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This is a guest post from Fred Peters the author of Ping Golf Clubs.
If you are a weekend warrior like myself, I bet you get frustrated that your golf score is not dropping. Let’s face it, golf is a tough game that requires a lot practice. For a weekend golfer like me, free time is the hardest thing to find. If you find it hard to find time to practice, then focus on putting.
Why practice putting?
Putting makes up 50% of your golf game. But, too often it is overlooked by golfers. I know when I do find time to practice, I tend to go to the driving range and hit a bucket of balls. But, for a lot of us weekend golfers, this practice time could be better spent by practicing putting.
Unlike hitting a golf driver or a 2 iron, putting is a relatively simple thing to master. And everyone can master it. Putting only takes practice.
How can I master putting?
Putting only requires three skills. First you need to be able to consistently hit the ball smoothly and solidly. Second you need to be able to determine how hard you need to hit the ball and be able to consistently swing the putter at this speed. And, third you need to be able to read greens to be able to visualize how the ball will roll on its way to the hole.
While these skills are not easy, they are much easier than the skills needed to hit your driver or long irons. They are also skills that anyone can master.
You do not need to be super coordinated to be a good putter. You just need practice. But, this practice will be well worth the effort. Why? Because I guarantee that you will become a better putter.
So why don’t we practice putting more. Well, as the old saying goes, “You drive for show, and put for dough.” We all become obsessed with being able to hit that beautiful long, straight drive. After all, it looks good.
However, that is just show. If you three putt or rarely one put, then I guarantee that you will lower your golf score more by practicing you putting.
Ok, stop reading this and go practice your putting!
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Tags: golf improvement, Golf Instruction, golf lessons, golf practice, golf putting, golf tips
April 1st, 2008 at 9:15 am
Mike, Here’s a great putting game I use to to help improve putting stats.
Also to understand what my odds are.
I also video tape my putting by positioning the video camera 2 feet behind
the ball and putting under a string to observe the natural arc/path of my best
putting strokes. Hope this helps your readers! I took only 27 putts on the
Black Course at Bethpage (site of 2002 US Open) using this practice game
(great during the winter season) to prepare.
PUTTGREATPUTTGREATPUTTGREATPUTTGREATPUTTGREATPUTTGREATPUTT
Player Name: ____________
Each player takes 3 putts from 4ft. – mark scores – then players go to next length putt.
Each putt holed = 3 points. (marked with an X)
SCORES Optional – Extra Rules
1. | | | | | A. 50% + in the hole – add 3 pts.
2. | | | | | B. 4 nines or better – add 3 pts.
3. | | | | | C. no 3′s or less (out of 9) +2 pts.
4. | | | | | D. score perfect 9 – FREE PUTT!
5. | | | | | E. more than 17 inches past hole
6. | | | | | – minus 1 pt.
7. | | | | |
8. | | | | |
9. | | | | |
4 ft. 7 ft. 10ft. 15ft. 20ft.
TOTAL # putts made ____________
TOTAL % putts made ____________
PUTTGREATPUTTGREATPUTTGREATPUTTGREATPUTTGREATPUTTGREATPUTT
——————————————————————————–
9. X X X | X X X | X X | X X | X | 33 <– Example Score
4 ft. 7 ft. 10ft. 15ft. 20ft.
Bonus Points (see ref. above)
A. +3
B.
C. +2
D. earned 2 bonus putts!
E. -1
TOTAL = 36 + two bonus putts
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May 17th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
David,
That looks like a great game! Thank you very much for sharing it with us
I will give that one a try the next time I’m at the practice green.
Mike
April 17th, 2009 at 10:22 am
Thanks for the tips – can’t wait to try them out!