Putting Tip

2011-10-15T08:22:00.000-07:00

Putting It All Together: The Directed Reading Lesson in the Secondary Content Classroom

This hands-on text includes a wealth of secondary reading strategies and lesson plans based on the Directed Reading framework developed by the authors.
From the Back Cover

Reviewers are talking up a storm about Putting It All Together
“I found this book to be a great read! It is sophisticated, but readable. Everything is well developed, defined, and explained.”
Christine Oxenford, Montgomery County Public School System
“Putting It All Together has a great deal to offer, and I look forward to implementing the ideas of this text in our reading intervention…and purchasing the book when it is available! I am confident that it will be a helpful addition to our professional library.”
Professor Roxanne Reedyk, Lakeland College
“This book is a straightforward step by step plan to introduce pre-service as well as in-service content area teachers to one of the best ways to teach their content curriculum to the heterogeneous groups of students in their classes.”
Kathleen Lennox, Mattacheese Middle School
Just in time for the emphasis on content reading instruction, this highly practical text will revolutionize the way your students develop lesson plans for their secondary students. The core of teachers' tasks is that of writing lessons, and this unparalleled text provides the tools to do just that.
Key Features:

Each chapter reviews complete lesson plan then discusses the rationale and process of each lesson part. At the end of each chapter readers develop their teaching skills by writing part of a practice lesson.
Includes lesson plan examples for each of the generic reading purposes.
Offers lesson plan models in the following subject areas: art, music, science, social studies, physical education, special education, mathematics, foreign language, English, health—middle school and high school examples.

Meet the Authors:
Gloria A. Neubert, Professor of Secondary Education, has spent 25 years teaching university courses and conducting reading-to-learn workshops for secondary teachers of all disciplines. Neubert is the co-author of three textbooks.
Elizabeth A. Wilkins, Associate Professor of Secondary Education, has taught in secondary schools and institutions of higher education in both Illinois and Maryland for 17 years. Wilkins has given over 75 presentations/workshops at the national, regional, and state levels.

2011-10-15T08:17:00.000-07:00

Assessment for Learning: Putting it into Practice
"This is a surprising and welcome book... a heartening read that shows the power of assessment for learning and the potential for academics and teachers jointly to put into practice ideas that can improve classroom learning and teaching."
TES
The starting point of this book was the realisation that research studies worldwide provide hard evidence that development of formative assessment raises students' test scores. The significant improvement in the achievements of the students in this project confirms this research, while providing teachers, teacher trainers, school heads and others leaders with ideas and advice for improving formative assessment in the classroom.

Assessment for Learning is based on a two-year project involving thirty-six teachers in schools in Medway and Oxfordshire. After a brief review of the research background and of the project itself, successive chapters describe the specific practices which teachers found fruitful and the underlying ideas about learning that these developments illustrate. Later chapters discuss the problems that teachers encountered when implementing the new practices in their classroom and give guidance for school management and LEAs about promoting and supporting the changes.

This book offers valuable insights into assessment for learning as teachers describe in their own words how they turned the ideas into practical action in their schools.

2011-10-15T08:14:00.000-07:00

The Ultimate Collection Of Tips For Pulling Off The Cinema Technology For Your Home Theater: Tips On Putting Together A Top-Of-The-Line Home Theater ... The Style In Which Movies Are Made Of
You're such a movie fan that you try and keep up with the latest flick that's out showing in cinemas every week. But, there are times when real life activities get in the way and you miss out on some of your most-awaited movies over the weekend. The solution is to build your own home theater so you can catch up on those movies you've missed and watch them complete with the whole cinema experience right in the comfort of your own home. Building a home theater system will take more than just buying a new TV though. The whole idea of a home theater system is to bring the movie atmosphere into the home at a cost that's affordable. Careful planning is required because once you start building, money has already been invested. Designing and installing your own home theater will involve the following initial steps: * Choosing a room or area in the home * Choosing your TV * Choosing your home theater receiver * Choosing surround sound speakers * Choosing additional audio and video components * Purchasing * Adding in the finishing elements Look at your own home and decide which type of home theater system would work best for you. You can do research on your own and build the entire home theater system yourself or you can consult with a professional to either install some components partially or do the entire project. Whichever way, the tips here will help you build your movie-like home theater system.

2011-10-15T07:14:00.000-07:00

Putting My Way: A Lifetime's Worth of Tips from Golf's All-Time Greatest

The last word on putting from one of the greatest golfers-and putters-ever
Jack Nicklaus is considered the greatest player of all time by countless golf fans around the world. His astounding tournament achievements (including a record eighteen professional major championship victories, among them six Masters), along with the powerful legacy he has built as a golf-course designer and golf book author, give him both an unrivaled grasp and multifaceted understanding of the game.
Nicklaus's classic Golf My Way-the sport's all-time worldwide instructional bestseller-has helped millions of players improve their all-around game. InPutting My Way, Nicklaus presents his clear and cohesive approach every element of the craft of superb putting, from finding the right putter to the mechanics of stroking the ball, to the strategies involved in the most neglected part of golf by amateurs, despite it representing at least 45 per cent of their play.
Whether you're new to golf or have been playing for years, Putting My Way will help you take charge of your putting technique, practice, and execution and see results that lift your game.

Explains every mental and physical element of putting, from equipment through greens-reading and stroking techniques to productive practice and foolproof strategizing
Reveals Nicklaus's own lifelong putting "musts," along with highly successful practice systems
Includes 29 b/w illustrations and eight color paintings to help you understand Jack's concepts and better apply them personally

Packed with inside pointers and "how-to's" from one of the greatest putters ever to play the game, this book is the one you'll turn to again and again for the advice you need on how to become a permanently lower-scoring golfer through vastly improved greens work.

From the Inside Flap

When the man who has won an all-time record eighteen major professional golf championships, designed more than 265 golf courses worldwide, and written the bestselling golf instructional book of all time offers to teach you everything about putting, you'd be wise to pay very close attention.
In Putting My Way, the incomparable Jack Nicklaus presents his clear and cohesive approach to every element of holing putts. From finding the right putter and understanding the mechanics of stroking the ball to reading all types of greens, Jack focuses your attention on the golfing skill most recreational players neglect severely, and thus often perform indifferently, even though putting constitutes roughly 45 percent of such players' games.
Jack explains every mental and physical element of what he calls "the gentle art of putting," from equipment and stroking techniques to productive practice and foolproof strategizing. He reveals his own lifelong putting "musts," along with the simple but highly successful practice systems he utilized throughout his legendary career.
Jack shows you in depth how to:

Approach every putt with a positive attitude
Reduce doubt and pressure with proper focus and greens reading
Determine break and speed
Apply the essentials of setting up
Find and consistently strike on your putter's sweet spot
Apply your key mental and physical resources on every putt
Practice the putts that matter the most
Get proficient enough at putting to actually enjoy it

This powerful and complete exposition of putting prowess includes 29 black-and-white illustrations and eight color paintings to help you understand Jack's concepts and apply them reliably to your own game.
Whether you are new to golf or are a seasoned player, Putting My Way will help you take the mysteries and frustrations out of improving your mastery of every hole's final act

2011-10-15T07:09:00.000-07:00

5 Tips To Improve Your Putting and Lower Your Golf Handicap
5 tips to improve your putting and lower your golf handicap. This advise applies to all golfers regardless of your handicap and or experience. Following these helpful tips will definitely improve your putting stats, simple to follow routines and advice that works. Next time you visit the practice putting green take your book with for easy reference. Kindle is the best teacher/training aid ever, it can be with you all the time,in your pocket or golf bag, readily available. There is no other training aid which is this veratile.

2011-10-15T07:02:00.000-07:00

The Putting Prescription: The Doctor's Proven Method for a Better Stroke

The Putting Prescription
The Putt Doctor's Proven Method for a Better Stroke
Dr. Craig L. Farnsworth
Author of See It & Sink It
The doctor is on the golf course!
Dr. Craig Farnsworth has helped more than 125 Tour pros improve their putting games from good to outstanding. Now, you can raise the level of your game using the same innovative techniques that have helped Nick Faldo, Annika Sörenstam, Bernhard Langer, and many others become masters of the green. Whether you suffer from sloppy setup, tight grip, pushing, pulling, or "the yips," The Putting Prescription will cure what ails you!
"I have worked with Craig over the years and have used and applied his prescriptions and drills myself. I particularly love the string and needles drill. All you need to do is add a bit of practice."
-Nick Faldo, six-time Majors winner on the PGA Tour, member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, and analyst for CBS and the Golf Channel
"As a veteran PGA Tour player, I've studied many golf books and listened to more than my share of instructors. Dr. Farnsworth's putting method is the most complete and thorough I've read. He has helped my putting and he can help yours too."
-Scott McCarron, PGA Tour player
"I have had the honor to work with the leading putting coaches in the world and Dr. Craig Farnsworth is the best of the best. His understanding of putting is by far the most comprehensive, and his ability to communicate that knowledge is second to none. I have seen him transform the game of a PGA superstar and elevate the games of 'weekend warriors.'"
-Mike Adams, Golf Digest Top-50 Instructor and Golf Magazine Top-100 Teacher
"Dr. Farnsworth is the premier specialist in helping golfers of all abilities become the best putters they can be. His attention to detail and creative use of drills and games are the best in the game. This book will help you get to the next level."
-Brian Mogg, Golf Magazine Top-100 Teacher
"Having seen the direct benefit to my own game, it is crystal clear to me why so many PGA and LPGA players ultimately find their way to Dr. Farnsworth. He does a wonderful job of blending state-of-the-art teaching methods with the specific needs of the student. I am very cautious about referring my students to instructors. However, I enthusiastically refer my players to Dr. Farnsworth."
-Dr. Gary Brown, Golf Performance Specialist, Intelligent Golf
"I have utilized Doctor Farnsworth's information in my instructional programs since meeting Doc in 1998. His knowledge has transformed my teaching and my own game, allowing me to be the Michigan PGA Teacher and Player of the Year in 2005. Following the Doc's prescriptions will help transform everyone's putting!"
-John L. Dal Corobbo, Director of Instruction, The Training Academy at Prairie View

