If I Could Only Putt!
By Rhett Myers
- As they say, “if you can’t putt, you can’t score”. There are plenty of good ball strikers with athletic swings, but, if the short stick or magic wand is not working, it will show on the scorecard. Although there are some proper mechanics associated with putting, the mental aspects usually determine the results. For everyone who has ever said, “I can’t putt”, you will probably not be making many putts. Today’s putting tip has to do with seeing the ball into the hole. The best way to help your putting is to allow your subconscious reflexes to take over by letting your eyes tell your fingers how to strike the ball. Line up your putt, take your stance, look at the hole, then look at the ball without any further mental gymnastics. Trust what your eyes have seen, you will become a better putter. Try this to prove the validity of eye/finger coordination. Glance at a pencil on your desk, look away and then reach for the pencil. Nine out of ten times, you will pick up the pencil and you will not even have to think about it. The same works in putting.
- Five additional putting tips:
- Alignment – feet left of the target, putter face aiming where you want the ball to go. Try to have the putter face chase the ball towards the hole.
- Eyes over the ball
- Stand tall to allow your putter to act like a pendulum
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Keep your body as still as possible making only a shoulder and arm stroke
• Determine the distance of the putt by your backswing – always accelerate the putter head through the ball
Remember, for most players it is more important to strike each putt solidly versus being over concerned how to read the green.
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