Putting – The Most Important Part of the Game

There are many factors to becoming a good putter such as; technique, experience and a lot of practice. Most importantly, you have to believe you’re a good putter and have confidence in what you’re doing.

First, let’s start with the grip, your connection to the club. The most common grip is the reverse overlap. There seems to be new and different methods of holding the putter that arise every golf season. There is no right or wrong way to grip the putter, whatever works for each individual golfer. When gripping the putter try to hold it as lightly as possible, this will improve your feel and relieve tension when making your putting stroke.

When addressing the ball, you must first get comfortable and relaxed. Your feet and shoulders should be lined up squarely or parallel to your target line. Your feet should be spread apart to about the width of your hips or slightly wider. The ball position should be somewhere between the center of your stance and your left foot instep. This position will allow you to strike the ball on the upswing, to get the ball rolling with topspin as soon as possible.

Next, your eyes should be positioned over the ball so your brain can “see” the putt accurately. When making the stroke, make sure your tempo is even on the backswing and the forward swing. If your tempo is fast, slow or in between, that’s okay, as long as it’s the same in both directions. During the stroke (for right handed golfers) keep the back of the left hand and the palm of the right hand facing your target through impact, also, your putting stroke should be made with your arms and shoulders, not with the wrists.

Positive thinking, confidence and good technique are very important factors to becoming a better putter, but you must also practice. We cannot teach someone how hard to hit the ball, that comes with practice. Consistent putting comes from consistent solid strikes on the middle of the clubface. A solid hit is something you can hear and feel, and that comes with a little bit of practice. The most critical aspect of putting is having a positive attitude. Believing you can make any putt and you frequently will. Believe you can’t make anything and generally you won’t.