subject: Take Strokes Off Your Golf Score By Improving Your Putting [print this page] Your golf game can be improved considerably by learning how to putt well. You have the ability to take 18 strokes off your round by taking a stroke off your putting average.
You will need to learn how to line up the ball, hit it straight, read the green and get the ball rolling with the correct pace in order to putt accurately.
How to Read the Green
You can figure out which way your ball will roll by learning to read the green, though it isn't easy. Look at the hole and its slope, as well as how the green generally lies, and then check out what it looks like from the other side, in order to attempt to read the green. Between the hole and the ball, there may be a slope. By looking closely at all of this, you can judge the way that the ball will roll to the hole. A slower ball curves more when compared to a ball that is fast.
Making sure your ball is in line.
You need to choose a point on the green to aim at, when you have worked out how the ball is going to roll. Depending on the green and the way that it breaks, you may be choosing an area that is some distance from the hole because the ball may curve, or right at the hole if you don't think it will curve at all. You will want to use the logo when lining up the ball with where you are aiming, but be sure to use a marker before touching your ball. Make sure that your aim is accurate by getting down at the ball's level. Some people prefer to use a pen and mould to put a visible line on the ball, especially if your logo isn't easy to see.
A straight putt.
Most important is for you to hit the ball absolutely square from the putter. If you take have taken the time to read the green, a straight shot is necessary or your work is wasted. Make your stance over the ball, just back from centered.
If you are right-handed, your left eye should be over the ball while you are standing over it. In order to check if you are being accurate, drop a golf ball from against your eye to see where it lands, as you may overestimate where you need to be standing. Use the line on your putter (or the ball shapes) to keep things accurate and make use of your logo at the same time in order to reach where you are targeting. Keep your swing straight when going back and forth.
Getting the correct pace for the ball.
You can achieve this through practicing. If the grass has been cut recently or if it hasn't rained lately, the greens may vary. You can work out how much backstroke you need for different shots by practicing with a few balls before the game begins on the practice green. Take 6 balls at a time on a level part of the green and hit each set with the same distance of backswing to judge how far they go. You can use your shoes to do this, as well.
When you are doing a set of six balls, use the same speed in your swing with each attempt while taking your backstroke back to the instep of your right shoe, then measure the distance they have travelled. Do this again using the part of your shoe that is on the outside, and then repeat this a third time going six inches past the outer part of your shoe. By doing this you can tell how far the ball will be travelling according to your swing.
Once you actually begin the game, you can work out how far the ball is going to go based on what kind of backswing you are are about to use, pacing the distance between the ball and the hole and comparing this to the measurements you took on the practice green.
Practice
To practice putting, place half of a dozen balls at different distances from the hole, but in a line. Start close to the target and work your way back. Do this again and again until all six go in. You can do this on a slope or on a curved line to practice further.
You can practice swinging your putter without a curve by using the edge of something to putt along, in order to figure out just how straight you are keeping your stroke.
