Golfing: Putting.

by Rhys Jones.

"Drive for show, putt for dough" is the lesson we have all seen and learned from watching the professional golfers in every tournament and championship either live or on the TV.

You cannot win the game if you cannot get the bal into the hole, no matter how well you have played the long game and the short game. Maybe you have had to get out of a sand bunker or other obstacle as well, but once you get onto the green, you have to get down to the nitty-gritty of sinking your ball.

The champions of golf can drive a ball from here to kingdom-come, but it all comes down to how many strokes it takes to get the ball in the hole. The long accurate drives don't mean anything if you're unable to putt accurately.

One of the best pieces of advice is to choose a putter that is right for you, because your putter is very important. However, whatever putter you decide to use, consistency is even more important.

I know people who have had the same putter for fifteen years or more: they know what it feels like in their hands; they know it's weight and they know how that plays into their putts. An old putter is like an old and trusted friend.

Now putting takes a huge amount of practice. Think about this: we drive the ball roughly eighteen times a game (once per hole), but putt at least twice that amount. So, surely it make sense to practice  putting at least twice as much as driving? Therefore, if you just can't get to the practice green that often, you could practice on your carpet at home.

Bear in mind that the ball can not make it to the hole, if it does not have enough power behind it to get it in there. So, take the time to get down on your knees and look at the path from your ball to the hole. Does it slope one way or the other? Does it run uphill or downhill? You have to know, or you cannot play the ball properly.

Stand with your feet spread for balance and line up the putt. Keep you hands, arms and shoulders completely still. Imagine that you are a "bobble head" but you move from just below your chest. Keep your head directly over the ball.

Pull your club back; keep your hands, wrists, arms and shoulders steady - the movement comes from your chest. Hit the ball, following it through with your club.

Treat every putt as a lesson and be sure to learn from each putt, remember the lesson and try not to make the same mistake the next time.

Practice, practice, practice!