Putting is the quickest way to lower your scores. There are 5 skills you must improve to become a better putter. These putting tips and drills can drastically reduce your putts per a round.
Here's how you will improve your putting...
The Importance of Aiming
Proper alignment and aim is crucial. You can have the best putting stroke in the world but that won't matter if you can't aim. Often times our eyes play tricks on us. What we think is aimed at our starting line can be quite offline.
Putting aiming tips:
- Check your alignment regularly.
- Use visual aids like alignment rods or a string to build consistency.
- Practice aiming at different targets to develop your skills.
- Have a friend check your alignment.
- Invest in a putting mat that has lines for aim.
Use Alignment Sticks for Better Aim
Alignment sticks can help golfer improve their aim.
A good drill is to use alignment rods to make sure you are aiming accurately. Position the rods parallel, to your target line and place your putter so the face aligns with them. This visual guide may assist you in improving your alignment perception.
The cool thing about using rods or something similar... It can double as a putting gate which can help with stroke and strike.
Neck Tilt for Better Aim
The way you tilt your neck can impact how accurately you aim at your target. Try out angles for your neck to discover which one suits you the most.
Improving your neck angle can improve your vision of the line at setup. Take time to practice what feels natural and repeatable.
Having a comfortable and repeatable neck tilt can help you aim with consistency.
Using a Putting String Line
Using a line of string is one of the best ways hone in your aim. Position the string along your target line and ensure your putter aligns properly. This will visually aid in aligning up your putt and aim.
When practicing with a string line... concentrate on maintaining focus, on both the ball and the string itself to ensure your aiming properly.
If you're interested in a putting string you can check this one out:
One of the best putting drills is using a string line. .
Starting the Ball on the Right Line
After positioning yourself for the putt we need to start it online. Many players find it challenging to do this as they make too many movements during their putting stroke.
Make sure you focus on keeping your body steady while allowing your shoulders to take the lead in moving the ball along the path you've selected.
Moving your body too much will cause you to miss putts.
The Role of Body Stability in Putting
Maintaining stability in your body is key for a putting. Your lower body should not move. It should be locked in. Avoid 'chasing' the ball with your upper body as well.
- Practice with a firm lower body stance. Feel like it's trapped on concrete.
- Allow your arms and shoulders to control the putter's motion.
- Minimize unnecessary movements to improve accuracy.
You're lower body should be grounded and locked to the ground. Feel like your legs are made of stone.
Finding the Right Grip for Control
The way you hold your putter plays a role as well. Do not use your normal full swing grip. You're putting grip will be weaker. Both thumbs should be down the center of the grip. This is usually flat on most putter grips.
Your putting grip is different than your full swing. Both thumbs should be on the top of the grip.
Putting Drills for Testing Your Start Line
It's important you can putt your ball on the intended start line. to A simple way to do this... set up tees or coins to form a gate or target. This will allow you to judge your putter face and alignment.
This will naturally hone in your stroke. You won't worry so much about technical aspects. Just be an athlete and adjust your stroke until you can consistently hit your start line.
Get some feedback when practicing with some tees or coins when putting.
Lag Putting: Center Contact
Having distance control is crucial. In putting it's more than making contact with the ball—it's about making sure you hit the center of the face. This helps your lag putting and avoiding the dreaded 3 putt.
Putting the ball from the middle of the face gives you consistent energy transfer and improved distance control. To work on this technique you could try using tack/putty or some rubber bands so you get feedback if you miss the center of the face.
When you practice at home or on the putting green use rubber bands or putty for putter strike feedback.
Exercises for Improving Distance Control
- Middle of the Clubface Drill: Place blue tack on the center of the putter face and practice hitting the ball. If you hit off-center, the ball will hit the tack, giving you immediate feedback.
- Gate Drill: Set up two tees slightly wider than your putter head and practice putting through them. This will help you ensure you’re hitting the center of the face.
- Length of Stroke: Match the length of your backswing to your follow-through for consistent speed. Aim for a two-to-one ratio, maintaining a steady tempo.
While you're practicing your strokes in golf... Pay attention to the flow and smoothness of your movements; they should be effortless, like a swinging pendulum.
For distance control on lag putts... make sure you look at the hole during practice strokes.
Practicing with Intention
When you practice golf putting... don't just go through the motions but really envision your putt before you make your stroke. See the ball rolling towards the hole and anticipate how it will curve along the way; this kind of prep can really boost your confidence on the green. Let your instincts take over.
Pro Tip: Make sure to look at the hole during your practice strokes.
Execute a stroke that mirrors the required length and pace for the necessary putt. The follow through should be a similar length. Feel like the golf ball just gets in the way. Aim to get the ball inside 3 feet as you practice your putting technique on longer putts.
Short Putts and Authority
When it comes to putts to short putts you have 2 options... First, you can try and die it in the hole. This makes the cup bigger but you run the risk of not getting it to the cup. Second, you can putt with some authority and take a little bit of the break out.
- Focus Drill: Place a tee behind the hole. Your goal is to hit the tee with your putt. This will encourage you to hit with authority.
- Target Practice: Visualize a target behind the hole. Commit to hitting that target, which will help you with pace and direction.
Pro Tip: Focusing on the back of the hole makes sure you don't miss short.
Use a tee to focus on the back of the cup on short putts. Hitting them firm makes sure they get there.
How To Read Greens
Understanding the contours of the green is a skill... Many golfers fixate on the hole without gauging the terrain. This can result in misjudging distance and slope. Consider viewing the from the side halfway between the cup and ball, preferably from the low side.
From this view... Determine the slope at the beginning of the putt. Proceed to the center next... then pay close attention to how the ball will react near the hole. This approach will provide you with an insight, into how the ball might curve or break on its path.
Use the triangle technique to read your putts. Helps you view distance and slope accurately.
Exercises for Green Reading
- Ball Marker Drill: Use flat ball markers to help visualize your putt. Place one a few inches forward on your starting line. Your goal is to roll the ball over the marker.
- Break Assessment: After hitting the putt, note where it ended relative to the markers. This will help you understand how much break to factor in for future putts.
Many amateurs misjudge how much the green breaks. When you miss it on the low side the ball will roll further away from the hole. Giving you a longer putt coming back.
You want to miss putts on the high side so they don't roll further away from the hole.
The Mental Game of Putting
When it comes to putting, your mental game is crucial. Focus on the process and not the result. Your goal is to have a center strike that starts on your start line. That's all you can control. This why good putters have a routine. It helps them focus on the process. Make to develop a repeatable putting routine.
Lastly, have a positive mindset. Picture the putt rolling into the hole. Keep yourself calm and collected throughout your round to avoid making unnecessary errors on the green.
Focus on the process of putting. Develop a solid routine and keep a positive attitude.
Conclusion and Key Takeaways
Improving your putting requires a combination of practice and mental readiness. Here's some putting pointers to keep in mind...
- Focus on your aim and alignment; practice with rods and string lines.
- Ensure you’re starting the ball on the right line; use drills to test your start line accuracy.
- Work on pace control by hitting the ball from the center of the putter face.
- Practice short putts with authority; aim for the back of the cup.
- Develop your green reading skills by analyzing slopes and using markers.
- Maintain a positive mental attitude; concentrate on the process, not the outcome.
FAQs About Putting Skills
How do I get good at putting? One of the quickest ways to improve your putting is to have a solid routine. The routine starts with green reading. You have to read every putt. Then focus on the process and not the result.