Basics Of The Game – Putting

By:Edwin Shackleford

Putting is an essential, if not the most important, factor in playing golf. This is where the game is decided. Nerves of steel and lots of practice are needed to master the art of putting. Even professional golfers feel the pressure when it’s time to putt and the game is on the line. Here are some tips to learn and improve on your putting.

First thing to do would be to take practice strokes next to the golf ball. This would help you feel the needed rhythm in putting the ball. You will need to do this as you don’t want your shot to be too awkward or too strong.

Try to have some marker to help you focus and help you with proper alignment of your putt. A marker is where you will aim the ball as you putt. The position of this marker is dependent on the terrain of the golf course.

When getting ready to putt, be sure that your eyes are focused on the golf ball itself. It will help in lining up the putter with the golf ball. You must remember not to focus on the marker but more on how you will make your shot.

Proper putting stance is needed when putting. You don’t want your balance disturbed by a sudden gust of wind. First thing to remember is that you should be comfortable with your stance. One way to do this is to separate your legs with about the same width as your shoulders. This is a standard stance and it should give you a comfortable and balanced posture for your putt.

You could try a wider stance as it will be more balanced but you would be less comfortable. Remember that the wider your legs are apart, the more balanced it is and the less comfortable you are. Just try to find your balance as you make your shot. If you feel you have to sacrifice your comfort zone to have more balance then do it.

You should also remember that your shoulders should be parallel to the direction of the putt. Your arms should just be dropped down straight from your shoulders. Your feet can be open or closed, depending on where you are most comfortable. Remember that the more comfortable you are, the more natural your shot will be.

Remember that all putts are straight. It is your aim that will change. When aiming at a flat green just aim straight to the hole. You should practice so that all your putts just follow an imaginary line. When aiming in an elevated green, you should just putt the same. The difference is that you will aim directly at a point above the hole. What you want to happen is for the ball to stop at one point and to let gravity take your ball directly to the putt.

Long putts are more complicated but if mastered will help tremendously with your game. You should remember that a great long putt will eliminate the need for you to do short putts. The first thing to do is to sit down behind your ball and facing the hole. From that point of view you’ll get to see the low and high points of the green. If it’s a fairly straight green, you can just shoot a straight putt like the way you’re shooting for small putts. If it’s not, then try to evaluate whether to divide your long putt to smaller putts and putt accordingly.

Dividing a long putt depends on the terrain of the golf course. If you see a combination of straight and elevated terrain, dividing it would be better than trying to make your putt in one try. Try to eliminate the elevated terrain so you will just have to create a straight shot putt for your last shot.

Remember that nerves will always come into play when shooting your putts. Just stay relaxed and focused on your shots and you’ll do fine. Don’t blame anyone when you miss your putt, stay focused and just prepare your next shot as if it’s your first putt. Take a deep breath and don’t let your anger get the best of you.

Digg del.icio.us Blink Stumble Spurl Reddit Netscape Furl

Article keywords: golf, puttiing

Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com

Edwin Shackleford has been helping individuals improve thier golf game for years. Try his Free Online Training Today! www.improve-your-golf-game.com