From the Inside Flap

In his classic See It & Sink It, Dr. Craig Farnsworth changed the face of putting. More than ninety percent of PGA Tour players have adopted his method of alignment, including Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, and Phil Mickelson. His revolutionary, visually based putting system helped Nick Faldo win the 1996 Masters. Now, "the Putt Doctor" takes you to the next level with a book that will change how putting is learned and taught.In The Putting Prescription, the veteran optometrist-turned-putting-guru provides innovative and comprehensive guidance that helps you dramatically improve your putting stroke-and lower your scores!
Based on an extensive computer analysis of the putting strokes of elite Tour professionals, top collegiate players, and amateurs at every level of play, Dr. Farnsworth's scientifically based instruction includes nearly a hundred step-by-step prescriptions that will help you build a reliable stroke, correct mistakes, improve your aim, and much, much more.
You'll find out why knowing your dominant eye is crucial to your setup; how to develop the grip that's right for you; and why it is sometimes helpful to practice your putting without a hole, a ball, or even a putter! You'll also learn how to:

Develop a killer Putt Doctor stroke in five easy steps
Trust your eyes and understand what you see as you aim
Fine-tune your stroke
Avoid pulling or pushing your putts
Know where to look, how to look, and what to look for
Control putt speed like a pro
Develop an attitude that improves your success rate
Overcome "the yips"
Approach drills and practice with a purpose

You'll find plenty of Putt Doctor diagnostic tests to help you define problem areas, and Dr. Farnsworth's prescriptions, practice tips, and drills will help you nurse your putting to the peak of health and make you a master of the green.
Complete with more than a hundred photos to guide you toward the perfect setup, grip, aim, and stroke, The Putting Prescription is just what the doctor ordered

Putt Like a Pro

2011-02-03T23:20:00.000-08:00

Pete Cowan

Just like the golf swing, there are basically only three things that make the ball go on line or off line: the path, the position of the clubface and the quality of impact.

If you have control of your path, then you have control of your initial direction; if you have control of your initial direction (with a putt), you can then let the green do the work (in a full shot, you let the spin do the work). The way I teach putting and the full swing is to focus on these three principles - and the Zen Oracle Tour putter helps me on all counts on the green..

People forget that the quality of the strike is everything in putting. Within a fraction of a second of hitting the ball, you know whether or not you have struck it on the correct line. It's instinctive; you feel it off the putter-face.

Another thing people tend to forget is that there is a vertical as well as a horizontal sweetspot on every putter-face. The ball is 1.68 inches in diameter, so the sweet-spot on your putter needs to be 0.84 inches above the ground to strike the equator of the ball, which is your goal. You want to get the sweet- spot of the putter meeting the sweet- spot of the ball.

In the case of the Zen Oracle, the face is just under an inch in height, and the sweet-spot is probably only 0.5 inches up the face.

And you can see that when I match the sweet-spots, the putter is raised up a little. In other words, the putter has to be released on the up as it works through impact in order to strike the equator of the ball. The whole of the putter - i.e. head, shaft and grip - has to be released (not 'blocked' or manipulated) as it swings up through impact.

Rock the handle down then up, and roll the ball like the game's greatest putters

Years ago, I remember reading about an experiment that was conducted to determine the common denominators of the really great putters. And the only thing that was discovered (other than the fact great putters holed lots of putts) was that the handle of the putter went down and then up through the course of the stroke. In other words, the butt-end of the grip could be seen to work down a little in the backswing before working up as the putter was released through the ball. That single finding is something that I have stressed to all of my pupils ever since, whether they be aspiring tour players or keen club golfers.

The fact is, good putters strike the ball so much more sweetly than poor putters. They get the ball rolling and hugging the green. Poor putters tend to 'trap' the ball between the putter-face and the surface of the green, and never really get the ball running true off the face. What you have to remember is that the pure weight of the ball on grass causes it to sit down into the surface of the green.

On these firm and quick Wentworth greens, probably 3-4% of the ball sinks into the green (more on slow greens), and so to get it out of that small indentation it has to be struck on the equator as the putter works up. And that's why you have to work on hitting it with a little loft and slightly 'on the up' - as all the great putters do.

So there's a first principle to keep firmly in mind. We talk a lot about checking matters of alignment and ball position - quite rightly but when it comes to effectively improving
your putting stroke, this is a critical element of technique that you need to be aware of.
So work on the exercise above; get the handle of the putter working down and then up for that slightly ascending through-stroke that gets the ball rolling true.

Here I am rehearsing the 'release' drill with the Zen Oracle putter that allows you to hold and roll a ball from within the aperture the head. But whatever putter you use, repeating this exercise will transform your stroke and help you to hole more putts.

The Reflex Drill

In a solid stroke, the left shoulder works down and then up - just like the handle of the putter.

Hands remain neutral on the grip and passive throughout the stroke, enabling you to maintain this controlling unit while developing good tempo with the gentle rocking of the shoulders.

How the Zen can help you develop your feel for the stroke, and a sense of true 'release'

Hitting at the ball with the putter is often the cause of poor ballstriking on the greens (and likewise in the full swing). You see it everyday: flicking at it with the putter-head can cause a player to pull a putt, while hitting at it with the hands (i.e. 'driving' a putt) can result in a block.

Either way, the ball's not going to drop.

The key to long-term consistency is that (1) you learn to develop a repeating pendulum-type stroke that is controlled by the upper body and (2) that you then fine-tune that stroke to produce the smooth upstroke that (as far as is physically possible) eliminates the 'hit'.

And that's where this putter really comes into its own. With its unique design, when you work on 'holding' and then releasing the ball from within the aperture of the Zen Oracle putter there is no impact, and so immediately you get a true roll towards your target.

To get accustomed to the feel of the head and the sensation of rolling the ball back and forth, we kick off with what we have termed the 'Reflex' exercise (above).

This involves simply holding the ball within the aparture of the putter as you move it just a few inches gently backwards and forwards under the line of string (and whatever putter you play, practising with a taut line of string like this is a no-brainer; all of the best putters do it). Tour players who use the Zen repeat the Reflex drill for a couple of minutes and then move on to releasing the ball and rolling it into the hole.

When you have a perfect roll, it's all about following the correct path

To keep the ball in the aperture of the putter on the backswing, you must make the handle go down to keep the putter-head low to the ground (and so immediately we're back to the value of the exercise I demonstrated on the previous page). In other words, simply spending a few minutes rehearsing the Reflex drill, or stroking a few shortish putts with the Zen, reinforces this specific feature of a correct, repeating stroke.

Here's another thing. When you know that you are going to get a pure roll on the ball as it leaves the putter, the quality of your path is exposed. The exercise you see me working on here (above) is known as the 'Release', and it is designed to help you get the path of your stroke running perfectly at the target.

In my experience, too many golfers go on thinking they are putting well when in reality their stroke is hampered by a (usually) fundamental fault which forces them into making compensations.

Some days those compensations work (hence players feel they are putting OK), but more often than not their performance is inconsistent and the stroke is not a confident one.
What I really like about the Zen Oracle is that, via these various exercises, it basically teaches you the fundamentals and simply does not tolerate compromise. In the case of the 'Release' drill, the quality of your path through to the hole is immediately revealed. Because you have eliminated the 'hit', the roll is true, and if you miss the hole from this range (on a dead-straight putt), then clearly the path of your stroke needs some attention.

The students that I have coached with the Zen - and they include a number of good tour players - have been amazed at the way the putter becomes their own best teacher.
It enables you to work on your stroke and groove solid mechanics..

Blend backswing and through-swing into one smooth and continuous on-line stroke

What I most like about the Zen putter is that it teaches you not only to understand the basic principles of good putting but also to recognise the symptoms of basic faults as and when they creep into your stroke. The 'Tracker' exercise that you see here is another example of the information the Zen can give you. The idea is that as you lengthen your stroke (and ideally you would rehearse this from further out, say 10 or 15 feet from the hole), you release the ball held within the aperture away from the hole to check the path of your backswing. The two faults pictured (Below) illustrate the problems that the Zen can help you to solve. We would all agree that the laws of physics dictate that the stroke runs very slightly inside the line going back (progressively so the longer the backswing) but this is much too severe (top left).

Fault: Too far inside
Fault: Outside the line

Ordinarily you would rehearse this 'Tracker' exercise from 10 or 15 feet, where the length of the backswing would enable you to release the ball that is within the aperture away from the hole.

But hopefully you get the drift; releasing the ball in this direction tells you all you need to know about the path of your backswing. Here it is too much inside the line, the released ball running severely inside the string.
Another common fault: the putter has this time wandered slightly outside the line going back, a fact that is immediately confirmed as the ball rolls under and to the outside outside of the string.

Faults such as these require that you make compensations to get back on
track - compensations that are never consistent.

I'm moving the putter too much on the inside and the released ball confirms it. In contrast, if the released ball cuts across the string and goes outside the line, that tells me I am taking the putter back outside. This instant feedback tells me what the problem is and what I have to work on. If the path of my stroke seems to be OK and yet I was still missing putts, I
would check the alignment of the putter-face. This will provide some more valuable information that you will be able to act on immediately.

