GOLF TIPS I of II

BASIC PUTTING TECHNIQUES FOR THE REGULAR GOLFER

I. BASIC PUTTING

Relax!

One of the most rewarding feelings in golf is holing a putt under pressure. Unfortuantely, putting tension can stymie the attempts of even the best putters. If you're stuggling on the green, first make sure your muscles are relaxed. Relaxation is a vital ingredient to gain feel and touch on a putt, better enabling you to get the most from the Greens SpeedReader.
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1. Rest the putter on your leg and let your arms hang to your sides.
2. Loosely shake your hands to relieve any muscle tension.
3. Take a few deep breaths and let your shoulders and arms relax with each exhale.
4. Make a couple of practice strokes to relax your muscles and get a feel for the distance. 

The Grip

Every grip is unique to the individual, but remember the goal is to find one that is comfortable and helps you develop a consistently smooth stroke. A smooth stroke is imperative to learn to match the speeds from the Greens SpeedReader. The hands should grip the putter lightly to gain feel and touch, but firm enough to steady the putter at all times. Also, a grip that restricts wrist action is crucial. Remember: we putt with our shoulders and arms-not our wrists! Ask yourself if you feel in control of the clubhead. more tips

1. Reverse overlap grip- (most balanced) both thumbs down the shaft, palms facing each other
2. Split handed grip- both index fingers down side of shaft, palms facing each other
3. Baseball grip- all ten fingers are wrapped around the putter, one hand above the other 

The Stance

First, relax and slighly bend your knees. Second, most instructors recommend positioning your eyes directly over the ball to see the line easily. Third, place the ball in line with the heel of your forward foot. This allows your stroke to strike the top of the ball creating overspin-making it easier to consistently judge your putting speed. more tips

The Stroke

Smoothly back---down and through! Imagine an upsidedown triangle between your shoulders, arms, and grip. This triangle should move in unison from the back swing though the follow through in a smooth pendulum-like motion. A repeatable smooth motion will help you develop consistency when learning the different green speeds from the Greens SpeedReader. more tips

Striking the Ball

Many golfers forget that WHERE you strike the ball on the putter makes a huge difference to putting speed control. You must strike the ball in the center of the putter every time to get consistent putts. Practice striking the ball on the inner or outer halves of the putter and the differences will be obvious in terms of speed and clubhead control.

1. Mark a solid, consistent line around the circumfrence of three golf balls
2. Line up the ball so the line on the ball is perpendicular to your putter
3. Strike the ball-as the ball rolls, the line should clearly roll over the top and bottom of the ball
4. The dreaded sidespin will show up if the line blurs or leans left or right.

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