How to practice to improve your putting skills

As an amatuer golfer, one of the most valuable things you can do is take the time to improve your putting skills. If you have a great drive, that’s wonderful, but without the ability to get the ball into the hole your golf score will never improve. When I first started playing, that was one of the mistakes I made – I spent all my time on the driving range, and little time on the putting green.

There are some simple drills which you can perform and practise the next time you are out on the golf green. These include:

1. Pick a distance and try to send your ball to this point and no further.
2. When hitting the ball, concentrate on your stroke and aim for the center of the ball – this sounds simple right, but you would be suprised.
3. Put down markers at different intervals and attempt to hit each marker accurately.
4. Practice your long putt by hitting across the width of the green.
5. Practice your short putts, especially those around the 4-6ft mark.

These are the ones that you should be concentrating on. The cool thing is, that practisingg your putting does not cost anything – and it may be more beneficial thatn hitting thousands of balls on the driving range!

You will improve your putting ability by simply building confidence in yourself. Try to visualize the ball going into the hole before you actually attempt to hit it. Mental toughness is the key in golf – but mental toughness comes from repetition, ie doing things over and over again.

Please be aware though, that when you first putting alot of time in on the putting green – your body will not be used to it. Spend a few minutes doing the right thing, and stretch out the body. Possibly a few gentle squats and some hamstring exercises. If you loosen up the ‘hammies’ your back wont start to ache.

Whilst practicing if your back starts to ache or cramp. Take your golf club and use the shaft to massage your back. Make sure to take frequent breaks and stretch your muscles. Maintaining your body in good physical shape should be very important to you during the golf season. I dont know if you have noticed, but most of the top golfers coming through in this day and age all have great physiques – gone are the days of the ‘fatties’ being the best in the world. Personally, I would advise you to get in shape to optimise your chances of being a decent golfer. Of course thats easier said  than done!

You should also consider your golf equipment when trying to improve your putting ability. The correct length of shaft can play an important role in how accurate your putts are. Most golf pro shops will evaluate your equipment for free. Purchasing a new putter may be all that is required to effectively improve your putting. I bet most amateurs starting out do not know this – its VERY important.

Off the golf green a simple way to improve putting is by watching some golfing videos. How to videos are becoming really popular and are a great golf training tool. By studying a good video, you can pick up some invaluable tips on using the correct grip. Knowing how much pressure to apply is another key element in improving your putting skills, I will give you that tip for free!!

Click Here to Discover The Best Putting Techniques and STOP shooting high scores FOREVER!

Even going to a local golf tournament can be a great learning tool.  See other golfers in action, critique them and see what pointers you can pick up. Go to the club house after the game and ask for some advice, most golfers are only too happy to share their expertise.

To sum it all up, you can improve your putting by practicing all of the above techniques. Many can be done at home in your basement over the winter months.

Tags: fix my slice, golf swing plane, Improve your Golf Swing Technique, improve your putting