Making that solid pendulum stroke - built up on sound fundamentals - sees the putter track beautifully back and forth (above). The ball that is released backwards runs just slightly inside the line, while the ball that is struck just as it should be (on the up) rolls straight in the hole...

Roll 'em in, one after the other . . .

The 'Tracer' exercise is designed to improve your acceleration through impact and again provides immediate feedback on your accuracy. From the four- to six-foot range, you simply place a ball in the aperture, then set up to a putt as normal, and with a smooth stroke set about rolling both of the balls towards the hole. The trick is to maintain the gap between them, and the guys on tour who are really good at this are able to do this perfectly as they roll the two balls at the same speed into the middle of the hole - just another exercise that not only makes practising with the Zen fun but, ultimately, more rewarding.

Tour players can often be seen on the practice green using a mirror to check their posture and to make sure that their eyes are over the line of the putt. That is crucial. A lot of golfers stand with their eye-line too far inside the line to the hole, which means they are not viewing their subject properly. The Xtend-Align system seen here is perfect for keeping these fundamentals in check. And because the string is supported a few inches above the surface, it is never in the way and gives you terrific feedback on every putt.

With your left hand behind your back, it's amazing how quickly using the right hand only improves the quality of the strike. Because the right hand doesn't 'drive' at it, you release the whole of the shaft down the line. That's what Tiger Woods does when he putts well - which is pretty much all the time. People perceive that he releases the head, which would mean the butt-end goes backwards and cannot go up. He doesn't. He releases the whole of the shaft. Which means the butt-end comes up. So work on this exercise as often as you possibly can.
Don't bother with aiming at a hole. This is all about the quality of the strike. Work on releasing the putter and focus on the quality of your strike. I guarantee that if you spend some time doing this you will notice a great improvement in the way you roll the ball.

Tips For Sinking A Downhill Putt

2009-10-22T20:20:00.000-07:00

For me, downhill putts are scary putts. Ot at least they were until I learned a few tricks to put the brakes on those little devils.

This is what I do and maybe it will help you as well.

Stand next to your ball and make several practice strokes as you normally do. Keep stroking until your mind's eye sees the perfect length and rhythm for your stroke. This is something that you will 'feel' as much as you will 'know'.

Once this perfect stroke has registered in your subconscious, immediately set up over the ball and lower your hands (choke up) at least three inches (and sometimes as much as six) down the grip. Now this will feel odd the first time you try it, so don't let that throw you off.

Keep in mind that the shorter the putter, the less energy will be transmitted to the ball. In other words, by choking down on the putter you are delivering less energy to the ball and it will therefore roll softer. And that is the key to making these downhill putts. Soft...soft...soft.

Now make the exact same stroke you just practiced. You'll be surprised how softly your putt rolls while staying on its intended line.

Using the 'short putter' method works better (in my opinion) than a toe-stroke to soften the blow, because the ball is struck on the putter's sweet spot. The putter face remains square and putts start on-line (where as toe-stroke putts tend to start to the right). Having your ball start on-line is another key to making these putts.

The faster the putt, the farther down the grip you go. If the putt is ridiculously fast and ridiculously fast putts do exist go all the way on to the bare metal shaft with your grip. Again, this will feel odd at first but give it a go and see if it works for you.

When you learn how much break to play with this technique, you'll start making a few of your downhiller putts.

As with everything in golf, practice is important. This is really not the kind of technique that you want to try first time while playing with a group. Much better to find a hilly practice green and spend 30 minutes or so alone. Knowing in advance that you know how to play these lays will greatly increase your confidence the next time you're faced with one on the course.

Putting And Sand Play Tips

2009-10-22T20:18:00.000-07:00

3-Feet from the Hole

The most important aspect of putting is to decide on your line before the stroke. The only thing to be thinking DURING the stroke is how hard you need to hit the ball. Control how far the ball rolls by controlling the distance you bring the putter back during the backswing. The length of the forward swing past the ball should ALWAYS match the length of the backswing.

When determining the "line" for the putt, pay particular attention to the lay of the green within a three foot radius around the cup, as your golf ball will be rolling fairly slowly, and therefore will break more sharply within that area near the cup. You need to determine where you want the golf ball to be when it is entering that three-feet-away radius. Always attempt to putt the ball so it will go about one foot past the hole if it misses. If it misses,watch the break PAST the hole, because that will give you the line for the tap in.

Get out of the Sand

Sand play around the green really is a different concept. Here's all you need to know to have great sand play...Open the blade of your sand wedge so that it is directed about five feet to the RIGHT of the flag. Open your stance so the tips of your feet and shoulders are aligned with each other such that you are aiming about five feet LEFT of the pin.

When you swing back, only swing the clubhead as HIGH as your right shoulder. Don't use more than about 60% power on the swing. The clubface should slice ACROSS AND DOWN THROUGH the sand, behind the ball. More than any other shot on the course, follow through is essential to lift the ball out of the sand. If you want the ball to stop more quickly, hit the sand about 1 inch behind the middle of the golf ball. If you want the ball to run, you need to hit about 2.5 inches behind the middle of the ball. Use this method and your days of poor sand play are behind you, but of course nothing comes without practice. Find a course in your area that has a chipping green with a bunker you can practice out of. After a while, your confidence will skyrocket.

Putting Security at Risk

2009-10-22T20:15:00.000-07:00

To survive in a competitive global environment, an organization must provide targeted customers more value than its competitors, as customer value is the difference between all the benefits derived from a total product/service and all the costs of acquiring those benefits. For instance, owning a car can provide a number of benefits, including flexible transportation, image, status, pleasure, comfort, and even companionship. However, securing these benefits requires paying for the car, gasoline, insurance, maintenance, and parking fees, as well as risking injury from an accident, adding to environmental pollution, and dealing with traffic jams and other frustrations. It is the difference between the total benefits and the total costs that constitutes customer value. Thus, providing superior customer value requires the organization to do a better job of anticipating and reacting to customer needs than the competitor does.

However, providing superior value and anticipating today's evolving consumer needs requires deep understanding of the emerging consumer networks, which in turn requires thorough understanding of the behavioral principles that guide the different acceptance levels of alternative distribution channels. Although the unquestionable outcomes of September 11th are still discussed around the globe, the shift of the public's focus from privacy issues to safety guidelines and the overwhelming acceptance of new technology uses, have considerably altered the scene of operations. Just as in the traditional product cycle, private information is now circulated as the new commodity that has to accompany the individual and reveal as much classified data as possible. Under these exchanged guidelines, people have to alter their attitudes towards government invasion and accept unanimously the American principle that 'if you have nothing to hide, then you have nothing to be afraid of'. Security is the exchanged value in this information marketplace, where the airplane passenger has to surrender his dignity at the security officer's table. But is the market/society able and willing to respond?

The outcomes of few research findings indicate that while anonymity is preferred, the fear principle still governs the ultimate decision and directs the person to reveal as much information as possible, without questioning the use of the acquired information, or the force that directs the whole process. Everything is conducted in the name of a 'greater good'. The passengers' market in this example, accepts the circulation of information without disputing its usefulness and in airport facilities, customer value increases when the passenger calculates the possible outcome of the distributed information. Circulation of information in this example is not just a simple procedure in a specific distribution channel, but has become a part of the actual service offered to the public. Keeping information hidden can cause a major crisis, thus people operate under the influence of group norms and the pressure of guilt. The redefined safe zone is strengthened by the argument that privacy is a very small price to pay in exchange to security.

But in many parts of the world, airport passengers become reluctant to release private information without first examining if there is a dignity issue involved. More and more traveling markets have come to realize that even when the circulation processes of information are not going to affect directly their lives there is still the issue of personal rights and privacy. The present choices of this market will ultimately be reflected in the future consequences of passengers' tolerance levels, although certainly no one is pleased staying inside this minimum interference utopia.

The Secret To Shaving Strokes

2009-10-22T20:12:00.000-07:00

My friend and I were having coffee the other day and he was whining about how his game has become stale. He really believes he's reached a plateau where there are no more strokes to be gained during a round of golf. He was depressed, to say the least, but he was also wrong.

My buddy is no Sam Snead (and neither am I) but he's a solid player. His drives are usally reasonable in both distance and trajectory, meaning he doesn't hook or slice anymore than the rest of us. His mid-game is good, he knows how to choose and use his long irons, his close game is very good and he can get out of a bunker when he finds himself in one. All in all, a good solid game.

Until he gets on the green.

What I suggested to him is something I think we can all learn from. If you four or five putt most of the greens on your course, you're adding a lot of strokes to your overall score. My suggestion to my friend was that rather than try to improve the other parts of his game, if he would simply putt one less stroke (on those four and five putt holes) he'd shave a significant amount of strokes off his game. If he could take one putting stroke off each hole, he'd save 18 strokes!

Now if you're a good putter already, this probably won't work for you. But if you normally get on the green in regulation and then have to putt more than twice to get into the cup, well, maybe you, too, could shave some strokes off your game by simply improving your putting abilities.

There are a gazillion tips on putting--some work and some are just goofy--but nothing will improve your putting more than practice. My friend never spends time on the practice green and it shows when he's on the course. But in his case--and in a lot of other cases, I suspect--there is really no other part of his game that he can significantly improve. And, frankly, he doesn't need to spend time on his drive--he's got that nailed. He needs to spend time putting. That's what's killing his score card.

If you know--or even suspect--that your putting is poor, get off the driving range and get on the putting green. You will be amazed at how fast your putting can improve when you spend just a little time each week practicing those putts. That improvement will carry over to your next round of golf, too, and you'll see strokes simply fading away.

Practice those putts!

Is There Any Cures For Golf Putting Problems?

