Reduce those Putts…….DJ - 09.28.08
Have you ever recorded how many putts you take per round???
Tour Players do, tour players record all their stats… But the number of putts taken per round is usually highest in importance, along with greens in regulation. The number of putts you take in relation to the number of greens you hit per round, is a sure fire way of knowing where your game needs improvement.
Next time you play and you mark your scores on the scorecard, mark down how many putts you took on that hole. At the end of the round, total your putts up as well as your actual score… You will soon see a variety of numbers.
On good days, you may only take 30-32 putts, which is excellent and in a round of 90 is 30% of total shots, and very good. Other days, when you do not have the speed, you don’t quite have the line and you struggle all day, you may take 38-40 putts, 44% of shots, in a round of 90.
As we all know, all golfers are different. We swing different; we think different and more importantly we putt different. Just look at all the different putters on the market, the grips that are used and the putting stances adopted; no one is quite the same!
Therefore, why do we often neglect the infamous ‘Flat Stick’? The club that we may use 44% of the round!! 44%, if you consider you may use a driver 14 times maximum, on a par 72, that is 16% hits in a round of 90!!!
But you all know the feeling, you get to the course, and the last thing you want to do is spend 20 minutes on your putting…
So here is a 10 minute session that will help your putting routine improve and hopefully make you hole more putts, and lower your scores!!!
STEP 1 – Create and repeat a routine!!! All good putters have a routine. The number of practice swings you take, the number of looks at the hole, your grip pressure and position.
These factors, tour players just take for granted. It is all part of their routine. Create and practice a routine… and repeat it every time!!!
STEP 2 – Length of stroke – As far as you take the putter back, follow through just as far. The most common miss-hits occur due to decelerating the putter through the ball. This will produce an inconsistent strike and often result in a pull or a push!
STEP 3 – Accelerate – As with every shot, even with the putter you have to accelerate. As mentioned in Step 2, allow the putter to swing through with some acceleration.
STEP 4 – Hold your finish low – How often do you see a playing partner hold their putter up in the air, even before the ball has reached the hole. All good putters will hold the finish of their stroke until the ball is well on its way, and often on short putts will keep their head down and eyes fixed on the impact point, to ensure a solid strike.
STEP 5 – Practice your green reading – To hole more putts, you have to be able to read greens. When you approach a green, look at the slope of the green, the different shades of green, where the water is etc etc… All these factors come into play when reading greens.
STEP 6 – PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE!!!! More so than any other club, you have to practice putting.
We all know putting is frustrating, time consuming, and not as exciting as hitting long straight drives.
However, what better feeling is there than holing that 20 footer for birdie on the 18th hole to win your match!!!! So get out there and practice, it all helps.............
