There are literally hundreds of golf books and articles devoted exclusively to putting. A huge variety of information can be found on this simple shot. Information about putting styles, types of putters, strategies of putting, philosophies of putting, individual techniques, and on and on. And you don’t have to look too far to find information about scientific theories and research studies devoted to putting.

Is It Really That Important To Study Putting?

It’s very common for beginner golfers, amateurs and even some of the pros to overlook how important putting is to the overall game of golf. It may sound strange that so many golfers don’t consider their putting skills as important as any other golf shot.

But, understand (and I’ll bet you’re guilty of it yourself) that many golfers are fascinated with sending that ball skyrocketing through the air. We are fascinated with the images of the pros who drive the ball tremendously long distances.

Listen to the announcers of any televised golf tournament when Tiger or Phil hits a booming drive. But, how many people get excited about the “boring” putt?

When you consider it, the putt is the end-point, the last hurrah, of every shot you’ve made on each hole. Every shot you take on a hole leads up to that one defining moment when you have to get the ball in the hole.

Think about it. You sent your tee shot straight and flying as far as you could. Your approach shots stayed out of the rough or the water or any other possible disasters. Now the ball is on the green, waiting to roll smoothly towards the hole and sink into the cup without a glitch.

The Importance Of Sharpening Up Your Putting Skills

When it comes to scoring, putting may just be the most important part of golf. That final shot takes the perfect amount of speed, not too much and not too little. It requires confidence, coordination and precision. You have to adjust your body and your swing so that just the right amount of strength is used to tap the ball. And you have to do all of this while controlling the emotion and excitement of making that perfect putt.

And what happens if you miss? Now you have to further control the emotions, keep from “blowing your top” from frustration and start the putting process all over again.

Keep in mind that you should take the putt shot just as seriously as you do every other shot you take. It doesn’t matter that the putt involves relatively short distances. If you consider that long drive you just hit that traveled 200 to 300 yards, this booming shot counts the same as a putt–1 stroke!

Remember, the scorecard doesn’t care what type of shot you have to make–every shot counts the same. So if you’re going to put in a lot of practice on your golf game, especially on the driving range, then it’s just as important that you spend time practicing and developing your putting skills.

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