Putting DON'Ts

by Randy
(Palm Coast, FL)

Don't practice with a putting stroke you are not intending to take! I see this a lot. People take long strokes when practicing and then get up to the ball and punch it, tap it, slap it...everything except what they just "practiced."

Treat your practice stroke like a "rehearsal" of the actual stroke needed.

Don't putt to a target far away. Find your line first, then determine a closer target that will take your ball online to the hole.

Practice your stroke for feeling the distance and then aim your putter face....to the closer target. It is easier to aim and hit something near you than the hole further away from you.

Don't read the putt ONLY from where your ball lies. How many times do you putt, miss it badly, walk to it and then look back at where you were, and say, "Wow, that looks a lot different from here!" You have the chance to see it from every angle, and you should.

You will see the severity and direction of the slope better if you walk the circle around the hole. Watch for the bend of the grain, changes near the hole where the ball will be much slower and grabbing the slope and grain.

Don't putt to the hole on slopes. On uphill slopes, pick a spot behind the cup and on downhill slopes, putt to a spot closer to you.It's the best way to control your distance. Trying to putt to the hole leaves 'em short and "leaking" away from the hole uphill or racing by on downhill putts.

Don't putt until you are ready to "put it in the hole"! Forget that 3 foot circle around the hole. Put it in the hole. Then when you miss, it will be right there for a tap in, not 4-6 feet away, begging for a 3 putt. And you might just make it!

Don't break the wrists. Form a triangle with your shoulders and arms, extending all the way to the bottom of your putter. Swing it all together like a pendulum. This will reduce topping it, pushing and pulling and slapping the ball with wrist action that kills the direction and roll of the ball.

Don't practice at the driving range more than you practice putting, and then wonder why you putt poorly! By design you will putt twice as much as you will drive the ball in every round you play. Practice with focus like you intend doing on the golf course.