Qualified PGA Teaching Professional

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Putting basics

Putting basics

Good Putting has two simple basics. They are sighting the line and the matter of hitting the putt. Sighting the line includes the selection of the proper line, proper stance and grip, and the estimate of how much power is needed. Your ability to do all of these things in proper sequence will give you confidence.

The idea of the putt is, with the intended line established, clubface square to the line and you swing back into the ball along the line, the ball must go to the hole, (barring any trick of the green). Make this your picture of the putt and play the stroke as you made up your mind to do. In practice you can play it with eyes shut, only to open them when you hear the ball drop. Nb. For practice sessions only.

It is the control of thoughts and muscles that helps a player to relax on the greens. Basically the brain patterns the required swing from the line that you have just sighted. So a conclusion is that if you can see it, you can do it.

As an example for you, here is a basic putting procedure for short putts where you can see both the ball and the hole at the one time. Square the clubface to the line, then look at the hole and trace your eye slowly back to your ball. That gives you your line as if it were drawn on the ground, remember this. Look again toward the hole then back to the ball, holding in your mind just where the hole lies and now putt.

Having got these basics firmly fixed in your mind we can set out and examine the best method of attaining perfection for you.