2009-10-22T20:08:00.000-07:00

It is perhaps the supreme irony in golf that the simplest shot in the book seems to cause the biggest problem to the largest number of golfers.

Let's face it, the putt is the only golf shot that it is really possible to execute flawlessly without any tuition at all. We all start off doing this as kids. Some of us are even superb at it at this young age. It is this shot that is often the spur that leads to a lifelong addiction to this wonderful game of golf.

What then, goes wrong? How can this easiest of golf shots become the absolute bane of an adult golfer's life? Sorry to say, there is no easy answer. Experts are just as baffled as inexperienced amateurs over this one. The saying 'it's all in the mind' was probably never more true than in this golfing case.

Several years ago, an American company developed a golf putting machine. They carried out tests in optimum putting conditions and were gob-smacked to discover that their pride and joy couldn't hole every putt. They took that machine apart and tweaked every element of it until they were certain that it was in perfect working order. And, guess what? It still failed to hole some putts. If this doesn't go to prove that there is at least an element of 'black art' about golf putting, then nothing will.

The best lesson to take from the above is that you really never are going to achieve putting perfection. If a machine in perfect working under operating under perfect putting conditions fails to hole every golf putt, then a human being with all his or her imperfections never is.

So, the first rule is, stop giving yourself such a hard time whenever you miss a few putts. It happens to even top professional golfers. In fact, any problem you have with putting is much more likely to be psychological than physical, so the very last thing you should be doing is getting down on yourself mentally; this can only make matters worse.

Is there anything you can do if you really do have severe, regular putting problems? Well, apart from working on the mental side of things to inculcate strong belief that you really can putt (try some self-hypnosis tapes etc.) the best advice is to see if a change of putter will do the trick. Take your lead from the professionals. So many professional golfers who've suffered terribly from the 'yips' on the putting green, such as Bernhard Langer, found their salvation in the broom handle putter - maybe you should give one a try.

Putting And My Aching Back!

2009-10-22T20:03:00.000-07:00

I am guessing that all of us can relate to the title of this article. I am sure you have bent over for that 4 footer (can’t give you that 4 footer, sorry), and felt that lower back feel tired, sore, painful or tight. Regardless of what the word is, you feel it! I also am guessing that some of you have changed to belly putters for the reason that your back hurts when you putt! Even if you are one of those players that has switched to a belly putter because of back pain, that pain is an indicator of something else going on within the body. I am sure we could use the excuse: I am older now and that is just what happens; or maybe we use the “cave man excuse”: humans just were meant to walk on two legs! Regardless of what excuse you use, there is a reason and solution to solve those lower back problems. Even if you don’t realize it, the lower back that you feel when putting is also affecting the other parts of your game (i.e. driving, long irons, chipping, pitching, etc.) This article has the goal of explaining why your back is sore when you putt and what we can do to help alleviate the problem.

Why Does My Lower Back Ache?

Well, let me say this to start. If you are in agreement with the “caveman excuse” you are in the ballpark as to why the lower back begins to ache on the 12th or 13th green. Standing upright, which is a specific posture (keep that word “posture” in mind throughout this article), places stress on the lower back. When I say stress, I am talking about the muscles of your lower back working to support your body in a specific position. The same holds true for when you putt. You get behind the ball, line the putt up, look at the line, maybe crouch down, take a few practice putts, and then away you go. In all the actions described above, your lower back is actively working to maintain posture in all those positions. Do this little activity to give you an idea of what your back is doing all the time to support your body. Take your hand and make a fist. Squeeze that fist as hard as you can for one minute, no less, more if you can. Now relax. How do your hand and forearm feel? Pretty tired, huh, maybe stiff. What you just did is exactly what your lower back does all the time. It is constantly contracting to hold your body upright. After time it gets tired and the result is a sore, stiff, and tight lower back.

Up to this point we understand that the lower back is involved to a great extent in supporting the body. Now, how about when we move? Have you ever felt that back tighten up when you are getting out of a chair, and then you have to wait a second after you stand up before you start walking? Again, I will guess that the majority of us can answer yes to this question. This an example of a movement where the lower back is already fatigued, but nevertheless the lower back is now involved in moving the body, even though it is fatigued. When you walk, run, bend-over, turn, or rotate, your lower back is involved in the movement. The lower back gets a so-to-speak “double whammy” when it comes to what it does for the body. The lower back is involved in both supporting a position in which you place your body and also in the movement of the body. (If you need an example of how much the lower back works during the day, keep your fist clamped for a day, and see how your forearm feels the next day.) So at this point we know the reasons why our back is sore when we step over that 4 footer for birdie (sorry it is still not a gimme in my book, gotta be inside the leather). It is a twofold reason: number one has to do with posture, and number two with movement. Now that we know why our lower back gets sore or tight, how do we fix it?

How to Fix that Aching Lower Back

Before we describe ways to fix the lower back let us first give some suggestions to those who already have severe lower back problems. I would first suggest you see your personal physician. Always better safe than sorry. If you are someone who constantly has a sore lower back or you get up every morning with a stiff back, go see your doctor. You never know what might be going on in that lower back area. Quite possibly you may have a problem with a disk, a bone spur, or any number of serious lower back problems. I have seen a lot of these issues in my day, and I will say, number one, it always important to be under the supervision of a physician in such cases, and, number two, if you catch such lower back problems early they are much easier to treat than the ones that linger. So do yourself a favor and go see your physician before things get worse.

Now, on to how to help eliminate the lower back that tires on the back nine of your weekly round. We know from above that we are using the back “24-7” so to speak. Golfing requires the lower back to work even harder than normal. This is a result of the rotating, stabilizing, and power production required of the swing. The lower back is getting tired because it is neither strong enough nor does it have enough endurance within its muscles to support the activities you perform on a daily basis!

I am betting by now you have a pretty good idea of what to do to rid yourself of that lower back soreness. The lower back must become stronger and increase its endurance capacities. This will increase the durability of the lower back to withstand the stresses placed upon it during your daily activities. Strength can be defined as having enough force production with your muscles to perform a certain activity, and endurance is having enough energy in those muscles to do an activity over and over again. These are simplified definitions, but they work well for what we are talking about. Strength in relation to the lower back has to do with the ability to maintain postures. You must get the lower back strong enough to maintain the postures of the activities you participate in (i.e. golf). Endurance in the lower back is creating enough stored energy in the lower back muscles to do to whatever activity it is that you do over and over again without getting tired (i.e. golf swing).

The combination of strengthening the lower back and creating more endurance within these muscles creates the highest probability of the lower back staying healthy for all activities. The next question you probably have is: what are the proper exercises I should perform to get my back in better shape for golf?

5 Steps To Energize Your Putting

2009-10-22T20:01:00.000-07:00

There are some keys to success when you are on the putting green, and we are going to go over those. When out on the course playing golf and you want to make more putts, you must keep your putting system and your routine as simple as possible. If you ever watch what the pro's do on TV when they are putting, you should notice that putting is the part of the game that is totally a personal thing. This is really the way that it should be.

There are some basics in putting that will help you, for example having your eyes directly over the ball, but after that there is really not a right way that you have to setup or stand over the ball. Look at how Sam Snead used to putt, with the side saddle style. One thing that you don't want to do is to have a bunch of mechanical thoughts running through your head when you are about to putt. You really just want to think of the pace you want the ball to roll at and how far to the right or left side of the hole the ball should start.

You have to start to think of your putting in this light. Your object when you are putting is to see how close you can get the ball to the hole. There is a good part about this method, if the ball goes in the hole, it is a bonus. Watching golf evolve over the years, there have been some very successful putters, that have had some very different styles.

These facts are telling you that it is OK to be yourself and do what is comfortable for you.

Let's learn some putting tips that are going to make you a better putter.

1.) You need to be relaxed and comfortable before you putt. If your body is tense and your arms are as stiff as boards and don't forget all the other tensing up things that are done prior to hitting the ball, your success rate is not going to be very good. Stay relaxed

2.) If you want to make more putts, you need to strike the ball in the middle of the putter face. You can usually hear and feel a solidly struck putt. This should be your #1 goal, to hit the ball in the middle of the putter face.

By the way, a lot of putts miss because they were not hit in the middle of the clubface. Not because you picked the wrong line or speed.

3.) One thing that I see people doing all the time is changing there putting style. Don't do this. Just try and hit the ball solid on every attempt. Hitting the ball solid will keep the ball on the intended line longer and this will give you a better chance of making more putts.

4.) Be as consistent as you can with you tempo. This is a main key. Your back and through stroke. My stroke is going to be different than yours. Mine may be slow and yours may be fast or it could be in between fast and slow. Try to keep is as consistent as you can. The more consistent you make this the more consistent your ball is going to roll and the more putts you are going to make.

5.) Try not to get to anxious and see what the ball is doing, stay down and through the putt. Don't PEEK. Chances are if you PEEKED, you probably watched another putt miss the cup. This is another reason putts miss, is because you get quick picking your head up.

Another problem that PEEKING will do is you will probably not hit the ball in the center of the putter face as mentioned earlier. You have to realize that everyone has this problem. The pro's do this on occasion also, but not as often as we do. Everyone want to see what the ball is doing. Avoid this as much as you can. Here is a tip to help you. Try and count to one after you hit the ball before you pick your head up. This is going to help you to keep your head down.

Try watching Anika and Tiger. They are good examples of great putting and keeping your head down. They can have a 10ft. putt and they will barely see the ball going in the hole. This is really your clue to what you need to be doing, which is keeping your head down. When you start to keep your head down longer your other body parts are going to do the same thing and stay down and through the putt longer. You will start to make more putts for sure.

