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What is putting?
Putting is basically just getting the ball in the whole,
end of story!
I usually divide putting into short and long puts.
What is the difference?
The big but simple difference is that with a short putt
you want to put the ball in the hole and with a long putt
you want to put the ball as close to the hole as possible
to just about put it in.
Putting is mental preparation!
Before we go into the technique and practical tips on
how to improve the putt I'd like to start with some mental
trainingtips. It's important to mentally prepare in the
best possible way.
You have to decide that "I am going to make this
putt" or "I will 2-putt this long putt",
and not start thinking "I must not miss this putt"
or "I must not make this a 3-putt". Both these
phrases says basically the same but one is deciding on
a result and one is trying to avoid an outcome.
Deciding on the hole!
It's also important to decide to 100% that this ball is
going in the hole. If you hesitate it's better to step
away from the ball and start over.
One should always try and see how big a hole is and not
how small it is. You have to believe yourself to make
the put before you hit it.
All these mental tips can be easy to express in words,
but how should someone train to think this way? I have
a few tips that usually works:
Mental excercises:
1. Put yourself within 10-20 inches from the hole where
you basically won't miss and putt 5 balls. Hopefully you'll
make them all and think to yourself: "Hey, I know
this!"
2. Putt 5 balls from about 35 inches from the hole and
tell yourself after every made putt: "I did that
very well!"
3. Increse the distance as you go along and remember to
think positives thoughs everytime you make a putt.
This routine can be repeated many times with increasing
distance as you go along and the results improve. Keep
in mind though that to always go back to a closer spot
before ending the training. I promise that you'll suddenly
will start making short putts and even long putts because
of the fact that you're more focused on the hole.
Short puts (direction most important)
With a short putt you want to try and make th putt with
just 1 shot. But what is a short putt?
When someone asked Lee Trevino what the difference is
between a short putt and a long putt he answered that
a short putt for him is everything within 8 yards, if
it's on a flat surface. So everything within 8 yards he
tries to put in the hole! A short putt for other people
can be between 10 inches and 3 yards.
Then what is most important, lenght or direction, on short
putts? On short putts it's the direction that's the most
important since if you hit it in the direction of the
hole it will usually go in. I you miss by 1 inch or half
a yard doesn't matter, since you're most likely to make
the next putt.
How to practice short putts.
We've gone through the mental training, which is the most
important part to make a putt, but I'll explain a trainingtechnique
that works.
Good short-putters knock or putt in a firmer manner like
I mentioned earlier. This mean that one uses the smallest
possible swingmotion. I've always admired a few older
European Tourplayers: Antonio Garrido and american Bill
Garreth whom among other things hold the courserecord
at Drottningholm from the Scandinavian Masters in the
80's.
When Garrido sets up and take a practiceswing with the
putter he almost doesn't move the club at all. It moves
a pair of inches back and a pair of inches forward to
be able to have total controll over his hands and the
face of the club throughout the entire motion. His wrists
are completly stiff and the club is kept square through
the entire shot (meaning he doesn't use his wrist and
the face of the club neither opens in the backswing or
closes while going forward). |
A short swing gives more control on the short putts
Try keeping the wrists and hands stiff throughout the
swing.
Another good trick is to aim for a partial target, like
a straw of grass or something. |
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