet.

Make it a habit to always apply enough speed to your putts to get the ball past the hole. "Never Up, Never In", is a true philosophy and you will increase the number of putts you make.

Mark Your Ball: Put a line on your golf balls with a magic marker or use the manufactures name to line your ball up with the target line. This is a great aid in helping you align your body properly to the target line.

For putts that have a break, a common problem with golfers is they think they are putting spin on the ball to get it to break.

This mind set will often have them line up improperly and either come inside-out or outside-in of the correct target line.

The result is a open face club head and the ball will go right or a closed face club head and the ball will go left.

Make a Commitment: Once you decide on how your going to make your putt commit to it. While your taking your stroke and start to second yourself you will often make a poor putt. If you do start to change your mind at the last minute just stop and walk away from the ball and re-think it.

Reading Greens by Jeff Ritter

Jeff goes over a easy to follow example of how to read a green.

He breaks down his routine into a Simple 5 Step Process for reading greens.

http://www.jeffrittergolf.com/

In the next How to Putt Chapter we will be covering the importance of a pre-shot routine in order to become consistent in your putting game.

Continue to Next Lesson PrePutt Routine

PrePutt Routine - How to Putt Chapter 5

2009-10-03T12:00:00.000-07:00

From the moment you get on the green it is time to begin to figure out how you will sink the putt. The final how to putt key here is to have a routine that will cover all the steps in which you need to make good decisions and to perform that same routine exactly the same way every time without fail.

The more information that you can gather, the better decisions you will make.

By getting in the habit of following the same routine every time you will know that you have covered all the bases and have not forgot anything.

For example, is there a lake or pond nearby (the ball will tend to break towards them) or is there an overall tilt to the green that you can only detect from stepping back. Only after considering those factors is it time to studying the line of your putt.

With that in mind below is a Eight Step Routine that you can use as your putting Routine:

(1) Before trying to determine the line of putt, you should first take a careful examination of the overall layout of the green and the features around it. What your actually doing is taking a macro analysis first. Take this view while you are approaching the green and you are still about 10 or 15 yards away.

(2) Take your first close view of the putt by squatting down directly behind the ball and facing the hole. You want to start to formulate the correct line, slope and speed.

(3) Walk to the right and take a side view to help in your decision making

Putting Tip: On long putts, measure the distance of your putt based on the number paces you take from your ball to the hole while you are reading the green.

For example, if your looking at a 30 to 40 foot putt but are not quite sure of the distance, count how many paces you are taking from your ball to hole while your surveying the green. If your pace is about 3 feet and you took 10 paces then you have a more accurate reading and your putting distance is about 30 feet.

Use these measurements to become more consistent, rather than rough estimating the distance and also the amount of speed your going to apply to the ball.

(4) Next examine the area around the hole close up for anything unusual and then walk behind the hole and crouch down to get another view.

(5) Walk back to the ball clockwise so you will have a left side view and this will have given you a complete look at all angles.

(6) After determining your line of putt, stand parallel to the target line and make two practice stokes.

(7) Square the putter head to the ball and set your feet.

(8) Take a final look at your line by swiveling your head and take your stoke.

The key purpose to a putting routine is that it assures you that you have gathered all the information you are going to need.

By doing so it builds confidence and helps to put you in the right frame of mind.

If you watch the professional players their routines never vary and if they do get distracted they go right back to the beginning and start over.

In the next How to Putt Chapter we will be going over common putting problems and how to cure them.

Continue to Next Lesson Curing Putting Problems

Curing Problems - How to Putt Chapter 6

2009-10-02T12:04:00.000-07:00

Golf Putting YIPS

Many golfers including professionals may at some time experience what is called the "Putting Yips". What this is is a anxiety condition that results in a golfer making jerky putting stokes when confronted with a seemly easy short putt.

It is that common fear we face when we need to make that crucial short putt.

Taken to an extreme it can paralyze the golfer with fear.

Although the problem is psychological in nature and very difficult to analyze, it can be overcome.

The first thing to understand is that most of the time the problem is created from negative mental thoughts. This in turns causes the golfer to lose his feel and rhythm and putt with a choppy stroke with to much wrist action and often looking up too soon.

