One problem I see frequently with a lot of amateur golfers is their lack of effective putting practice before a round of golf. They often make the same putting mistakes over the opening 6 holes of a round. Mistakes such as the following:

Putts that barely make it 50% of the way to the hole Putts that take a trajectory away from the hole Putts that run past the hole leaving difficult second putts

For all amateur golfers, performing a 5 minute drill before going to the first tee can really pay off in your match. The following is a short drill that will give you confidence in the alignment of your putting and in your assessment of the speed of the greens.

Alignment

Line up for a long put using whatever preferred technique you regularly use. Place a short iron against the toes of your shoes then step away from the club and look down its line. Is it the line you had intended in your setup? This line is going to show the starting trajectory of your putts so you want to have this as accurate as possible. If the line is off then maybe your technique for lining up shots is a little off. Try picking a point closer to the ball instead of closer to the hole to start lining up your shot.

Distances

The importance of performing a distance drill is that it establishes in your mind how the speed of the greens is over 3 distances. You can practice several distances if time allows but it’s usually simpler to focus on the feeling of putting a long, medium and short putting distance.

Begin with a long putt. Try to make 8 to 12 of these putts and focus on making the distance the ball travels as close as possible to the correct length to establish long green speed.

Next choose a medium length putt around the 10 foot distance and preferably a distance which you experience often. Again, take up to 10 practice putts and try to get to within a meter of the hole. Being accurate is important with this drill so you wish to have some putts going in.

Lastly, pick some short putts within one to two meters of the hole. You will want to get a confidence boost here by seeing a high percentage of putts going in.

Using these simple drills helps to fine-tune your putting accuracy and distance control before you head to the first tee and allows you to leave your mistakes on the practice green, rather than the course.

Discover more putting tips by visiting Tom’s site, the Perfect Golf Swing HQ, as there’s a great putting guide with the Simple Swing eBook.

Golf lessons with Denis Pugh – Putting – Reading Greens – Direction

Golf lessons with Denis Pugh – Putting Drills – The Yips

Golf lessons with Denis Pugh – Putting – Mental Side of Putting

The best tips and techniques for putting in our series of lessons with PGA Master Professional Denis Pugh. Part two looks at how to choose the right putting style for your game. Brought to you by Mizuno Golf. Visit golf.mizunoeurope.com for all lessons in the series.

Golf lessons with Denis Pugh – Putting – Pre-shot routine-

Golf lessons with Denis Pugh – Putting – Pace and Rhythm

The putter is probably the most used club on the golf scene. It takes a lot of concentration to put the right foot on the green carpet, and once there, it is essential to handle it effectively. Amateur players are constantly hunting for impressive putting tips that will help them improve their score. This stands true for the individuals who pick up the game as a hobby, and have an innate desire to impress their family and friends.

For great putting, there are four essential skills to master. To begin with, you must see the line, see the distance, hit along the path and hit the right distance. Mastering the above enables you to have that pro swing that will be the talk of everybody. Learn when to select the correct putt, choose your target line and the ways in which to aim your putter, to enable you to hit the target as you expected. Take your time to learn how to perfectly putt, as it makes you stand out as a good player of golf.

You can improve your putting skills and ability in many different ways in order to attain that ‘pro’ status. Sample the tips below to help you get that perfect swing for putting you have always wanted:

The next tip relates to the speed of the putt. A dry green will allow your ball to move faster than a wet green. A well-trimmed lawn will make for faster putting. Also try to take note of the direction the green runs. The more you concentrate on the green details the more consistent you will be.

Putting a ball is about learning to control the ball. The putter face is flat for hitting the ball head on while giving you a controlled putt. Remember, it is impossible to putt accurately if the putter head is not square at impact, assuming that you have accurately determined where you need to aim your put. For a refined putt, it’s important to putt with shoulders rather than hands, as it gives you a finesse and ease to control the ball. Swing in a pendulum motion.

Before even considering the type of putt that you should use for a particular shot you should first take the time to consider the type of stroke that you are going to need to use. This will help ensure that you choose the right putt each time you strike the ball.

Your putter is now ready and the only thing you need to do is see to it that it is relaxed in your hand. Having enough strength, a firm but relaxed grip on the putter helps you control the putter head.

Lastly, make yourself a better putter by constantly practicing. More practice equals more skill and expertise. Practice! Practice! Practice! You will be perfect before you know it. To show off to your friends, choose your putting steps carefully and then go ahead and awe them during the game with your new skills!

Head for some online golf instruction to help out your game. With golf instruction putting that will improve your stroke and score. Head online now and learn more.

Golf lessons with Denis Pugh – Putting – Reading Greens – The Grass

Golf lessons with Denis Pugh – Putting – Reading Greens – Line & Break