The Putts Add Up!

By Rhett M. Myers

When golfers don’t have time to play 9 or 18 holes, they may sometimes decide to just go to the range and practice hitting their driver, 3 wood and maybe a few iron shots. It’s rare that I see anyone at the practice green just chipping and putting for the hour. Although everyone strives to get their lowest score, their focus is not practicing the short game, where the stokes add up. It’s true, “if you can’t putt, you can’t score”. There are several good ball strikers with athletic swings, but, if your short game fails, the end result will prove it. Although there are some proper mechanics associated with putting, the mental aspects usually determine the results.

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. See the ball in the hole. Line up your putt, take your stance, look at the hole, then look at the ball without any further mental distractions. 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.

Putting tips:

Alignment – keep your feet left of the target, putter face aiming where you want the ball to go. 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
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. Practice your putting and your scorecard will show the difference.

For a bio and more information on Rhett, please see the LESSONS page.