Golf Putting Drills that will Improve Your Putting Fundamentals
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Golf Putting Drills are the Key to Improving Accuracy and Distance in Putting
The ultimate goal of golf putting drills are to improve your putting accuracy, control distance, become consistent and develop a smooth rhythm and tempo in your stroke. In addition you want to be sure you are practicing proper putting fundamentals.
Most important is that after you have practiced these drills your level of confidence will greatly improve. Putting takes hours of practice to master but with patients and time you will learn to trust in your own ability. The ability to visualize a successful putt and eliminate negative thoughts will have you mastering your putting game. Putting is considered by many professions to be a game within the the game of golf.
The next three golf putting drills are designed to help you control your distance and improve your accuracy. But before you begin it is extremely Important that You are Implementing the Proper Putting Fundamentals. You may want to start out by briefly reviewing the most important putting fundamentals that you should be using later in this series.
Golf Putting Drill for Mastering Distance
Long Putt Practice Putting Drill
The chances of the average golfer sinking a three foot or less putt is over ninty percent. On long putts concentrate on getting the ball within a three foot radius of the hole. This mind is also helpfull in reducing the amount of stress there is on long putts and that will allow you to be more relaxed and putt with a nice flowing tempo.
Another benefit to this drill is to help you always get to the hole or just past it if you miss. The old saying is very true, Never Up, Never In. You always want to apply enough speed to either get to the hole or just beyond it.
By practicing this drill you will get in the habit of not coming up short and your goal well be to apply enough speed to your putt that if you do miss the putt you should ended up between 6-10 inches past the hole. In the long run you will be in a better position to sink more and lower your score.
To perform this drill follow the following steps:
1. Start by setting three clubs around the hole so they form a square with one side missing.
2. The hole should be equal distance between the two clubs that are not touching.
3. Now begin taking ten practice putts from 10 feet away.
4. The aim is to get all ten putts either in the hole or inside the cage but not touching any of the clubs.
This practice putting drill will help in your decision making when determining distance and get you in the habit of applying enough speed so you do not come up short.
Also, if you do miss you will be only left with a three foot or less.
Again your goal of the Long Putt Drill is to get all the practice putts either in the hole or inside the cage constructed from the three clubs.
Next Extend Your Practice Distance: Now repeat the entire putting drill by moving farther away to twenty feet. Keep practicing until you can get ten balls in the cage. Once you can get eight to ten putts in a row inside the cage without touching the guide clubs then extent farther out to thirty feet. After that repeat again at fourty feet.
Your distance should be controlled with the length of your stoke.
Your back stroke length should be the same or a little less than your follow through length.
Concentrate on maintaining the same stroke length for each distance you are working on. Maintain a smooth rhythm and tempo to your stroke with no quick burst of power.
Finally Practice this Drill with Your Eyes Closed:
There is no better drill for practicing distance control then practicing with your eyes closed. Now repeat the entire putting drill with your eyes closed. Just before hitting the ball close your eyes. You have already gotten the feel from the first round, so now you want to ingrain that feeling in your subconscious.
The ability to visualize a putt in your mind will significantly improve your speed, distance and to trust your stoke.
We recommend practicing with your eyes closed on several of these putting drills because of the significant improvements it will make to your over all putting skills and judgment.
PUTTING PRACTICE TIP:
Here is a great warm up drill for getting into the habit of getting to the hole or just beyond.
Before a match on the practice putting green you can take the small flag pole and set it behind a hole about 18 to 24 inches. Then start your practice putts to either go in the hole or land between the flag pole and cup.
Golf Putting Drill for Proper Alignment
Railroad Track Practice Putting Drill
This is a great golf putting drill to help you with your alignment. With the proper setup and body alignment you will be able to swinging the putter square to the target line and improve your accuracy.To begin this drill pick out a practice hole that is relatively flat.
- Use the width of your putter head to place two tees into the ground the width of the putter.
- Place these two tees about six feet from the hole.
- Now place two more tees right near the front of the hole.
- Use your putter club head width as your guide for your opening.
- You have created an set of railroad tracks as your putting stroke guide.
- Then tie a string connecting the tees forming this imaginary track. You will have two sets of tees tied about six feet in length.
- Place a ball about eight inches in side of the track that is away from the hole.
- Now align your putter club head so it is square to the target line.
Your objective is to use the guide strings for aligning your feet, hips, shoulders and eyes so they are all parallel to the target line. Begin taking practice putts by keeping your club face aiming directly down the target line and using the railroad tracks as your guide.
Keep practicing until you can consistently keep the ball inside the set of strings. If your ball is rolling outside the tunnel you should be better able to correct it by noticing your putter not staying parallel to the target line.
This is a great practice drill for shorter putts that do not require a lot of putter swing length. However it will also help your longer putts because you will have improved on keeping you body properly aligned and your putter stoke square to the target line.
Tips for Checking Your Setup:
If you are experiencing any difficulties keeping the putts going straight it maybe due to your eye alignment. Your eyes need to be directly over the ball and paraellel to the target line.
A good way to check this is to drop a ball from the bridge between your eyes while your setup to putt. It is best to have friend do this for you. If the ball falls and hits your putting ball then you know your eyes are setup correctly.
Another thing to check is that the ball is centered or slightly forward in your stance.
Again have a friend check that for you with a club. The club should run from the ball placement up to the center of your chest.
Your stroke should be with your upper body while your lower body stays stable. Your arms and shoulders should rotate as one complete unit with no flexing of your wrists. If your wrists are not flat at impact your ball will not go straight.