Follow the steps above and your putting is going to improve. It worked for me and others. Remember the most important step is that all you are trying to do is to see how close you can get the ball to the hole.

How To Read Golf Greens for Speed and Break

2009-10-22T19:57:00.000-07:00

Short putts and long putts, are played with the same golf club even though the stroke pattern and purpose are quite different. Short putts demand club face control while the long putts demand pace control. The short putting stroke should be as short as possible to lower the risk of changing your club face position after aligning the club face at the target. The long putt stroke can be long and flowing because controlling the pace of the ball speed is your goal.

You’ll find when you three putt a green most of the time you left your putt short or you knocked it past the hole, unless there was a significant amount of break that you did not negotiate properly. It is usually the pace or speed of the ball that is the most difficult to control, especially on super fast greens like Augusta.

Today we discuss long putts and how to first determine the speed then the break. Most golfers look at the break first. I first have to make a decision on how fast I’m willing to roll the ball before I decide how much break or curvature the ball will take over the surface it has to cover. The slower I roll the ball the more it will break or curve.

I look at the green from 150 yards first to see any tendencies of lean one way or the other. If I threw a bucket of water on that green which way would it flow off?

Once reaching the green you need to look at the putt from both sides to gather all the information you can about the surface you are about to roll the ball on. I suggest that you drive your golf cart to the back of the green each time, (being that most golfers leave their ball short of the hole on approach) and then walk around the back of the putt first. Try walking a half moon circle around the putt rather than straight to the ball. Look at how the green leans. Understand that the designer of the green had to account for water to flow off the green for drainage purposes. Find the area of drainage and you’ll have the keys to the “lean” of the green.

Look at the coloration of the green. Is the color a deep dark green and thick or is it light brown with very thin grass blades? Is it up hill or down? Is there a ridge where the ball will speed up on you and run by the hole? Make a determination while walking around the hole as to how fast you need to roll the ball. Then once behind the putt, meld the information you acquired from looking at the putt from the back and the frontal view you have. Now and make an educated guess at the amount of break you should play for.

Remember if you are off on your amount of break by a foot or two it probably won’t cause you to three putt. It’s that putt you leave seven feet short or twelve feet past the hole that will cause you to three putt. Get the pace first, then the line.

Basic Strategies To Proper Putting

2009-10-22T19:55:00.000-07:00

The average golfer could easily make up 10 strokes a ROUND by putting properly. This one point makes proper putting perhaps the most important part of any player's game. And since most of us are not able to get onto the links anyway because of the winter weather, putting is something you can practice at home.

There's an old adage that the game of golf should be learned from the green back to the tee. That means putting, chipping, fairway shots, and THEN drives. Remember, most shots in a round are from around the green or on the green itself. It's not uncommon for some players to take as many (and often more) shots while on the green as they did to get to the green. Putting is paramount to a solid game.

The average golfer's tendency, when putting, is to use too much of their wrists and arms, thus breaking down their wrists through the putt. This is wrong and is the main culprit for poor putting. Do not break your wrists when putting! Why? Because as soon as you do, you lose control. That wobbly wrist action is transmitted down to the putter face and the ball will go just about anywhere when contact is made. Anywhere except where you want to go, that is.

To become a great putter, the perfect combination of shoulders and arms should be used throughout the entire putt. Any wrist action involved is through the motion of the weight of the putter. In other words, it's a natural motion, not a break.

During your putt, concentrate on your shoulders. On the backswing, your left shoulder naturally moves down and your right shoulder naturally moves up, like a pendulum. When you focus on your shoulders as if they were a clock works, your backswing becomes fluid. Your left wrist should stay nice and firm throughout this motion.

In order to set up the putting grip, first place the grip in the palm of your left hand, and your entire hand around the grip. Place your right hand underneath your left, in a similar palm grip. Now, overlap your right hand with your left index finger. Your palms should be opposite to one another, for a nice locked-in feeling. When setting up to address the ball, make sure your eyes are over the ball, specifically your left eye (if you are a right hand golfer).

Bend your knees slightly, and hang your arms over the ball.

Shift your weight slightly forward on your left foot, favoring the left side of your body. Your hands should also be slightly forward in your stance.

Before making your stroke, make sure your arms, shoulders, knees and feet are all parallel with your target line. Notice I said target line. This doesn't mean the hole but rather the path that the ball needs to travel in order to get to the hole.

Keep all these elements intact, and you should see improved putting in no time.

There is a standard rule of thumb for putting that usually works, but depends on the terrain, so adjust accordingly. For a five foot putt, bring your putter back five inches, and then follow through five inches.

Why do most putts miss? Because the stance and the putter head are NOT square to the target line.

With putting, this issue of being square cannot be overstated. It's vital that you get comfortable with being squared up on putts. Keep your wrists tight and don't let them break and you should see a great improvement in your putting in a very short time. Shaving strokes through better putting is something everyone can master. Young or old, weak or strong, putting can turn out to be a player's best friend.

Find Out Ways To Sink More Putts And Lower Your Scores

2009-10-22T19:51:00.000-07:00

Putting is one of the most important aspects in the game of golf. It is one of the biggest factors that can influence your golf score almost immediately. However many people do not realize that putting is primarily a mental game. Often players will spend significant amount of time on their mechanics thinking that developing a perfect putting stroke is the answer to sinking more putts.

The reality is that great putting requires confidence and in order to develop this confidence you will need to adjust the way you think and not just the mechanics of your putting stroke. Good mechanics is important but it should not be your primary focus when it comes to improving your putting. If you are a beginner then I suggest you take a few putting lessons from one of your local golf pros. The key thing to remember is to pick a putting approach and stick with it through thick and thin regardless of how many putts you made in your last round.

Remember that even on the PGA tour almost every player has their own unique putting style. Many putting styles are even considered bizarre yet they have been used over and over again to win major tournaments. Thus the key to great putting is your attitude and this is what you will need to work on not just on the course but off the course too. You will need to monitor your thoughts about your putting and ask yourself whether or not thinking that way will boost your confidence or cause you to doubt your putting abilities.

You must think of yourself as a great putter and you need to develop a selective memory. A selective memory is simply choosing to remember certain events and forgetting others. When it comes to your putting you need to remind yourself occasionally of all the great putts you have made and more importantly you must forget your misses. Do not dwell on your mistakes, learn whatever you can from them and move on.

Do not spend excessive amounts of time working on your putting mechanics, just a few minutes a day should be enough to keep your mechanics solid. Also you need to remember that when you are about to hit your putt you should only be thinking about your target and nothing else. Do not think about putting mechanics when you are about to hit your putts. Thinking about mechanics just before the execution of any golf shot has been shown over and over again to hinder performance.

Another important key element to great putting is to always step over a putt believing that you will make the putt. There are many that suggest that for long putts you should aim for a three foot circle. I disagree with this approach because you are only increasing your margin for error. Always putt to make it. You also need to trust your feel when it comes to judging the distance of a putt. Spend a few minutes before the round hitting a few putts to the fringe to get an idea of the speed of the greens. It is a good idea to aim for the fringe instead of a hole because you do not want to see yourself consistently missing putts and with long putts you will not make the vast majority.

Hit a lot of putts inside of ten feet as this will help to boost your confidence since you will make a good number of these. Spend a few minutes before you go to bed and go back in time and remember a few of the greatest putts you have ever made and remind yourself that you are a great putter. This will do wonders for your confidence since you will be essentially programming your subconscious mind for putting success.

Most people that develop the putting yips have simply lost their confidence and the only way to cure the yips long term is to regain it back by changing the way you think about yourself as a putter. Think of yourself as a great putter, banish all negative thoughts and watch your golf scores drop as you sink more and more putts every time you play.

Tips To Improve Your Putting

2009-10-22T19:49:00.000-07:00

If you are seriously considering lowering your scores, then you must take your putting seriously, as roughly half the strokes you play in a round of golf are likely to be on the putting green. However good you are at driving, pitching and chipping, if your putting is not up to standard, you will never make the next level. My Dad told me the famous quote when I was probably about 12 or 13, ‘Drive for show putt for dough’, this says it all! That is why it is quite incredible that putting is not often concentrated on.

Tips for setup:

First of all I’d just like to say that there is no one correct putting grip/posture/stroke, there are wide variations, so if your technique is different, don’t worry, some of the top golfers have very different putting actions e.g. Bernhard Langer, Ben Crenshaw and Tom Watson all have very different techniques. These are basic tips that can be applied to most techniques to help improve your game.

An ideal putting stroke should strike the ball on the up, to do this the ball should be placed opposite the inside of the left heal (for a right hander), this results in the ball being hit on the up and top spin is generated.

In relation to setup, the hands should be either inline with the ball or ahead of the ball, if the hands are behind the ball, then a clean consistent strike of the ball is not likely, and the common result is the ball popping up in the air.

Tension on the green is one the most destructive things that can happen to your putting, especially with the short putts, this is known as getting the ‘yips’, this is caused by moving during the stroke. This causes you to ‘fluff’ your shot and miss your putt. To avoid this happening, concentrate on the spot where the ball was after impact rather than following the ball. This ensures that you do not move your head during impact and will help give you the clean smooth impact you require.

A simple technique to reduce the tension in the body and the stroke is simply to let your arms dangle in front of you before you putt and gently shake them. This should relax your muscles enabling an enhanced sensation of feel and touch, both vital for reliable consistent putting.

Tips for the swing

Your grip should not be too tight, and your arms should be relaxed. Gently and smoothly in a one piece action, sweep the putter backwards. It is important to keep the triangle formed between your arms and the line joining your shoulders consistent through the whole shot and the shape should not change. The move backwards should be like a pendulum movement with your arms, while your wrists remain stiff. A good tip for making sure that this is correct is by starting the action by dropping your left shoulder; this will get the pendulum motion started.