Below are five recommendations to try if you are experiencing the yips. They are primarily designed to help strengthen and build your self confidence level and remember....

Developing Confidence in your Putting Game is Crucial.

1 - Stop taking "gimme putts". By not taking the short one or two foot putts you are telling your subconscious that your not good enough to make these often enough. After a period of time the mind starts to move the gimme putt range father and father away from the hole. Slowly deteriorating your self confidence until one day you start to become fearful of any short putt.

Begin immediately to take every putt. You know your capable of making them almost every time and after a while you will gain a great deal of self confidence. In the beginning do not worry at all about making them because you know in the longer run it is going to pay off handsomely.

2 - Practice Short Putt: Start and end your time on the practice green taking one, two and three foot short putts. There is no better way of building self confidence then by making a putt. Even if you only have a little amount of time on the practice green before a game, use that time to sink some short putts.

3 - Visualize a Successful Putt: Get rid of any negative thoughts and always see the putt in your mind going in the hole before you take the stroke. In the words of Henry Ford, "If you think your right..your right, if you think your wrong...your wrong." Same holds true for putting. If you think your going to miss, you will miss...if you think you are going to make it, you will make it.

4 - Focus on Your Best Putt: Use your memory bank to your advantage. We all at one time have made a really great putt. Use that thought while your reading the green and getting set up for your next. Remember that great feeling you had when you sank that putt. Remembering that feeling will help strengthen your self confidence.

5 - Do Not Over Analyze: Spending too much time over the ball can cause you to develop doubt and you begin to second guess yourself and eventually freeze up. Simply, trust in yourself and use your positive thoughts. Once you have decided how your going make the putt commit to your decision and your natural instincts will take over.

Unstable Lower Body Problem: In an ideal putting stroke you want your lower body still and stable, the stoke will come from the shoulders and arms working as one unit. If your putting stroke suffers from too much lower body try this tip.

To help keep your lower body stable put a small throw pillow between your thighs and squeeze gently during some of your practice putting routines. By having the legs hold the pillow in place from falling, it helps keep the lower body occupied. It tends to give you the feeling if you go to move or sway the pillow will fall. You can also try this tip with a softball or towel rolled up.

Correcting Ball Alignment: It is extremely important to have not only your eyes over the ball but to also have your feet, hips and shoulders all parallel to target line. After squatting down behind the ball and determining your target line, you can some times be off when you stand up and set up to the ball.

If your having trouble seeing the imaginary target line you have decided on then make a magic marker line on your golf balls or use the manufactures name as a guide.

Many average golfers do not make use of this simple technique while every professional will pick up their ball, align the line on the golf ball to their target line and replace it while still squatting behind the ball.

That small line that your able to look down on will help you create a visual reference point for your eye alignment and set your body parallel to that line.

This helps make lining up the ball a lot easier. By using this small visual reference point you can now make sure the putter head is square to the ball and the target line.

It also helps in getting your body parallel to the correct target line.

Looking Up Too Soon:
Many average golfers have a problem of too short of a follow through length. The reason for this is because they look up too soon. They do not complete the stroke because they are to anxious to see where the ball went. This results is their shoulders will turn too soon and the putter clubface will not be square to the target line.

If this is a problem for you, try counting to two in your mind before looking up. You want to form a habit that is second nature of staying down well after the follow through of your stoke is finished.

Another technique is to close your left eye during your practice putting session. That way you get in the habit of staying only focused on the ball and target line. The urge to peek too soon is awfully tempting and takes disciple to correct.

Mental Tip on Long Putts:
On long putts visualize a three foot circle around the hole and your goal is to get your putt in side that circle.

Even professionals do not sink very many putts over twenty feet. By mentally imaging a wide goal to putt to it helps reduce the pressure of the putt allowing you to be more relaxed.

Realistically you want to eliminate those three putt greens. The average golfer has a ninety percent change or better of sinking a three foot putt.

Now that you have a good foundation on how to putt it is time to begin practicing with Golf Putting Drills that well help you fine tune your game.

