We all strive to improve our game but making changes can be a complicated business. Try using the most humble of training aids to help conquest your putting complaints - a handful of tees.
1. Hole out, every time
The best putters in the world are those with a silky stroke who can hit their putts with perfect pace every time. The ideal pace for every putt is the ball rolling at the hole at a speed where it will drop, but if it passes it will only roll a foot or so past. When you practice putting, place a tee peg in the ground 18 inches behind the hole. This is your target. Look at the peg beyond the hole, and then putt.
2. Halve the hole
Its no good having perfect pace on your putts if you can't hit them straight. The simple solution is to practice putting to a target that is much smaller than the standard hole. A clever trick is to make the standard hole seem bigger is to place a tee peg into the back of the practice hole, so that it cuts the practice hole in half. Naturally you will find it a lot harder to get your putts to drop, because the hole is now half the size. However when you go back to putting to a full size cup, holing out will seem easy.
3. Putt between the pegs
The perfect putting stroke is a pendulum rocking action from the sholuders. For all short putts inside eight feet, the putter should follow an imaginery straight path back and through. To make sure your putter does not deviate from this straight line, peg out two straight lines of tees like a train track in line with your hole. Make them just wide enough for your putter to glide between. Practice putting between the pegs to groove a straight stroke and start sinking short putts consistently.
4. Putting Target Practice
If you aim for the treble twenty when playing darts, you will have more chance of hitting it than if you simply aim for the board. The same goes for putting - the more specific your aim, the better. Rather than practice putting to a hole, make the challenge harder by putting to a tee peg. Keep the distance to no more than 15 feet. If you can narrow your focus to hit the peg, then the golf hole will seem huge on the course.
5. Putting Pace Control
Getting the speed of the greens is no easy task, even if you play the same course every week. The pace of the putting surface can change in a couple of hours, as the grass grows or as it rains, so it is really important to practice putting before you play. Here is a really good putting drill you can use to practice distance control. Grab a handful of tees and peg them out in a straight line going away from the hole. Push the pgs into the ground at even intervals of 2 feet. The aim of the drill is to start at the closest peg and putt, then work your way outwards. You must hole the putt before moving outwards and if you miss you must return to the start. To make this harder, peg the tees at a 3 foot interval and if you are indoors, simply putt towards the pegs, aiming to get the ball to finish level with each peg.
The most effective training aid isn't necessarily the most expensive. Enjoy your putting!!
Rob Pike is a keen golfer who looks for straightforward solutions for an overly complex game. Using these tips will improve your putting. For more hints and tips, visit www.golfingperfection.com or www.mygolfingperfection.com.
Occupation: Management Consultant
Rob Pike is an astute Management Consultant who has specialised within the Defence industry for the last seven years. As well as consultancy, he writes the occasional article on his sporting passion, golf. His golfing websites can be found at www.golfingperfection.com and www.mygolfingperfection.com
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