Keeping the triangle mentioned before in tact, in a pendulum motion, accelerate the putter smoothly through the ball; the ball should be hit on the up. Throughout this whole period, keep your eyes fixed on the ball to avoid fluffing the putt and keep the eyes fixed on that spot after impact.

It is vital after impact that the left wrist remains firm and does not break; the follow-through should go inline with the direction you were aiming and should be the same length as the backswing.

Key points

Try and relax before playing the stroke, this will help enhance your feel and touch and help avoid the yips due to excess tension

The stroke should be a pendulum action swinging with your shoulders and arms while the wrists remain stiff.

Don’t move your head during the swing.

Swing in a relaxed smooth fashion with a smooth and constant rhythm.

Keep the wrists firm throughout the stroke.

Play the ball from underneath the eyes.

Have the ball in the front of the stance to ensure that the ball is hit on the up.

Golf Putting For Beginners

2009-10-22T19:40:00.000-07:00

If you’re a beginner, learning the basics of golf putting can be like playing in a one-man band. You have to successfully blend different styles, processes and elements together into one harmonious golfing symphony.

Since your posture and stance can affect how well you putt, the first thing to consider is the way you stand. To execute the ideal putt, your arms and shoulders should be left to do majority of the work. Because stooping prevents you from swinging your arms freely, it is important for you to stand tall and with your legs slightly astride. Some experts suggest that you to spread your feet apart no greater than the width of your hips. This will ensure greater balance and mobility as you take your swing.

Once you’ve adopted the right posture, finding the best position for the golf ball can make all the difference. As a general rule, the ball should be close to you, enough to make it nearly parallel to the tip of your nose. This allows you to swing at it without over-stretching your arms. The ball should also be positioned towards your stance’s left of center so that it can connect squarely with the putter’s clubhead.

How you grasp the putter also determines your putting success. Clutching it in a stranglehold could throw your swing off. By holding the club lightly in your hands, you will be able to swing it with greater comfort and ease. Therefore, your grip should, in effect, be more of a relaxed non-grip. For best results, you should treat the club as an extension of your hands.

Restraint is another element that is vital in putting. Many beginners equate golf with powerful swings. But if you take a wild whack at a ball, the odds are great that it will fly off into the not-so-distant horizon. And that is not what a good putt makes.

A putt, by definition, is a light and gentle stroke meant to cause the golf ball to roll straight into the hole. Without restraint, those light and gentle strokes won’t be easy to accomplish, let alone master. Putting, therefore, requires a lot of discipline and control. Keep in mind that your objective is to make the ball roll not fly. If you can muster Zen-like calm with each putt, then so much the better.

Another key element in putting is where you set your sights. You should keep an eye on the ball before you make your swing. But you must also take care to keep your head perfectly still during and moments after your stroke. No matter how slight, any unnecessary movement while swinging could throw your aim off and ruin your putt. Instead of physically tracking it, make it a habit to visualize the ball’s path in your mind’s eye.

Above all, practice. Whether you’re swinging on the greens or putting into a cup set on a carpeted floor, practice, practice, practice. Experiment with different speeds and distances. Set goals as to the number of balls you can sink in succession and then gradually increase your limit as you improve. Take note of the techniques that bring you the most excellent results.

By constantly challenging yourself and refining your methods, you’ll eventually discover the rhythm that works best for you. Once you have that down pat, you’ll be able to compose and orchestrate a symphony of putting perfection.

Basics Of The Game ? Putting

2009-10-22T19:29:00.000-07:00

Putting is an essential, if not the most important, factor in playing golf. This is where the game is decided. Nerves of steel and lots of practice are needed to master the art of putting. Even professional golfers feel the pressure when it’s time to putt and the game is on the line. Here are some tips to learn and improve on your putting.

First thing to do would be to take practice strokes next to the golf ball. This would help you feel the needed rhythm in putting the ball. You will need to do this as you don’t want your shot to be too awkward or too strong.

Try to have some marker to help you focus and help you with proper alignment of your putt. A marker is where you will aim the ball as you putt. The position of this marker is dependent on the terrain of the golf course.

When getting ready to putt, be sure that your eyes are focused on the golf ball itself. It will help in lining up the putter with the golf ball. You must remember not to focus on the marker but more on how you will make your shot.

Proper putting stance is needed when putting. You don’t want your balance disturbed by a sudden gust of wind. First thing to remember is that you should be comfortable with your stance. One way to do this is to separate your legs with about the same width as your shoulders. This is a standard stance and it should give you a comfortable and balanced posture for your putt.

You could try a wider stance as it will be more balanced but you would be less comfortable. Remember that the wider your legs are apart, the more balanced it is and the less comfortable you are. Just try to find your balance as you make your shot. If you feel you have to sacrifice your comfort zone to have more balance then do it.

You should also remember that your shoulders should be parallel to the direction of the putt. Your arms should just be dropped down straight from your shoulders. Your feet can be open or closed, depending on where you are most comfortable. Remember that the more comfortable you are, the more natural your shot will be.

Remember that all putts are straight. It is your aim that will change. When aiming at a flat green just aim straight to the hole. You should practice so that all your putts just follow an imaginary line. When aiming in an elevated green, you should just putt the same. The difference is that you will aim directly at a point above the hole. What you want to happen is for the ball to stop at one point and to let gravity take your ball directly to the putt.

Long putts are more complicated but if mastered will help tremendously with your game. You should remember that a great long putt will eliminate the need for you to do short putts. The first thing to do is to sit down behind your ball and facing the hole. From that point of view you’ll get to see the low and high points of the green. If it’s a fairly straight green, you can just shoot a straight putt like the way you’re shooting for small putts. If it’s not, then try to evaluate whether to divide your long putt to smaller putts and putt accordingly.

Dividing a long putt depends on the terrain of the golf course. If you see a combination of straight and elevated terrain, dividing it would be better than trying to make your putt in one try. Try to eliminate the elevated terrain so you will just have to create a straight shot putt for your last shot.

Remember that nerves will always come into play when shooting your putts. Just stay relaxed and focused on your shots and you’ll do fine. Don’t blame anyone when you miss your putt, stay focused and just prepare your next shot as if it’s your first putt. Take a deep breath and don’t let your anger get the best of you.

The Magic Key To Putting

2009-10-22T19:25:00.000-07:00

When you have it, you have it. The world is yours. When you don’t have it…then you think that you would be better off placing the ball in the hole with your hand rather than using your putter.

Just the last time you played you had the same stance, putter, and “feel” as you had today, but last time you made the shot easily. What happened?

Do you just have bad luck this time?

Putting is not a game of chance. Although sometimes it may seem that there is no rhyme or reason to it, there are some tips to help your putting.

If you are having putting problems, your solution can be boiled down to one little word.

Tension.

Concentrate on keeping your muscles relaxed while you are putting and your shots will become more and more accurate.

Stiff muscles only make it harder to putt. Good putting takes complete muscle relaxation so that your movements are fluid. Fluid movement gives you the freedom to make a good putt. If you are trying to tense your body up to keep your balance, then you are guaranteed to have problems.

When you are not having problems putting, your confidence is increased and you are having free movement. When you miss an easy putt, then you become tense and you try more carefully. The more tense you become, the more freedom you lose and your putting goes down the drain.

You can change everything about your putting and try to copy every professional player imaginable, but it all hinges on you being relaxed. Relax your muscles. Be loose and free. Pretend your muscles are like jelly.

Making a good shot is impossible if you are tense. When you stiffen up from your face to your feet, you lose the freedom that you need to make a good shot. You may make several shots this way, but there will come a time when all you will hit are bad shots. You need to stay relaxed enough to fall down (but stay up).

If you will stay relaxed then your putt will improve, your confidence will rise, and you will be more relaxed for the entire golf game!

Are you looking for the magic key to putting? RELAX! Good putting hinges on this one key!

The Feel Factor

2009-10-22T19:23:00.000-07:00

It has long been said that Putting is all about 'feel' but how do you explain what that is - and how do you get it? To answer that, and to achieve that magic 'feel' you have to be able to block out all distractions and get to know your putter so that it becomes an extension of your arms and shoulders. Like most things, there is a trick to it, and that trick can be learned.
Read this sentence and then try the exercise - Pick something to focus on in your mind, then close your eyes for a few moments and see how much easier it is to focus. The simple process of closing your eyes will remove well over half the distractions that we come across and that are continually impinging on our consciousness.

Imagine playing golf with your eyes firmly shut. It may sound crazy but this is an excellent way to hone your putting skills by getting the right 'feel'. To begin with you won't need the ball, just your putter. Standing on the practice green and move into your normal putting position. Visualize the ball on the green and line it up with the hole, just as if you were doing it for real. Swing your putter, exactly as you would if you were going to hit the ball. Close your eyes and repeat the stroke with your eyes closed. How does it feel? Make yourself aware of the pressure of your hands on the grip. How does it feel? Let your hands grip the club just firmly enough to stop it dropping out of your hands, sense the weight of the putter hanging in your hands. How does it feel? Store those sensations in your mind and keep practicing til you can recreate that feeling at will.

Move on and start to swing your putter gently, how does the club feel as it skims the grass on the green. Try and feel the pressure of the grass pulling gently on your putter. Continue to swing backwards and forwards in a smooth pendulum motion making small adjustments to eliminate the pull on your putter. More important still, you should be able to sense the delicacy of the grip you need on your putter. This is the most important part of the whole exercise. This allows you to swing your putter whilst maintaining the same delicate grip throughout the movement . You should never end up squeezing harder on the club at any point during your shot.