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To Really Learn the Fundamentals of Putting

we Recommend the PurePoint Putting DVD

PurePoint Performance Putting DVD
by Bobby Eldridge Head Teaching Golf Professional

These lessons are jam-packed with all the information you need to gain a consistent, repeatable putting stroke, accurately control your distances and get a straight-as-an-arrow putting stroke.

This training program is a proven "cut-to-the-chase", highly effective, step-by-step formula for becoming a better putter.

The instructions are easy to follow and you can devour a lot of information in a short period of time, and then instantly (as in right now) go out and follow the step-by-step instruction and start putting better immediately.

The Putting Techniques you will learn Will Have You Rapidly Putting Like a Touring Pro, Flawlessly Sinking Putts on Every Hole, and Easily Slashing 8-to-10 Strokes Off Your Game !

Click Here for More Information

How To Putt A Golf Ball

2009-10-01T09:16:00.000-07:00

How To Putt A Golf Ball - Surely It Not This Easy For Beginners
Author: Kenh Jones

Picture the scene - You have managed to get onto the par 4 green in 2 and now have a chance for a Birdie. You coolly walk onto the green and mark your ball and repair that pitch mark with pride. Then you consider your next shot and you realise you have no idea how to get that ball into the hole in one shot. You do not know how to putt a golf ball.

They don't teach you putting in a driving range. The putting practice areas are never the same surface as the greens on the course. So you are faced with this great opportunity to win a hole in your golf match and yet you do not have a strategy for giving it your best shot. Now I am not guaranteeing that these tips will make you the next Padraig Harrington but for beginners they will help you learn how to putt a golf ball.

Putting Tip 1. Aim straight at the hole

For 95% of your shots you should be aiming straight at the hole. As a beginner you will not have all the skills and experience to read the greens so why all the pretence. I outrage my playing partners on the golf course by simply looking at my putting shot from a standing position and getting a general view of it. I am more likely to be thinking about the pace of the ball and whether it is downhill or uphill rather than any sideways slopes. If it is blindingly obvious that you are putting across a sideways slope then make an adjustment - this is for the 5% of shots. But for most of them go straight for the hole.

Putting Tip 2. - Imagine the hole is a metre wide.

To get the pace right you should be trying to get your first putt to within a metre of the hole. By imagining such a large area as your target you will reduce your 3 putts and make a lot of them 2 putts. Most golfers would reckon they could get the ball into a 2 metre wide hole. So do that.

Putting Tip 3. - See the ball into the hole

Before I strike the ball I imagine its route of travel across the putting surface into the hole. I consider the pace that I will need to strike the golf ball in particular.

Putting Tip 4. - Hold your breath

So you know where you are aiming and you know how hard you are going to hit the golf ball. When you are about to hit the golf ball, hold your breath - or at least do not breathe deeply. I address the ball and do 2 practice shots. Then I line up my real shot aiming for the hole and assess how I can get it into a 2 metres wide hole. Then I take a conscious breath in and out, wait 2 or 3 seconds and strike the ball. My focus is completely on striking the ball cleanly and at the correct pace. Because I am not breathing (so to speak) or moving in any other way my bodies focus is on the putt completely.

Count up your putting strikes next round and then practice these tips. See if you can reduce your putts by 9 in the next 3 months

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/how-to-putt-a-golf-ball-surely-it-not-this-easy-for-beginners-547334.html

About the Author:
Remember you are only as good as your personal golf swing . Use these golf tips to make your game better and much more enjoyable http://www.your-golf-tips.com/

How to Putt Like a Pro

2009-10-01T09:08:00.000-07:00

Golf - How to Putt Like a Pro
By Robin Boddy

Whether you having been playing golf for years or you are relatively new to the game, more than likely if there is one area that you need some work on, it is your putting. You may be amazing at driving the golf ball a long ways, and you may even hit the green fairly well from a long distance, but if you cannot putt, winning will be very difficult. Much of the skill of golf is actually shown when you are putting on the green, and you can golf like a champ if you know how to putt like a pro. The following are some tips that can help you show off the next time you are putting on the green.

Tip #1 - Visualize - One of the most important things you can do to improve your putting is to visualize the putt. Try to visualize in your mind how the green moves and how you want the ball to move over the green into the hole. Once you get the picture in your mind, it is much easier to make the ball go into the cup for the big finish of your game.

