How to Putt a Golf Ball – Surely it not this easy for beginners
September 10th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
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
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Sources of Good Golf Tips
March 29th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed
Whether you’re a seasoned professional or brand new to the game of golf, you probably have a lot of questions. How can I improve my swing, which golf balls are best, which golf clubs are best for my skill level, etc. There are many sources available for you to obtain answers to your questions and golf tips to improve your score. You can find some of the best golf tips, on all topics imaginable, at the following sources:
- golf magazines;
- golf books;
- golfing websites;
- training videos, books, etc.;
- take lessons, either group lessons or individual;
- other golfers who are better than you, etc.
Since there are many sources of golf tips, you will need to do your research before choosing one. There are too many to review them all.
When trying to sort through the various golf tips and training materials available, consider consulting experts to narrow your options. You can start by seeing which training materials are recommended by national golf magazines, the golf channel, golf professionals, golf trainers, your local golf pro shop or other good golfers that you know. Once you find some of the best recommended golf tips or training materials, begin studying them and applying the techniques.
It’s easy to get overwhelmed or confused if you are receiving golf tips from multiple sources, so pick one source and begin using it. Once you have mastered that technique or found the golf tips that work for you, move on to the next source. Noone source has all the right information and golf tips for every golfer.
When I first started golfing, I had taken a golf class and a few lessons from two different people. Although the basic golf swing technique was identical, each source had slight variations which were unique. It was very confusing to perfect by golf swing when I had too many variations to consider. Sometimes too much information can cause more harm than good. Every golf professional has their own unique golf swing, there is no miracle swing that works the same for everyone.
I think the best place to get solid golf tips and training, is a source that you can review over and over again. This may include a golf training video, book or other medium. The point is that you can continuously review the material. Repetition enhances learning, which will allow you to apply the techniques that you are learning. If you merely review the material once, you will likely forget the material and will never implement the golf tips that you are trying to learn.
If you can afford to take private lessons on a regular basis, this can also be a great source to obtain the golf tips and training that you need. The key is whether or not it is something that you can repeat on a regular basis with the same person. Different golf trainers have different techniques. When you are just starting out, consistency is probably most important. Once you have the golf basics down and you are ready for advanced golf techniques, you can become more adventurous.
Golf training can include many different areas: your grip, your stance, your swing, reading the golf green and golf specific exercises. It is important to consider all areas in order to ensure that your golf training is well balanced.