Practice this with your eyes closed and don't even attempt to put a ball down until you are really comfortable with the feel of your club in your hands. Then do it without your eyes closed until it is second nature. Only now should you place a ball on the ground and you should be able to concentrate more on the 'feel' of the club in your hands than the ball you are hitting.

This is also a useful exercise to do when buying a new putter. It caused vast hilarity amongst the staff where I was buying my last Putter as I stood there, eyes closed, swinging Putter after Putter backwards and forwards until I found the one that felt just right. It took hours but at the end of it I had a putter I felt was right for me and which I trust implicitly to get me round the course.

You can use this exercise in many ways - it is also excellent training for hitting the ball the right distance when you are on the green. As your familiarity with your club grows you will begin to have a better feel for what you can achieve with your putter and you should get some consistent results.

The Art Of Putting

2009-10-22T02:16:00.000-07:00

The majority of the game of golf is putting – pure and simple.

It looks so easy – rolling that little ball into a nearby hole. But mastering the skill has threatened many a golfer’s sanity.

Here are a few tips to help improve your putting skills.

• Use just one ball when you practice your putting. This is closer to what a real game is like. You tend to concentrate better this way than if you have a bucket of balls to keep digging into. And be sure to practice your putting daily.

• Putting isn’t all in the wrists. When you’re putting, the palms of your hands face each other. This prevents one hand from dominating and ensures that both work together for you.

• Make sure you’re totally relaxed before you strike the ball. Loosen up your muscles so they feel flabby and jelly-like. Never tense up your muscles when putting!

• Make your back and follow through strokes the same length.

• Keep your putter face square by weakening your left hand and strengthening your right.

• Rely less on your wrists and more on your shoulders when putting.

• Keep that left wrist firm.

• Relax your knees a little. Don’t lock up.

• Your heels should be shoulder-width apart.

• Gary McCord advises that on curved putts, keep your feel parallel to the line you’ve chosen, not parallel to the hole.

• As you make contact with the ball, you want to accelerate the putter. Keep the putter grip moving toward your target.

• It’s better to miss a putt by sending it beyond the hole than by having it come up short. Finishing off the shot will be easier.

• Practice your putt at home on your carpet when the weather is bad or you can’t get to the golf course.

• Find a putter that works well for you and stay with it.

• Have something at stake at every hole so you become accustomed to putting under pressure.

How To Read Greens Like A Pro

2009-10-22T02:13:00.000-07:00

Ever hit a putt you thought was going in only to have it drift wide right? If you have, chances are you misread the green. My golf lessons teach that reading greens takes skill, good judgment, and experience. Since there's no formula for determining the direction a ball must start based on the slope of the green and the distance to the hole, reading greens is key to sinking more putts. And sinking more putts, as my golf tips emphasize, produces a lower golf handicap.

Let's talk about ball speed for a second. Ball speed is critical in putting. The factors affecting speed are (1) the type of grass you're putting on, (2) the direction the grass is growing, and (3) the moisture of the grass. Wet greens tend to slow a ball down. Fast greens tend to drift the ball away from the hole.

Reading a green correctly--accounting for how these factors affect your putt-- helps you determine not only the speed of a putt but also the direction. To sharpen your skill at this technique, we recommend developing a green-reading routine.

Let's look at the putting sequence before getting into specifics. First, your subconscious mind absorbs all the factors affecting ball speed and direction. Next, you decide how hard and where to hit the ball. Then, you putt. You judge the accuracy of your read by watching the putt. If it goes in, you've read the green correctly. If it goes by the hole, you've may have misread the green.

My golf tips stress that experience contributes greatly to reading a green correctly. But I also recommend that you keep the following in mind as you approach a green:

* Start thinking about the line of the putt as you walk to the green. The best view of the green's slope (whether it slopes to the right or left) is from 20 yards or so away. Standing on the green can't tell you this. If the terrain surrounding the green slopes to the right, the green probably slopes to the right. If a green slopes in the opposite direction, it creates a basin that collects water. No self-respecting landscape architect will do that.

* Check from the side of the green if you have an uphill or downhill putt. You can make this judgment by standing behind the putt. The side provides the best perspective for this and for determining the speed of the ball. For downhill putts, the low side of the green offers the best perspective for judging the terrain's slope.

* Stand behind the hole to judge the area around the hole. This area is crucial because a ball loses most of its speed by the time it gets to the hole. Here, the terrain can really influence the ball's direction.

* Read the green with your feet. Use your sense of balance to determine the green's slope. It will also give you clues about the putt's speeds

* Stand behind the ball to make a final decision on the putt's direction and speed. When you stand above the ball, your perspective changes, as does your impression of the line. Behind the ball is the best place to take a final look. Once you've made the decision, don't change it.

In addition, here's a few putting tips I always highlight in my golf instruction: watch the roll of another player's ball, don't underestimate the break on a putt, and pay attention to the influence of the wind and dampness.

Watching another player's ball, especially if he or she has a similar shot, provides hints on how the ball rolls. Sometimes, it even provides you with a near perfect line. Also, miss a break on the high side of the hole not the low. That way the ball has at least a chance of rolling in. And it doesn't roll as far away from the hole on the high side as it does on the low. In addition, a strong wind affects the speed and direction of the ball as does dampness. So factor these elements in. A ball rolls a lot slower on wet grass than on dry grass.

Finally, watch the ball if it goes by the whole. Don't turn away in anger. There's little feedback before and during a putt, so you can't check your reading accuracy until after you hit the ball. Key questions you need to ask yourself are: Did it have the right direction? Did it have the right speed? Did it have the right on line? Answering these questions is crucial to improving your ability to read greens and sink more putts. And doing that, as my golf lessons point out, will lower your golf handicap.

How To Putt

2009-10-22T02:08:00.000-07:00

The game of golf should be learned from the green back to the tee. That means putting, chipping, fairway shots, and THEN drives. Remember, most shots in a round are from around the green!!!!

The average golfer's tendency, when putting, is to use too much of their wrists and arms, thus breaking down their wrists through the putt. No! No!! NO!!!! DO NOT BREAK YOUR WRISTS!! First it hurts (ok, couldn't resist), second, you LOSE CONTROL!!!

To become a great putter, the perfect combination of shoulders and arms should be used throughout the putt. Any wrist action involved is through the motion of the weight of the putter.

During your putt, concentrate on your shoulders really the putting stroke. On the backswing, your left shoulder moves down and your right shoulder moves up, focusing on your shoulders becoming synchronized. Your left wrist should stay nice and firm throughout.

In order to set up the putting grip, first place the grip in the palm of your left hand, and your entire hand around the grip. Place your right hand underneath your left, in a similar palm grip. Overlap your right hand with your left index finger.

Your palms should be opposite to one another, for a nice locked-in feeling. When setting up to address the ball, make sure your eyes are over the ball, specifically your left eye (if you are a right hand golfer).

Bend your knees slightly, and hang your arms over the ball.

Shift your weight slightly forward on your left foot, favoring the left side of your body. Your hands should also be slightly forward in your stance.

Before making your stroke, make sure your arms, shoulders, knees and feet are all parallel with your target line.

Keep all these elements in tact, and you should see improved putting in no time. .

Standard rule of thumb. Five foot putt, bring (sweep) your putter back five inches, follow through five inches.

Why do most putts miss? Because the stance and the putter head are NOT square to the target line (for such cool people playing this game, isn't the word square used a lot?).

Put this in your muscle and visual memory bank:

Use a square tile floor. Place the putter head along one of the squares, and align your feet using the square pattern of the floor to be, well, square to the target.

Now, take a little peek down the target line. MEMORIZE that look. That is a square look, and that's cool!

Where Should Your Miss Land??

One of the major differences between the Tour pros and the weekend player is that the Tour pro focuses on where he wants his "misses" to land. For example, if the green is sloped back-to-front, the Tour pro will choose a club that will make sure that he leaves his approach below the hole so that he has an easier, uphill putt for birdie.

You should do the same thing. Instead of just walking off the yardage and choosing the appropriate club for the yardage, take a second to study the green to see how it's sloped. If it is sloped severely back-to-front, take one less club or choke down on the club a bit.

Or, if it is sloped hard right-to-left, aim well left of the hole (assuming the hole isn't cut tight to the left side of the green near trouble). By leaving your approach shots on the proper side of the hole, you'll find yourself three-putting or four-putting a lot less.

Improve Your Putting

2009-10-22T02:04:00.000-07:00

Putting generally makes up 40% of your overall scorecard and can make or break your game and overall score. Neglecting this aspect of your game can be a terrible mistake. Every golfer should practice to come up with a repetitive stroke that helps him sink more putts and save 5-6 shots per round.

Putting involves two important concepts: The Grip and Posture. These are discussed below:

1. Forming the putter grip: The steps below will help you in developing the right grip for putting.

Step 1: Place your hands on either side of the putter grip, with your palms facing, and each hand square to the target line.

Step 2: Place your left hand on the club, with your thumb pointing straight down the middle of the grip keeping your forefinger off the grip for the moment.

Step 3: Place your right hand on the club, again with your thumb pointing straight down the grip. Wrap your fingers of the right hand around the grip, and put your left forefinger over them.

Step 4: Finally, extend the forefinger of your right hand down the side of the grip, to enhance the control. Hold the club a little softer as opposed to the regular swing.

2. Correct Posture: Good posture is very important to the success of the putting stroke. Ideally you should adopt a posture at address that lets your arms hang down freely with out any tension. The following steps should help you perform a natural posture.

Step 1: Stand up straight resting against your left leg.

