There’s a lot of pressure that comes with being a short-putter. Even though you might only be responsible for a single putt, it’s still important to make sure that you take care of every single one. This article will help you improve your short-putting skills so that you can master this part of the game in no time!
Make sure you’re using the right putter
Before you can improve your short putting, you need to make sure that your current putter is the right length and weight for you and has the correct loft. If it’s too long or heavy, it will be difficult to get up to speed; if it’s too short or lightweight, it will be hard to keep control when hitting off-center strikes.
As well as this, a good putter should have a straight or slightly bent shaft (depending on which type of stroke feels more natural) while still being balanced correctly.
Putt on the right speed for you
As a general rule, a putt that takes longer than 15 seconds is too slow and will cause you to miss the hole. The only thing shorter lasting should be a gimme (find out here what is a gimme in golf). Conversely, if you put on too fast, your ball will fly over the hole.
To determine which speed is best for you, simply count how many seconds your ball takes from the beginning of its motion until the moment it hits in or out of the cup. If this number falls between 11-14 seconds, then congratulations! You’ve found your optimal ball speed.
Line up your putts correctly
To line up your putts correctly, ensure you’re on the correct side of the hole. If you are, align your putter with the ball—this means making sure that its blade (the flat side) is parallel to and pointing directly at the target line. The shaft should be perpendicular to this line, while your hands should be positioned so that they are comfortable and relaxed about it and each other.
Finally, ensure that whatever parts of your body are touching, any other objects around you are doing so at right angles (or 90 degrees). The most common example is lining up a putt from off-line: if you’re standing behind a tree or bush lined up with one side of your body and trying to swing through it for a shot, what happens when it gets in front of another part?
Keep your eyes still
The first step to making all your short putts is keeping your eyes still. When putting, please keep your eyes on the ball until it is in the hole. Don’t look at the cup. Only look a few times to ensure that there’s no wind or other obstacles in front of you. If there are any obstacles, consider how many steps are needed for each putt and where exactly you should aim for once it lands on its intended target.
When aiming for a target like this, make sure not only that your eyes do not move but also that they do not blink–this would cause an unnecessary distraction while trying to make sure everything goes according to plan! So try not blinking as much as possible when aiming; if something happens where one needs something more than just looking straight ahead (such as taking an extra step while going forward), then definitely blink!
Putt with soft hands and wrists
You should have soft hands and wrists when putting. The arms do the work, so you shouldn’t have any tension in them. As for the hands, they should be relaxed and in line with your target line. You don’t want to putt it with a closed stance (with your feet too far apart) but rather an open stance (with your feet closer together). Your eyes should also focus on the hole during backstroke and follow-through.
Finally, ensure that both shoulders are square to the target line while making contact with the ball. This will help ensure that you get good distance control on every putt you take!
Move the ball forward in your stance
It’s important to get the ball in the right spot. The ball should be positioned in the center of your stance, with your left foot being at a 45-degree angle and pointing down the target line. If you’re a right-handed golfer, place it to the right of that foot; if you’re left-handed, put it to the left.
Concentrate on your pre-shot routine
As a beginner, your pre-shot routine will be simple. It could be as simple as making sure the stance is correct and taking a few practice swings before you make your shot. As you progress, it’s important to remember that every shot has a different situation and requires a different approach to get it right. For example, if you are going for an uphill putt, you may want to use some power instead of finesse.
During your practice rounds on the putting green (or at home), try various approaches until you find one that works best for consistently making short putts. Then work on mastering that particular method to become second nature when playing golf in real-life situations!
Hold your finish to ensure a solid stroke
The final step to making all your short putts is to hold your finish. Hold the position you’ve just created with a good backswing and follow-through, ensuring that the ball will roll along the intended line.
If you’ve followed these steps, you should be well on making all of your short putts!
Conclusion
If you want to improve your putting, practicing your short putts is a good idea. This will help you become more confident in your ability and ensure you can sink those long ones when they matter most.
Author bio
Travis Dillard is a business consultant and an organizational psychologist based in Arlington, Texas. Passionate about marketing, social networks, and business in general. In his spare time, he writes a lot about new business strategies and digital marketing for DigitalStrategyOne.