Lessons - Short Putting
Missing short five foot putts is just about the most frustrating thing in golf, yet unsurprisingly it is an incredibly common problem. Following are some tips and practise games that will help you rolls these putts in no problem.
There are two approaches to short putts
Somepeople try to drop the ball into the hole, ie putt the ball so it just makes it into the hole and no more. In doing this they need to take into account even the smallest of changes in the level or lay of the green.
The other approach is to hit the ball with some force, straight towards the hole. This takes any element of lay out of the equation, as the ball has enough velocity to cancel out any effect the ground has on its path. However, if the line is out than any more than half an inch, the ball could roll well past the hole and even off the green. You need to decide which method is for you. The first method requires more skill in reading the greens. This is probably for more advanced player. Do not let this put you off if you are only a begginer, the only way to become better at it is through practise. The second method requires more accuracy in your line. This also requires practise. We will talk about practise method later.
The technical side off things
As usual, visualise your shot and know which method you want to use. There is nothing worse than indecision when putting. Take your stance and focus on you target. For short putts, I like to have my feet slightly closer together, and hold the club slighty further down the shaft. This is just really personal preference. It makes me feel like a more solid, smaller unit, and I feel I have more controll over the ball. When you are ready, swing the club back slowly untill the putter head is about in line wth your ankle. There really should not be much of a backswing. Pause at the top, then swing down and push thorugh the ball. It is important to keep you head down, well after the ball has gone. Make a concious effort not to look where the ball has gone.
Both of these methods require immense accuracy. To improve, there is a simple game that can be used. When practising your putting, instead of putting at the hole, take an ordinary tee, and dig it into the grass just at the back of the hole. Now instead of putting at the hole, putt at the tee. Keep doing this and your accuracy will improve. Then once you go back to putting at a normal sized hole, the hole will feel much bigger and you will have no problems slotting the ball home.
A great book on this subject that I would recommend reading is "Putting out of your mind" by Dr. Bob Rotella. He is the sports psychologist of choice among the world's top golfers, and a established author. If you can read any of his books, it will really assist your game.
For more advice watch our Putting Video.
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