Putting can make the difference between going home with a scorecard full of bogeys and shooting the round of your life. Some of the most difficult elements of putting, such as lining up a putt, can be remedied with a few tweaks that can improve your game and lower your handicap.
Draw a Line
One of the more difficult aspects of putting is lining up your ball. As you crouch behind the ball and check the read of the green, you’ll see an angle that’s different than when you stand over the ball. Before your round, draw a straight, 1 inch long line on your ball. When you reach the green, mark your ball, determine the line of the putt, and then replace your ball with the 1 inch line projecting the line to the hole. When you’re standing over the ball, all the reading has been done and the only thing left is to hit the ball. This method is used by many professional golfers.
Don’t Look Up
If you’re missing a lot of short or straight putts, chances are you’re looking up too soon. Looking up before you complete your stroke can pull the club face up and pull or push your ball in the wrong direction. You might be eager to see whether your ball is headed for the cup, but relax and allow your follow-through to work its magic. Next time you have a pressure putt, don’t look up until a few seconds after your clubface hits the ball. Once you get the hang of making sure you do a full follow-through, you’ll be hearing the ball drop into the cup before you see it.
Find the Sweet Spot
Some putters come with a dot or line that indicates where the sweet spot is. But if your putter isn’t marked, you might be hitting off the sweet spot. Take your putter in your left hand, holding it with just your thumb and first finger so it is hanging in the air. Now take a ball and tap the ball on the face of the putter. Anywhere other than the sweet spot, and the putter will wobble as it moves. Hitting the sweet spot will cause the putter to move straight back without wobbling. Once you’ve found it, mark the sweet spot with a touch of paint so you’ll know where it is during your round.
About this Author
James Patterson specializes in health and wellness topics, having written and produced material for the National Institutes of Health, the President’s Cancer Panel, and an Inc. 500 Hall of Fame company. He is also a former sportswriter, with writing experience in basketball, baseball, softball, golf and other popular sports, and writes relevant sports titles.
