Putting

A good putting practice method will be to practice holing putts from as little as 12 inches then extend out until you miss a putt. Then go a few inches closer and putt again, to restore your confidence. Gradually move away from the hole again up to about 5 feet away.
 

The next practice tip is to practice distance putting across the practice putting green. On distance putting, do not hit two balls to the same target, but hit a different length putt each time. This is because it is too easy once you have hit the first ball. You need instead, to get a feel for the distance. When you have a practice swing, you should be looking at the full length of the putt. Without looking down at your putter head, you will be visualising the pace and the length of stroke needed to hit your target.   With long putts, it is a good idea to visualise the hole as the size of a dustbin lid, and to try and get your first putt inside the dustbin lid. This takes the pressure off the second putt which is why we practice from 12 inches to 5 feet in most of our practice putts.


Think about this.........if you were to throw a ball, you would not watch your arm as it threw. Therefore you do not need to watch the putter stroke when you are visualising the stroke you need to make.


Another practice tip is to address the ball then look at the hole and hit the ball while looking at the target. This takes your mind off your putting stroke and allows your internal computer to work.


The final putting tip is for a putt that curves quite a bit on the green.........visualise the last two or three feet of the putt as the ball comes into the hole. This will give you the mental picture of pace and direction that you need.

 
As we all know, speed of play is essential in golf. Therefore it is recommended to only have two or three practice strokes at the most. You should then step straight in to the putt and make your stroke immediately. This method is used by the best players in the world because they all know that the longer that you stand over a putt, the more likely you are to suffer from paralysis and poor putting.