Another practice tip to keep the lower body stable is to practice with a small throw pillow between your legs. This gives the feeling that if you move your legs the pillow will fall.
Golf Putting Drill for Accuracy
Bulls Eye Practice Putting Drill
- Stand back about six feet again and practice getting your balls through the opening of the two tees.
- Practice this drill with the same stoke length with about a dozen balls.
- The goal is to get every putt through the gate and touch each other on the other side.
If your having problems go back to the putting fundamentals outline earllier.
A great test to determine if your putter head is square at impact is to place two balls together and putt them at the same time. If one moves first or goes farther then you know that your not square at impact. The two balls should move at the same time and go the same distance.
Another thing that may cause you problems is when you look down your target line right before you putt you maybe getting your shoulders out of alignment. When you take a final look swivel your head while keeping your shoulders stable. The next time your watching the professional golfers on television notice that when ever they take their final look their shoulders and body remain stable and parallel to the target line.
Once you are able to master this drill you will see significant improvements in the accuracy of your putting. Mainly due to fine tuning your set up and keeping your stoke path correctly along the target line
PUTTING PRACTICE TIP: Around most greens you can find a spot where the edge of the green is straight for about three feet. When the edge of a green meets the fairway there is a clear distinction because of the greens grass cut is shorter and is much thicker.
While your on the green waiting for your turn or before a game you can use this edge to check to see if your putter stoke is nice and parallel. Simple take a few stokes and check to see if your putter club head is staying along the edge. If not then only a few minor adjustments to your set up maybe all that is needed.
PRACTICE PUTTING ROUTINE: Remember in order to improve you need to now setup a practice routine. Set aside about fifteen minutes a day and start practcing these drills. Use the time as a break from your normal schedule. It will also take your mind away from your regular work and personal schedule and is a great way to reduce stress.
By following a putting practice routine religiously you will dramatically improve your putting skills and self confidence. Commit yourself to improving your putting game and remember that it does take practice and patients
For even more lessons on putting drills you can practice visit GOLF PUTTING DRILLS that also has a 8-Week Practice Routine that only takes 15 minutes a day.
Recommended Putting Training Course
Learning the Fundamentals Putting
by Bobby Eldridge
Head Golf Teaching Professional
DESCRIPTION: The PurePoint Precision Putting DVD is jam-packed with all the information you need to gain a consistent, repeatable putting stroke, accurately control your distances and get a straight-as-an-arrow putting stroke.
This training program is a proven "cut-to-the-chase", highly effective, step-by-step formula for becoming a better putter!
The instructions are easy to follow and you can devour a lot of information in a short period of time, and then instantly (as in right now) go out and follow the step-by-step instruction and start putting better immediately.
The Putting Techniques you will learn Will Have You Rapidly Putting Like a Touring Pro, Flawlessly Sinking Putts on Every Hole, and Easily Slashing 8-to-10 Strokes Off Your Game !
Click Here for [ MORE INFO ]
Add to Your Golf Training Library with these great books.
BREAK THROUGH PUTTING SECRETS REVELED
by Scott Myers
This is an excellent book on putting that will compliment the Precision Putting DVD. Scott helps simplify the putting game and is a well known golf trainer and has published other top golf instructional books. [ More Info ]
THE GOLF SWING BOOK
by Bobby Eldridge
Head Golf Teaching Professional
This book helps you to overcome the 3 Biggest Swing-Related Problems facing the average golfer. The Golf Swing Book also comes with a 100% Money Back Guarantee if you are not completely satisfied. [ More Info ]
Summary of Putting Fundamentals
20 Key Putting Stroke Fundamentals
Below is a brief summary of the most important putting fundamentals used by professional golfers. Review these twenty key points on putting and be sure you are implimenting them into your putting stroke.
1. Be sure to keep your head down until after completing your putting stroke.
2. Your upper body should form a "V" shape with your shoulders and arms
3. Your shoulders, arms and putter will move as one complete unit
4. Movement of your shoulders and arms should be more of a swivel and not a rotating action
5. The feet, knees, hips, shoulders and eyes are all parallel to the target line
6. Your eyes need to be directly over the ball
7. The lower body is always stable
8. Be sure to keep your head still
9. The backstroke length should be between 1/3 and 1/2 of the total stroke length ( never have your back stroke length longer than your follow through length)
10. The putter club face should be square at impact
11. A lighter grip pressure produces better results because of less tension and a better feel of the putter head
12. The putter club head should always move along the target line
13. You should control distance with the length of your putter stroke
14. Visualize the putt in you mind and the ball going into the hole before you take your stroke
15. Always putt with a positive mental attitude and self confidence
16. The putting stroke should be at an even pace and flow with a sense of rhythm
17. The swing should not have a jerky burst of speed or a sudden long pause
18. The putter should accelerate through impact at a smooth and natural tempo
19. Keep your wrists from flexing, they need to be flat at impact
20. Always be building your confidence, use your memory of past great putts as motivation
If you would like a further explanation of any of these 20 Key Points on putting visit Golf How to Putt where you will find much greater detail on the the proper putting stroke.
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Please leave your comments and let us know of any golf putting drills that you find effective. Thank You
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MarcelWhite
Oct 22, 2009 @ 1:54 pm | delete
- Hi, nice lens for putting enthusiasts, like me. I'm more focused on breaking putts. Please take a spare moment and visit my lens on that subject. It's innovative.
Regards.
Marcel
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by JRP1953
John is the website developer of http://www.golf-lessons-and-more.com. a site which offers golf video and article lessons on every aspect of the game... more »
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