Lower the Golf Score, Improve Putting Technique

Golf Master Tips, Improve Golf Putting Technique - What is the key to becoming a better putter? There are three essential components of a good putting stroke. They are the Path you swing your putter on, the Putter Face Orientation (where putter face is pointing at impact), and hitting it on the sweet spot.

Lower the Golf Score, Improve Putting Technique

Path of Putter (Path you swing the putter on)
There are three paths the putter can travel along (Relative to the target line)

• In-to-Out - inside and to the right of the target line
• In-to-Square-to-In - along the target line
• Out-to-In - outside and to the left of the target line

Putter Face Orientation

There are three Putter Face orientations (Relative to the swing path )

• Open - pointing right of the putter path
• Square - pointing along the putter path
• Closed - pointing left of the putter path

Solid Contact
There are three points on the putter face where the ball makes contact (relative to the center or sweet spot of the putter)

• Heel - left of the sweet spot
• Square - on the sweet spot
• Toe - right of the sweet spot

Your goal is to consistently hit the ball square on the sweet spot, with a square putter face that's traveling along the target line. Once you have mastered these three essential components, it's only a matter of reading the green and developing your feel.

In addition to the above essentials, you must develop a feel for distance control. Distance control is important in controlling how far you hit putts. You want to control the distance so that your second putt is within a foot of the hole.

There are a number of different philosophies about how to develop distance control. My personal preference is to use a system that I learned some years back. Go to the practice green and find a relatively flat spot about 12 feet from the hole.

Practice some putts and notice how far back, in inches, you have to take the putter to propel the golf ball 12 feet. It may be 1 inch for every foot, 1 inch for every 2 feet, or 1 inch for every 3 feet, etc. It is completely different for everyone.

When you go on the course you can use this formula as your guide. Make adjustments for uphill and downhill putts and you are on your way. For example, if you have a 20 foot putt, and you have determined that 1 inch of backswing equals 2 feet of roll, then take your putter back 10 inches and roll it 20 feet.

Why is putting so important?

Professionals and competitive golfers spend a great deal of time on their short game. This includes lots of time spend on the putting green. Tour players make about 69% of putts from 6 feet, 54% of putts from 8 feet, and 30% of putts from 10-15 feet.

If you can chip or pitch it to within 6 feet of the hole and if you can make the putt 50% or half the time, you will save strokes during your round. Practice those 3-6 foot putts so that you are confident that if you chip or pitch it within this distance you can make the putt.

In conclusion, putting is the most important and the most individual stroke in the game of golf. Everyone is different when it comes to their approach to putting. However, to improve your putting you must work on the three essential components of the putting game.

You don't need to be at the course or on the driving range to work on them. You can work on them just about anywhere. Putting is truly a stroke of feel and confidence.

Master the putting essentials, lower your number of putts per round, lower your score, and become a better golfer. (Guy Westbrook)