Golf Tips ? Tips to Improve Your Putting

If you are seriously considering lowering your scores, then you must take your putting seriously, as roughly half the strokes you play in a round of golf are likely to be on the putting green. However good you are at driving, pitching and chipping, if your putting is not up to standard, you will never make the next level. My Dad told me the famous quote when I was probably about 12 or 13, 'Drive for show putt for dough', this says it all! That is why it is quite incredible that putting is not often concentrated on.

Tips for setup:

First of all I'd just like to say that there is no one correct putting grip/posture/stroke, there are wide variations, so if your technique is different, don't worry, some of the top golfers have very different putting actions e.g. Bernhard Langer, Ben Crenshaw and Tom Watson all have very different techniques. These are basic tips that can be applied to most techniques to help improve your game.

An ideal putting stroke should strike the ball on the up, to do this the ball should be placed opposite the inside of the left heal (for a right hander), this results in the ball being hit on the up and top spin is generated.

In relation to setup, the hands should be either inline with the ball or ahead of the ball, if the hands are behind the ball, then a clean consistent strike of the ball is not likely, and the common result is the ball popping up in the air.

Tension on the green is one the most destructive things that can happen to your putting, especially with the short putts, this is known as getting the 'yips', this is caused by moving during the stroke. This causes you to 'fluff' your shot and miss your putt. To avoid this happening, concentrate on the spot where the ball was after impact rather than following the ball. This ensures that you do not move your head during impact and will help give you the clean smooth impact you require.

A simple technique to reduce the tension in the body and the stroke is simply to let your arms dangle in front of you before you putt and gently shake them. This should relax your muscles enabling an enhanced sensation of feel and touch, both vital for reliable consistent putting.

Tips for the swing:

Your grip should not be too tight, and your arms should be relaxed. Gently and smoothly in a one piece action, sweep the putter backwards. It is important to keep the triangle formed between your arms and the line joining your shoulders consistent through the whole shot and the shape should not change. The move backwards should be like a pendulum movement with your arms, while your wrists remain stiff. A good tip for making sure that this is correct is by starting the action by dropping your left shoulder; this will get the pendulum motion started.

Keeping the triangle mentioned before in tact, in a pendulum motion, accelerate the putter smoothly through the ball; the ball should be hit on the up. Throughout this whole period, keep your eyes fixed on the ball to avoid fluffing the putt and keep the eyes fixed on that spot after impact.

It is vital after impact that the left wrist remains firm and does not break; the follow-through should go inline with the direction you were aiming and should be the same length as the backswing.

Key points:

Try and relax before playing the stroke, this will help enhance your feel and touch and help avoid the yips due to excess tension

The stroke should be a pendulum action swinging with your shoulders and arms while the wrists remain stiff.

Don't move your head during the swing.

Swing in a relaxed smooth fashion with a smooth and constant rhythm.

Keep the wrists firm throughout the stroke.

Play the ball from underneath the eyes.

Have the ball in the front of the stance to ensure that the ball is hit on the up.

Discover amazing free golf tips and secrets to help you take your game to the next level and shave a minimum of five shots off your best round. Visit: http://golf-tipsandsecrets.blogspot.com

---

Sit Up Straight! It Will Help Your Game

What does it take to reproduce the perfect golf swing?... Read More

Warm Up With A Back Exercise For Golf

Let's face it, if you are a passionate golfer who... Read More

Achieving The Perfect Golf Swing Drill

The perfect golf swing drill is a joy to behold.... Read More

A Golf Fitness Tip Must Focus On The Golf Swing

There is no way that you can separate a good... Read More

Today?s Golf Schools Bring In The Elements Of Instruction And Fitness

What comes to mind when you think of golf lessons... Read More

How to Develop More Power in Your Golf Swing

How can you develop more power in your golf swing?... Read More

2005 US Open Winner - What Does It Take?

As the 2005 US Open began in Pinehurst, NC, the... Read More

Golf Swing Training The Right Way

Golf swing training is a critical area in the improvement... Read More

Why Tiger Woods Golf Swing Technique Is So Effective

Golf sensation Tiger Woods' golf swing technique has been the... Read More

Golf Exercise And Fitness? And Why You Can No Longer Ingnore It

No golfer can afford to ignore golf exercise and fitness... Read More

Golf Swing Mechanics Can Be Improved Very Quickly

If you're like most golfers, you're always trying to duplicate... Read More

What Should Be Your Golf Training Priority?

This is a question that is often asked for the... Read More

Understanding The Rotary Nature of The Golf Swing

The golf swing is really a rotary movement in nature.... Read More

Resort Golf Can Vastly Improve Your Game

There is more to a golf vacation than spending your... Read More

Prepare for the Worst and Play Your Best

It's one thing to get mad when you miss a... Read More

How Fitness Has Changed The Face Of The PGA Tour

Professional golfers on the tour today are approaching fitness as... Read More

How To Improve Your Golf Swing

So you need a little help with your golf swing.... Read More

Is The Golf Ball The Real Reason For Longer Drives ?

A Little History FirstTo determine this point, we have to... Read More

How To Improve Your Golf Swing Timing

Golf swing timing is a key factor in being able... Read More

The Biomechanics Of A Golf Swing Can Teach You Plenty

The biomechanics of the golf swing can be very revealing... Read More

Sciatica Exercises Alleviate Discomfort For Golfers

If you are fortunate enough to have never experienced sciatica,... Read More

Purpose Driven Golf

I want you to meditate on a couple points for... Read More

Left Handed Golf Tips

Where do you find left handed golf tips? You find... Read More

Golf Flexibility For The Senior Golfer

Golf flexibility is the biggest term you hear when the... Read More

Beginner Golf Swing Instruction Tips

If you are a beginner at the fine sport of... Read More