Tip #2 - Practice - Probably the most important tip to putting like a pro is to practice. You can read tips on improving your putt all day long, but if you do not take the time to practice those tips they will never be able to help you. Take some time to practice putting until you feel comfortable and confident with your putting techniques.

Tip #3 - Avoid Using the Hands - Many people make the mistake of using their hands and wrists when they are putting, and while this is great for a very short putt, it will not help you out on the long putts that you are trying to master. Instead of using your wrists and hands, be sure that you actually use your arms and shoulders when you are trying to putt. If you are constantly coming up short on your putts, check how you are putting. More than likely you are using your hands and wrists instead of your arms and shoulders for the putt.

Tip #4 - Aim Just Past the Hole - Especially when you are putting uphill, you will want to be sure that you aim just past the hole. This helps you make sure that the ball goes into the cup instead of falling a few inches short.

Remember, most of your golf game is about how you putt, so be sure that you start taking time to work on improving your putt. Start using these tips and you are sure to improve the way you putt, which will help you improve your golf game as a whole. Before you know it all your practice will have you putting like a pro. For a free golf newsletter bestgolftipsplus.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robin_Boddy http://EzineArticles.com/?Golf---How-to-Putt-Like-a-Pro&id=591218

Video on Putting Lesson Basics

2009-09-30T10:19:00.000-07:00

by PGA Professional Ted Stonehouse

Visit Bell Bay Golf Club's Golf Academy in Baddeck, Cape Breton Island, Award winning Canadian PGA Professional Ted Stonehouse, teaching putting fundamentals. Bell Bay Golf Club is one of Canada's finest golf courses open to the public for daily green fee play, Bell Bay Golf Academy open to public for golf schools and private lessons. For more information please visit us at http://www.bellbay.ca/

Golf Putting Tips For Reading Greens

2009-09-30T10:13:00.000-07:00

by Scott Myers

If your like me, you tend to think about golf 24-7, and what you need to do with your putting game to lower your scores and play better golf. Now the biggest difference between the weekend hacker and a Pro on tour is the ability to score with their short game, more specifically, putting.

You can spend all the hours in the day practicing your putting stroke, distance control, grip, stance, and alignment (which will obviously improve your putting), but in order to be a great putter you need to hone your ability to read the greens. A high handicap golfer will tend to just walk up to the ball, take a quick glance at the putt, address the ball and take the putt. A low handicapper however, will spend the majority of their time reading the break of the green to line up their putt. Better golfers know that a good putting stroke makes little difference if you can't predict how the ball will behave once it starts rolling.

The best way for the average golfer to read greens is to forget what they see the Pros doing. You have to remember, these guys have an incredible amount of experience over you when it comes to being able to accurately read greens. If you're a novice or beginner golfer, get down on your hands and knees, (don't worry about looking silly when doing this) and take a good look at the ground between your ball and the hole. You'll want to look for any imperfections on the surface of the green and how you think the will affect the way the ball will roll.

Determine if your putt will be an uphill, or downhill putt, and try to estimate the playing distance of the putt. Take in to consideration if the grass is dry or damp. The drier and more firm the green, the longer the ball will roll when compared to the same putt on a slightly damp green.

The way the grass has been cut can also be a factor in how long the ball rolls when struck by the putter. The closer the grass is cut the faster the ball will roll. Longer grass will slow the ball down causing the ball to roll a shorter distance.

As you can see, many different factors come into play when reading greens properly. Learning to read greens is an extremely important skill when it comes to shooting lower scores and playing our best golf out on the course. After all, we drive for show - and putt for dough!

Scott Myers has helped golfers of all skill levels start shooting the best golf scores of their life by teaching a simple, step-by-step putting formula designed to drop 9-to-11 strokes in as little as 5 minutes.

To learn more about his breakthrough method, visit: Breakthrough Putting Secrets Revealed today.

