Putting Practice Makes Perfect – Golf Putting Instruction
Many professional golfers say that a good putt is the most important part of their golf game. The way you practice, not just how much you practice, can also affect your game.
A little golf putting instruction goes a long way. Here are some tips for beginners or refreshers for seasoned pros.
Maintain a skill set
Keep track of all your drills and practice skills. A skill set is a list of everything you’ve learned before during your training.
Sometimes a basic drill you used in your practice routine gets forgotten under all the new things you’ve learned. If you keep a good list of skill sets, you can rotate all your exercises and make sure you hit all of them.
practice your direction
Be careful when preparing to shoot. Don’t just go out and start putting. Spend a little time during your practice session making sure you have a good, well-balanced starting stance.
Make sure you have good posture, with your back nice and straight. Don’t slouch over the ball. Your weight should be balanced, but resting slightly on your front foot (left foot for right-handers).
One technique for relaxation is to stand for a few minutes in the steering position and let all tension drain from your muscles and body. A little deep breathing can be a good part of the routine.
Your feet should not be too wide. Most trainers recommend that your feet be shoulder-width apart. Also, don’t get too close to the ball. If you find yourself leaning over it like the hunchback of Notre Dame, you’re too close.
get a grip
Always check your grip. It is important to the consistency of your shot that your grip is the same every time. Like the address position, this is an important part of putting that is often overlooked.
For practice purposes, it’s probably best to use your regular grip. Now is not the time to try a new grip that you learned from someone else. You can always work that into another part of your training routine.
Your grip on the ball should be relaxed. When you’re practicing, it’s a good idea to use a lighter grip than you would during play. The idea is to practice the exercise of correct control over the club.
Go with the short putts
When you’re practicing, you want to hit those balls into the stratosphere, but it’s really the short putts that give most golfers a headache. Your putting practice routine should focus more on short shots than long ones. These can be especially tricky.
work on speed
Getting the right putting speed is more than a matter of going as fast as possible. Practice getting the correct control over the club, so you can hit the ball at the correct speed you need to putt.
As you watch your golf game improve over time, never forget to go back to basics from time to time. It never hurts to review the essentials of putting. And always keep your ears open when playing with other golfers. You never know when you might pick up a few golf instructions during the game.