Putting Practice Makes Perfect – Golf Putting Instruction

Many professional golfers say that a good putt is the most important part of their golf game. How you practice, not just how much you practice, can affect your game as well.

A little golf instruction goes a long way. Here are some tips for beginners or a refresher for more experienced professionals.

Maintain a skill set

Keep track of all your putting practice drills and skills. A skill set is a list of all the things that you have learned before during your training.

Sometimes a basic exercise that you used in your practice routine is forgotten under all the new things you have learned. If you keep a good list of skills, you can rotate all of your exercises and make sure you complete them all.

Practice your address

Be careful when preparing to shoot. Do not go out and start putting. Spend some time during your practice session to make sure you have a good, balanced starting posture.

Make sure you have good posture, with a nice straight back. Don’t hunch over the ball. Your weight should be balanced, but supported a little on your front foot (left foot for right-handers).

One technique for relaxation is to stand for a few minutes in the leading position and let all the tension drain out of the muscles and body. A little deep breathing can be a good part of the routine.

Your feet should not be too wide. Most coaches recommend that your feet be shoulder width apart. Also, don’t get too close to the ball. If you find yourself bending over him like the hunchback of Notre Dame, you’re too close.

Grip

Always check your grip. It is important for the consistency of your shot that your grip is the same every time. Like the steering position, this is an important part of placement that is often overlooked.

For practice purposes, it’s probably best to use your usual grip. Now is not the time to try a new grip that you learned from someone. You can always incorporate that into another part of your training routine.

Your grip on the ball should be relaxed. When practicing, it is a good idea to use a lighter grip than you would use during the game. The idea is to practice exercising proper control over the club.

Go with the short putts

When you’re practicing, you want to hit those balls in the stratosphere, but it’s actually the short putts that give most golfers a headache. Your putting practice routine should focus more on short shots than long shots. These can be especially tricky.

Work at speed

Getting the launch speed right is more than just a matter of going as fast as possible. Practice getting the proper control over the club so that you can hit the ball at the correct speed you need to make the hole.

As you watch your golf game improve over time, never forget to go back to basics every now and then. It never hurts to brush up on the basics of putting. And always keep your ears open when playing with other golfers. You never know when you can learn to golf during the game.