Sound Putting for a Sound Round

Posted by Jay McGrath

The aspect of golf that most golfers don’t take into significant enough account while preparing for a round of golf is not their driving, irons, woods, or even wedge game. 

It is putting. 

For some inexplicable reason, most golfers just don’t recognizse that their putting is the weak point of their game.   I’ve seen many golfers spend hours banging their big dog off of the practice mat range without giving their flat stick the time of day. 

This could be because they had one or two sliced shots in a round off the tee, or a fat approach shot.  It is much easier to remember these shots and go to the range rather than remembering those shots that may have been birdie opportunities on the green that resulted in a three putt and a bogey.

By spending at least an equal amount of time on the practice putting green during practice as you spend for each of your other groups of clubs, your game will significantly improve, and your score will lower.  It seems as if golfers rely too much on improving their long shots as compensation for miscues on the putting greens.  Becoming a better putter can save you even if you have a poor tee shot.  A great tee shot, however, usually cannot compensate for a a three putt on the green.

Utilizing the putting green and different putts is probably the most effective way you can practice the game of golf.  Even though becoming a great driver will make you look impressive on the course, by keeping your putting stroke in check and relying on one and two-putts in a round, your game will vastly improve and the numbers on the score card will indicate this improvement.  The difference between 300 and 320 yards on a drive is not as beneficial to most golfers as the difference between a one and a three putt. 

By realizing the implications of becoming a better putter, you will ultimately become a much more focused and more improved golfer.

Distance should be your first concern on putts – especially if they’re over 10 feet. If you hit a 40 foot putt forty feet, but off line by a few feet, you only have a 3-foot putt to make a two-putt.

But if you hit a 40 foot putt 48 feet it’s a much tought come back putt.

Once your in 10′ or what ever your “must make” zone is direction becomes the overriding desire – but as always Never-up: Never-in