Top Golf Articles
1). Golf Tips - Getting Started By : ArtL History has it that the game of "golf" was born in 15th century Scotland. Then around 1744, the first rules of play were codified and established in Edinburgh by The Company of Gentlemen Golfers. Golf has become one of the most popular sports in the world; played in countries as far reaching as Mexico and Ireland, South Africa and China. And, of course, Scotland.
2). Stance and swing 7 tips for better golf power By : dave4 Golf is a sport that requires you to correct and change things with almost every shot in search of the perfect shot. So many things come into the perfect shot that for one person to master them all can take a lifetime so we all need to take and find advice where we can, reading can never take the place of playing a round or two but when you are unable to get to the course then learning is the next best thing, here are a few tips that I hope will improve your power and accuracy which in tern will improve your game.
3). Stance and swing 6 tips for better golf By : dave4 The perfect stroke is that elusive thing we all strive for, asleep in our beds at night with a smile on our faces as we dream of that drive going straight and true down the middle of the fairway or that putt dropping in to the cup at the end of its smooth 50 yard run. Unfortunately reality bites when we get to the tee and make our shot, those niggling.
4). Abolish Your Comfort Zone - It's killing your golf game! By : Wade Pearse We all have what I call an inner game thermostat. It governs your inner game temperature, so to speak. Your comfort zone is like a climate controlled room. If it gets too cool then it's time to heat up. If it gets too hot the air conditioner turns on to cool things down. Your inner thermostat does exactly what it is preprogrammed to do - bring your game back to normal! How? By producing what appears to be the "wrong swing at the wrong time".
5). Core Exercise For Golf Will Improve Your Driving Distance The Quickest By : Mike Pedersen Core exercise for golf. You’ve probably heard this phrase mentioned on the television a time or to. This is the area that Vijay works on the most with his golf trainer and it seems to be working for him. He’s driving it longer and straighter and winning tournaments. When we talk about core exercise for golf the key term that needs to be thrown in there is rotational.
6). Ball Position For Different Clubs By : Jack Moorehouse Ball position is a critical component that’s often overlooked by players with high golf handicaps. Ball position decides a shot’s initial direction. While theories on ball position abound, you need to find one that’s right for you. Ball position affects a clubhead’s swing path, as I explain in my golf lessons. If the ball is too far back, the clubhead moves on an in-to-out swing path at impact, sending the ball to the target’s right.
7). Golf Practice Isn’t Important If… By : Mike Pedersen Golf practice can only help your game if your body can do what you ask of it on the range. Does that make sense? How often have you taken time out of your day to go to the range for golf practice only to leave more frustrated than when you did when you first got there? Now come on…be honest! Every amateur golfer has experienced this more times than we can count.
8). Golf Swing Improvement Secrets To Stop The Insanity By : Mike Pedersen Golf swing improvement can be elusive for most golfers. I have read many articles and studies on the huge number of golfers quitting the game every year. They are tired of putting in the time, buying equipment, taking lessons, and purchasing every golf training aid on the market only to see no golf swing improvement. You can’t fault a frustrated golfer who experiences the above and quits.
9). Three Golf Tips For Balance During Your Golf Swing By : Mike Pedersen Golf tips for balance. Balance is very essential in executing the right golf swing and in this article I point out three reasons why you may be having difficulties achieving the required balance and I also give three golf tips for balance to correct the situation. A) Poor setup A good setup as you approach your shot is essential to helping you maintain balance throughout the golf swing.
10). Golf Flexibility Is A Key Component For Senior Golfers By : Mike Pedersen Golf flexibility is a common term among senior golfers. Most senior golfers know they have a declining level of golf flexibility and distance. But why then do most of them not participate in a golf flexibility program? If you are in this group of golfers, do you walk off the course frustrated with your performance? Are you dissatisfied with your driving.

New Golf Articles
1). Is A Free Golf Swing Tip A Lifesaver for All Golfers? By : Eddy Kong This article is to discuss a free golf tip is really a lifesaver to all golfers or not.
2). What Type Of Putter Length Is Right For You? By : Eddy Kong This article is to explain what type of putter length is more suitable to you. There are various type of conventional types of putter. Read on.
3). The Legendary Jack Nicklaus By : Jonathon Hardcastle The general consensus seems to be that, at the rate he is going, Tiger Woods is destined to be the greatest golfer of all time before his career is over.
4). To Play Better Golf - Putting Consistently Will Help By : Mike Pedersen Do you get excited at the thought of putting? Does it give you a high to go to the range it spend an hour on your putting? I ask these questions leading into the idea that your putting could be costing you several strokes every round.
5). The Importance of Hip Rotation in the Golf Swing By : Rick Hendershot The basic principle here is one taught by golf teachers since teachers first started analyzing the swing: upper body follows lower body. Coming to a better appreciation of this principle can only have a positive impact on your golf swing.
6). Why Good Golf Shoes Are So Important? By : Tomas Labas A good pair of golf shoes is very important to your golfing experience, because it helps to protect your feet which is very important. And, aid your golfing skills such as swinging and so on.
7). How To Improve Your Putting Practice Golf Drills? By : Eddy Kong There are some tips for getting the most out of the time you spend on practice putting greens. Lot of golfers are doing that on courses.
8). Exotic Bangkok Golf Vacation Mini Guide By : Reed Langdon Thinking of places to enjoy a golfing vacation and want to go somewhere exotic?
9). Golf Swing Trainers Are A Dime A Dozen By : Mike Pedersen The golf training aid market is a booming market. Golfers are rabid and will pay any amount of money in hopes to play better golf. There is a new golf swing trainer coming out every month it seems like!
10). More Women Enjoying the Game of Golf By : Leslie Wright With more women joing the game of golf, more golf teaching aids are becoming available, as well as new marketing opportunites such as golf/spa combo packages!