Understanding the basics of putting
There are many aspects to golf, some of which are emphasised more than others. If your objective is becoming a better golfer, it is vital you allocate equal time to each aspect of your game. Spending hours on the range is unarguably the most popular form of practice. Reducing the score reflected on your card after a round of golf however, is often best achieved through improving your putting. This putting guide aims to achieve just that.
Putting can be broken down methodically into different components. Each of these components contribute to your overall putting motion and exection form start to finish. This putting guide comprises of all putting components including:
- Reading the green prior to taking your putt
- Your putting style or grip
- Setup position
- Stroke length and follow through
Breaking down the art of putting
Understanding each building block putting comprises of will help you focus your methods of practice. In no time you will be two putting more frequently, a sure way to guarantee you break those 90, 80 or even 70 score watermarks.
Reading the greens
Hopefully at some point you manage to land your golf ball on the green. Firstly, mark your golf ball (done by putting your ball marker BEHIND your golf ball) and clean any excess dirt or grass off of its surface. Having a clean golf ball ensures the path and trajectory the ball travels post putt is not affected. Next, reading the green, its elevation, undulation and the direction of the grass grain can impact decision making. Identifying how wet or dry the green is also should be considered before you make your putt. The degree of the dampness of the grass will slow your ball quicker. This requires you make adjustments to your swing in order for it to travel further. Equally, this is true for the opposite as warm, drier conditions will result in a faster green.
Setup Position
When addressing the golf ball, you do not want to be off balance. A stable foundation allows the elements of the putt to flow without interuption. Do not stand too far from the golf ball. You want to be standing over the golf ball with a clear line of site from above. This will allow any marker aids you have on your putter, ball or both to be utilised and lined up correctly.
Stroke length & Follow Through
The length of your take away or backstroke, has a direct impact on the distance you putt the ball. Equally, this goes hand in hand with your club follow through post impact. A common mistake golfers make when misjudging putting distance or putting past the pin is not having the understanding of the backstroke. As a lot of putting power is generated with the follow through, your backstroke or takeaway length must be scaled more subtly as it should already include a wider follow through.
Final thoughts
As you gain more experience with your putting, exploring Ecaddie’s how to guides provides insight into more advanced techniques such as putting grips found in the Golf Grips 101 Guide.
