Short Putting Tips--How To keep It Simple For Success On The Green

Short Putting Basics
By MARK GROVE
DATE: 2005-09-30
I keep talking about shooting drills and practice until you can't stand it anymore.This is vital to your short game.Short putting--so close you can blow the ball into the cup with your breath.

With the oral hygiene of some players,the ball should drop right into the cup.You can use a two feet distance as a starting point to move back farther,and will help you stay focused.By starting from a short distance from the cup will help you get a feel for your putting style and speed more than if you attempt long putting. Practice short putts from five feet away at the most for the next two weeks.

Then increase the distance from six to ten feet. If you miss some short putts,take these shots over again until you get it right. By focusing on the simpler,shorter putts,it will prepare you for the longer distance putts.Vary your location on the green,and your distance just slightly, but within the range you are striving for. You have to master the two to 6 range,before you start going further back.

Short Putting Session--Duration:

Keep your putting practice short in duration,from 10 to 20 minutes at the most,2 to 3 times a week. By keeping your daily practice regimen short,you can concentrate more intently and are more apt to stick with it.If golfers practice one hour or more a day,I find they don't stick with it.

Visualization:

This is one other area I think Golfers should make a part of their practice.By visualizing the path of your putt and where you want it to go-- you can concentrate on keeping the ball straight throughout the swing,and keep tabs on ball speed and stroke length. Also,you should use a couple pieces of wood just in front of and on each side of the ball so you can see how straight your putts are when your ability to putt well from longer distances improves. The simplest aspects of your game can be the hardest to master.By dividing your putting into smaller goals such as short,medium, and long range putts -- you can include The visualization technique I've described as well.

All in good time fellow golfers.

Mark Grove