Five Most Common Putting Mistakes

2009-09-29T09:57:00.000-07:00

by: Jack Moorehouse

No one's shocked anymore when Tiger Woods drills a 20-foot putt to win a championship. He's one of the best clutch putters in the game. But did you know that when he practices putting Tiger spends more time working on short putts than long putts. That's right. One media sources estimates he spends about 65 percent of the time he spends practicing putting working on short putts.

Most putts are from 5 to 15 feet. These short putts probably make up about 25-30 percent of your total score. You don't need a golf lesson to figure out that if you sink more of these short putts, you'd lower your golf handicap by at least a couple of strokes. Unfortunately, weekend golfers tend to commit too many mistakes when facing short putts. Here are some common mistakes golfers make when putting and some drills on how to eliminate them.

Confidence is the Key

Many golfers flinch when they putt. Or, they rush the putt so much their stroke becomes choppy and uneven. You can become a great putter if your putting stroke is smooth and free flowing. Creating good rhythm in your putting stroke is the best way of eliminating flinching and rushing. No matter what style of putting you use, if you flinch or rush you'll probably miss lot of putts. Unfortunately, most golfers concentrate more on sinking putts than working on developing a smooth stroke.

Next time you're on the practice green, make some smooth pendulum strokes with your eyes closed. As you make your stroke, count out a simple cadence "one-two." "one-two." Once you feel a good flow, have a friend place a ball at his discretion in the path of your putter head. No knowing when the ball is coming helps eliminate the flinching or rushing that can cause you to miss those short putts.

No Putting Ritual

Another common mistake in putting is a lack of putting ritual. If watch Tiger Woods, Fred Funk, or Sergio Garcia putt, you'll notice that they all have a putting ritual. Their rituals are all different. One player walks all around the putt before stepping up to hit it. Another takes his practice strokes behind the ball. But the one thing that's not different is that they use the same ritual every time they make a putt, regardless of the length or difficulty. Develop your own putting ritual. Base it on sound putting techniques and what makes you feel comfortable. And use it every time you have a putt. You'll find that a ritual not only relaxes you and helps build confidence in your putting.

Worry about Outcomes

Weekend players worry too much about the outcome of a short putt. What if I miss the putt? This places a lot of pressure on the golfer. Since the pressure of outcomes is tied directly to the hole, try eliminating it when you practice to relieve the pressure. Next time you're on the practice green, work on drills that improve your putting accuracy without using the hole. For example, place a scorecard over the hole and try to roll the ball over the card, so that the ball ends about two feet past the hole. These drills will improve your accuracy without the added pressure of sinking the putt.

Choking the Putter

A common mistake I see in my golf instruction sessions on putting is players gripping their putters too tightly. Some players grip their putters so tight, their hands almost turn white. A soft and constant grip pressure is vital to maintaining a smooth, free-flowing stroke and creating better "feel" when putting. For players who think they may be choking the putter, try holding an uncooked egg between your right index finger (or left index finger, if your left-handed) and the shaft of your putter. Now drop a few balls and stroke some putts. If your grip is too tight, you'll soon know.

Too Handsy

Another common mistake I see in golf instruction sessions on putting is players using too much of their hands in their putting stroke. Being too handsy eliminates the true feel of a smooth, free-swinging pendulum and cause jerky inconsistent putts. One remedy is to use a belly putter. Simply anchor the putter to a comfortable point on your midsection and swing away. Add a "one-two" count to the stroke to improve rhythm. This approach reduces the amount of movement in the smaller muscles in your hand and keeps the blade on plane.

Eliminating these common mistakes from your putting will not only build rhythm in your putting stroke, they'll also help increase your confidence in your putting. That's big. Ask any professional golfer what the key to great putting is and he or she will probably tell you it's confidence. Great putters are shocked when they miss a short putt. That's how confident they are. To improve your golf handicap, you need to work on things that build confidence and increase accuracy your short putting.
Copyright (c) 2007 Jack Moorehouse

About The Author

Jack Moorehouse is the author of the best-selling book “How To Break 80 And Shoot Like The Pros.” He is NOT a golf pro, rather a working man that has helped thousands of golfers from all seven continents lower their handicap immediately. He has a free weekly newsletter with the latest golf tips, golf lessons and golf instruction. How to Break 80

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2009-09-13T11:52:00.000-07:00

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