"Drive is for show, putt is for dough."
Learning to putt can be one of the most challenging parts of golf.
Many golfers say that the short game of golf, like chipping and putting, are the most crucial. So if you can form good habbits with these fundamentals, golf will be a lot easier and way less frustrating.
The key to putting is using your shoulders. Many people want to swing with their arms when they first start golfing, but that is not the way to go. You have less control over the motion of the club and, therefore, less control over the movement of the ball.
- Before you make contact with the ball, check to see if there are curves in the green.
- Get a good grip on the club.
- Set your body perpindicular to the direction you're aiming.
- With your knees slightly bent, take a couple of practice swings, making sure that your arms aren't moving and that you're pivoting from the waist so that your shoulders are doing all of the work.
- Keep your head down, eyes focused on the ball. A good trick to make sure that you're head stays down is to practice counting to three after you hit the ball before you look up to watch it fall in the hole.
Keep in mind that many things affect putting. For example, if the putting greens are dry or uneven it will affect
how hard the ball should be hit. Also, it's harder to make a put when you're hitting downhill. Try to keep these
things in mind.
Most courses have practice putting greens along with the driving range. It's a great way to practice before going out on the course. Like with most things, the only way to improve your putting skills is to practice and get a feel for your putter and the ball.