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

---

5 Keys to Mental Toughness for Junior Golfers

If you have any interest in seeing first hand the... Read More

How a Woman Can Improve Golf Performance

Everything else being equals a woman cannot drive a golf... Read More

A Golf Exercise Program Will Leave Your Playing Partners In Envy

It's no secret that a golf exercise program can put... Read More

Why Exercise Is The Key To The Correct Golf Swing Release

A poor golf swing release has been one of the... Read More

Why Exercise Is Crucial In Achieving The Correct Golf Swing

Achieving the correct golf swing is the magic key that... Read More

Play Golf in Bed to Improve Your Game

I am always looking for new and easier ways to... Read More

Effective Golf Fitness Equipment

Golf fitness equipment is designed to help a golfer build... Read More

The One Lever Golf Swing Involves Chipping And Putting

The one lever golf swing involves chipping and putting. To... Read More

How to Maximize Your Distance by Hitting Triples Instead of Home Runs

This lesson is entitled, "How to Maximize your Distance by... Read More

Basic Golf Etiquette

Many golfers take to the sport without the basic understanding... Read More

The Jet-Lagged Golf Swing

The golf travel industry is huge. Destination resorts such as... Read More

Power Golf The Easy Way

Power golf is a game very few golfers can play.... Read More

Golf Exercise And Stretch Program For Total Golf Performance

Golf exercise and stretch. This is a combination I use... Read More

Women?s Golf And Exercise

While golf is long overdue to benefit from the application... Read More

The Real Secrets Of Golf

Secrets of golf! Most golfers will do absolutely anything to... Read More

Can A Golf Swing Video Change your Game?

There are many golfers who have been exposed to many... Read More

3 Ways To Maximize On The Effectiveness Of A Golf Instruction Video

Golf instruction videos featuring techniques and tips from leading world... Read More

The Reason Why Clone Golf Clubs Are Worth It

When it comes to choosing a new set up of... Read More

Prepare for the Worst and Play Your Best

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

How To Improve Your Golf Swing

So you need a little help with 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

Tiger Woods, the Greatest Ever? ?NOT!

Tiger is great but still a long way from claiming... Read More

Golf Tips Discover The Magic

Golf is a physical and a mental game. There are... Read More

How To Achieve The Proper Golf Swing

Every golfer wants to know the magic secret to achieving... Read More

What are You Doing to Improve Your Golf Swing?

Improve your golf swing. You have probably tried everything, from... Read More

Selecting A Golf Gift That No Golfer Will Forget

Even as you contemplate on getting a golf gift for... Read More

How to Unleash Your True Golf Potential (Part 1)

Time and time again we see today's golfers out on... Read More

Stronger Abs for Golf

Everyone wants a firm midsection. For the golfer, it delivers... Read More

The Power Exercise In The Golf Swing

It is a proven fact that any power exercise will... Read More

What Are Custom Golf Clubs

Custom golf clubs are anything from a single club to... Read More

How Golf Training Can Transform Your Game

Golf training has been brought to the masses thanks to... Read More

This IS Golf - Womens Golf

The Korean women golfer Jeong Jang (JJ) chose the British... Read More

Golf Stretches Reduce Risk Of Injury And Improve Your Game

Most amateur golfers don't give enough attention to performing regular... Read More