Putting is a key element of the game of golf. It happens on every hole and is something that no golfer can avoid. So, it makes sense to focus on practicing your putting technique on the green. Having your short game dialed in can be a great way to get a competitive edge on your fellow golfers.
In this guide, we dig deeper into the importance of putting. We also look at some of the best golf putting tips and golf putting drills.
Why Is Putting In Golf Important?
Putting in golf is important because it is the one stroke that is guaranteed to happen on every hole. If you are a competitive golfer it’s important to have a good putting technique because strokes can easily be lost on the green. People often think golf is all about being able to drive the ball far. However, they are often surprised to learn that around 40% of total shots are putts.
So, just imagine the amount of shots that you can save by being smart about your putting game.
Some of the best putters on the PGA Tour like Rory McIlroy, Matt Kuchar, and Jordan Speith recognize the importance of putting technique for good golf scores and focus their practice relentlessly on putting. They are able to get almost every putt to go to the desired location.
Golfers understand the importance of being able to make clutch putts to gain or keep momentum during a round. Also, missing putts that you feel that you should make can be a major reason for losing momentum during a round.
Best Golf Putting Tips
Here are our top putting tips that can help you improve your scores on the greens:
Align Your Body For a Great Putting Technique
To improve your putting accuracy in golf, it’s important to properly align your body.
- Start by positioning yourself directly behind the ball.
- Then, lean forward at a 45-degree angle to take pressure off your lead shoulder.
- Make sure your stance and grip are appropriate for your situation.
Correct alignment provides a better view of the hole and allows you to use gravity to your advantage. Aligning your shoulders, hips, knees, and feet will give you greater control over the distance of your putts and improve your overall technique.
Focus On The Goal Line
When you focus on the goal line, it helps you become more relaxed and swing freely. Plus, it also helps you ensure that your putting stroke is actually in line with the desired target while breaking down a longer difficult putt into a shorter more manageable distance.
Learn How To Read Greens
When reading a green, there are several factors to consider, but the most important one is the amount of slope the green has and its effect on the ball’s roll after you putt.
A quick tip to read greens better is to move your eyes on the green up and down, not side to side. This will help you see smaller details in the green’s contour.
Use A Putter That Fits You Properly
Getting the size right and having the correct grip are two factors that can make using a putter more effective for you.
Since a fitted putter ensures an even pace for straight ball rolls, it improves comfort and enables easy management of putt tempo and accuracy.
Hit Your Putting Stroke Firm Enough
When putting, it is not necessary to hit the ball with excessive force, causing it to roll off the green and create more issues.
If the ball does not reach the hole, you will never be able to make the putt. The trick is to be able to roll the ball with the right amount of force to reach the correct distance.
Keep Your Head Down On The Backswing
This helps prevent hand-chopping and keeps your head behind the ball, allowing you to focus on your target. By maintaining focus and correct body movements, you can position the ball better and achieve your desired outcome.
Create A Larger Target Around The Hole
Reduce the number of three putts that you make. This is an important tip for those golfers who regularly three-putt. If you create a larger circle around the hole to aim for, you make the target more manageable.
Practice, Practice, Practice!
Practicing over and over again is what separates average putters from those that make a higher percentage of putts the first time with very few three putts.
Best Golf Putting Drills
“Tippy-Tap” Drill
This drill involves putting a ball in the middle of the green and then simply tapping it with the putter.
This improves the tempo of your putting stroke. It can be achieved by making ten taps in quick succession, using perfect posture, and then following up with ten taps in slow motion.
To make the drill work, try to hit each putt at least three or four times before moving on to the next hole.
Putt-All-The-Way-Down Drill.
This drill involves hitting putts from a variety of distances with the aim of stopping the drill once it gets to the bottom of the hole.
To begin, the golfer must stand over a ball in a drill range and then hit ten straight putts from varying distances with the distance gradually increasing as the drill progresses.
Clock Drill
This drill involves practicing your putting form and consistency with short putts from a range of angles.
- Place the ball in the middle of the green.
- Then, strike it with a putting stroke that is within five minutes of the time on each clock.
Final Thoughts
Putting can have a massive effect on your score and your overall enjoyment of the game. The next time you play a round of golf try to focus on one area of your putting and work on it until you feel you’ve made progress.
You’d be surprised to see how many of your total shots are made from the green. It is well worth keeping track of your strokes per round so that you can stay on top of your progress.
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