Ear Piercing: Essential Pre-Piercing Tips

Putting in golf is often considered the most crucial aspect of the game. Regardless of your ability to drive the ball far and straight, it means little if you frequently end up needing three attempts to hole a putt. Thankfully, through dedicated practice and honing the right techniques, any golfer can enhance their performance on the green. If you aim to reduce your putts and improve your scores, try implementing these tested drills and strategies for better putting.

Refine Your Grip

Achieving excellence in putting starts with mastering how you hold your putter. It’s important to familiarize yourself with various gripping techniques used with putter equipment. Common styles include the traditional straight back and straight through grip, the reverse overlap, the cross-handed grip, and the split grip. Experiment to find which grip provides you with control and consistency. Always keep your grip pressure light to prevent tension and avoid pulling your putts to the left or right.

Work on Accurate Alignment

Even if you have a superb putting stroke, poor alignment can hinder your game. Set up practice putts from distances of 3, 6, and 10 feet around the hole. Use two alignment rods on the ground aimed directly at the hole. Position your putter behind the ball, set your stance and grip, and verify that both your putter face and body align with the rods. Adjust until your alignment is perfectly directed towards the target.

Manage Distance With Backswing

Control over distance is vital in putting. As you practice on the green, observe the length of your backswing for putts from 3, 6, and 10 feet. The length you take the putter back will directly affect the distance. Embed the specific backswings needed for varying putt lengths into your routine, maintaining a compact and controlled motion. It’s essential not to extend the backswing too much, even for longer putts.

Master Reading the Green

A key skill of accomplished putters is the ability to interpret subtle breaks and slopes on the green. Walk around the hole to visualize how your putt will break before each stroke. To enhance this skill, place a tee three feet past the hole and aim to have your putts stop right there. This approach helps you learn to consider the break, rather than just hitting directly at the hole.

Stick to Your Line

Doubting your choice of line mid-stroke can ruin your putt. After aligning and reading the green, select the target line and commit fully. Focus on that line during your stroke. If you notice you’re veering off your target line at the last moment, it’s a sign of hesitation. Trust your judgment and the preparation you’ve done.

Concentrate on Strong Contact

Unsteady hands while putting can seriously affect any golfer’s confidence. Training your ability to make solid contact is crucial. Set up tees on either side of your ball just close enough so any inaccuracies in your stroke will result in hitting them. Focus on making stroke upon stroke, ensuring your putter face remains square, accelerates smoothly, and contacts the ball consistently below its equator.

In golf, the saying goes that you drive for show and putt for dough. Even though the long game might look impressive, scoring well ultimately depends on your putting skills. Incorporate these proven drills into your practice sessions to start making more birdies. With consistent dedication to the fundamentals and ample practice, you’ll soon find yourself sinking putts with confidence.