Step 2: Flex your knees a little and bend from the hips so that your arms hang limp from the shoulders.

Step 3: Form your putting grip as described above.

Step 4: Check the key elements of your posture. There should be a slight bend in your arms, with your elbows pointing in towards your ribcage. Think of your arms and shoulder as a triangle. You should feel relaxed and comfortable over the ball with your weight evenly balanced. You are now ready to putt.

Don't worry about the break in the green and it's possible effect on the path of the ball. The putter is designed so that you can hit the ball only straight and there is no point in trying to turn the ball using the putter or the stroke. Therefore, after selecting your target and aligning to it, your job is simply to concentrate on bringing the putter straight back and straight through the ball toward your target.

As the putter will only hit the ball in one direction, following the above steps will ensure that you hit the ball straight toward your target and be more successful.

How To Perfect Your Putt So You Are Putting Like A Pro

2008-03-06T21:48:00.000-08:00

As a kid when someone mentions golfing the first thing that you will remember is going to your local place to putt and putting with your family. Even though when you were golfing back then it will begin to help you once you grow up and see that when you play a game of golf you need to be able to make a good putt. If you are a golfer then you know that you need to know how to putt well. Putting is probably the hardest part of golf that you will have to learn how to do. For some it's easy but others a disaster. You will need to learn how to hold the club when putting and then learn how to make the putt itself.

The first thing that you will need to learn about putting knows the distance from your club to the hole that you are trying to make. When you putt you wont need to hit the ball as hard as you can anymore you will need to hit the ball less so you can make it nice and easy into the hole in which you are putting. You will need to know how far it is from your club to the hole and you should be able to make a putt by knowing just this. You can walk from your club to the hole and measure in your head how far it is then try and make your shot. This will allow you to actually get a good feel of how far it is away then you can try and make your putt. So for every foot your ball must travel you should pull the putter back an inch.

When you are putting you should also never allow your head to move. When you move your head and eyes then your eyes will think that you need hit the ball harder but you really don't because you are already in position to make the putt. You will not want to move your head until the ball is out of your sight. After the ball is out of your sight then you can move your head but you still need to practice on your putting if you move your head. People who move their heads will think that they are doing well but the key to a good putt is staying still and intact.

So the next time someone says look at me for a picture when you are about to putt just makes your putt then take the picture. Just be sure that you don't move your head until you hit the ball with your club. So just take your time when you putt and you should start getting your putt down like a pro. If you still cannot get your putt down then you just need to go get some practice in and start going to putt a little more then usual. If you have your putt down good enough then you can start really playing golf with some of your friends.

Golf Putt Secret | Sam Snead Grip and More

2008-03-06T21:47:00.000-08:00

There are basically three ways to grip a putter and the most common of these is known as the "conventional grip". Other methods include the "cross-hand grip" and the "one-hand grip" which is used with an especially long putter.

Although the conventional grip is the most widely used, the cross-hand grip is often preferred by more experienced golfers. The one hand grip, which was made famous by the legendary golfer Sam Snead, has also proven to be very successful.

Many golf enthusiasts are now familiar with this grip after Snead demonstrated how they could place their dominant hand at the bottom of the shaft and their weaker hand at the top. Snead bent over and essentially used only one hand to make his putting stroke extremely successful.

In terms of the conventional grip, golfer's often use this method because it simply feels natural to place your dominant hand below your weaker hand on the golf club. This is the same way a baseball player would typically hold a bat and it is the way most players hold all their other clubs.

In terms of head and eye movement during a putt, however, this grip may not be the best. Scientists have actually determined that the cross-hand grip, which places the dominant hand at the top of the putter and the weaker hand at the bottom, is more likely to minimize the eye movement during long putts. This is an especially good tendency since the eyes on the ball make for much better putting.

Similar to the prevention of eye movement during the the cross-hand grip, scientists have also determined that the movement of the head is considerably less during cross-hand short putts. This was also shown to be the case for the one-hand grip although fewer players incorporate the one hand grip into their game.

The one hand grip is extremely odd and takes a lot of time to get used to but can be very successful as Sam Snead demonstrated. Regardless of the strangeness of the grips, these scientific discoveries have been recently published in a book entitled "Biomedical Engineering Principles in Sports". The book shows how both computers and biomechanics can demonstrate that certain golf grips simply tend to work better for certain golfers.

Whether you feel comfortable with the conventional grip, cross-hand grip or one-hand grip, it is important to try all of them before you settle into the one that is most successful for you. Some grips take a little getting used to but may still be more successful after you give them a chance.

Golf Putt | Perfect Putting Posture

2008-03-06T21:46:00.000-08:00

One of the quickest ways to improve your putting game is to improve your posture. Jack Nicklaus was the first great golfer who made it popular to put your eyes directly over the ball when you are putting. This is very hard to do for many golfers so it has been suggested that a small mirror can be placed on the green and your golf ball can then be placed right on top of the mirror.

Eyes over the ball - To see if your eyes are indeed over the ball, make sure and stand in such a way that you can actually see your own eyes in the mirror. If you can't see your own eyes, then you need to adjust your posture. A simpler method might be to let your putter hang from between your eyes and then make sure the club extends down directly over your golf ball. These techniques are great for getting the proper stance and alignment to the hole.

Placement of Your Feet - In terms of posture, it is also important to think about the way you place your feet and how you hold your body. If you typically miss your putts to the right, you may be standing too close to the ball. If you are missing to the left, you may be standing too far from the ball. These are not hard and fast rules but they are something to consider when you are adjusting your posture.

Shoulders Over Hands - Your foot position will also effect the way your hands are hanging down from your shoulders. It is usually best if your hands are hanging directly beneath your shoulders. This will typically create a smoother stroke and a better direction on the ball. The most important consideration, however, is to keep your head and your body very still as you putt. You only need to move your arms and your hands. Nothing else!

Relax and Enjoy - Finally, it's important not to get too caught up with the mechanics of your putting. Some people will insist on certain grips that will supposedly be better than others. Finding a grip that is comfortable to you and experimenting with the various postures will eventually give you a stance that is right for you. Consider the basic techniques for improved posture and then settle into a stance that is most comfortable.

Stick with What Works for You- Once you determine that successful stance, go ahead and stick with it even when you have a bad day. Practice it until it becomes perfect. Too many golfers become overly concerned with each specific detail of their stance, changing things every week and never really settling in to a relaxed posture. Don't forget that a general relaxation and enjoyment of the game is paramount to having a successful swing and a low score. You have to have fun out there in order to truly enjoy the game!

Golf Short Game | Putting for Dough!

2008-03-06T21:44:00.000-08:00

Experienced golfers know the saying; "Drive for show and putt for dough." If you want to make par on every hole, your score will be based on how long the hole is plus the two putts you make on each green. A little calculating will bring you a world of joy.

Par is always based on the two putts on each green and then reaching it in what is called "regulation". This is just the prescribed number of shots that a golfer has to reach the green. Regulation can mean either one shot, two shots or three shots depending on the length of the hole but putting always means just two shots on every hole.

Putting eventually requires 36 total shots or half your game. It's as simple as that. Master the putter and you've got half the game!

Nobody knows this simple calculation better than the touring professionals. Professional golfers only hit regulation to the green in about 12 out of 18 holes. If they are only hitting regulation in 12 out of 18 holes, how do they ever make par? The answer is simple.

The professionals make par because they average only 30 putts per round instead of 36. For a touring professional, the average of missed greens are made up for by simply "putting like a professional". The importance of putting then becomes quite obvious.

Besides just score, it is also important to see the potential for swing improvements in your short game. In terms of the body mechanics, it is a lot easier to control a five foot putt than to control a 300 yard drive. This is because the movement of the arms is much more exaggerated in a drive or an iron shot and this opens up the possibility for many more errors in the swing.

The greatest potential improvements to a golfer's swing take place on the green because there is less room for error in the movement of the arms. Just keeping your head still can result in a major improvement on the green. Even the pros can't manage to reach every green in regulation so where do you think your improvements will likely come from? It's going to be in the putting!

Here's some good news to take with you as you make the decision to go out and improve your putting skills. Developing your putting and achieving lower scores can happen very fast. Once you combine your great putting skills with some improved chipping and pitching, the effect on your overall golf score will be amazing.

You can start by watching how many putts you make on each hole and then increasing your practice time in between each round of golf. Watch yourself make those improvements and then watch your score drop faster than ever. Improved putting is the greatest joy to a golfer because the results always show up on the scorecard! Once you make the decision to improve your putting, they sky's the limit. You'll be putting for dough in no time!

Golf Putting Tips To Help You Sink More Putts And Shoot Lower Scores

2008-03-06T21:43:00.001-08:00

Putting is perhaps the most mental aspect of the game of golf. The ball is just sitting there on the green and you can take as much or as little time as you want to hit your putts. Learning how to putt well will require discipline and effort on your part as it is a continuous process.

If you really want to realize your full potential as a putter then you will need to master the mental aspects of putting. However this does not mean that putting mechanics are not important. It is important to pick a putting style and putter you like and then stick with that approach and focus on the mental game to elevate your putting success.

A good mechanical tip is to keep your eyes directly over the ball as you putt. This will help you to see the line of the putt better. There are so many different putting styles and techniques that can work so the best thing to do is to try some of them and then make a firm decision to pick one approach and stick with that.

Do not try to chase the perfect putting stroke because it will lead to all kinds of putting problems. You may even end up developing the yips so stick with one mechanical approach and even just one putter unless it gets damaged and you need a replacement. Think of your putter as your own child. You would not just abandon it and replace it every few months would you? Of course, get the best quality putter you can to start with but do not change it if your putting starts to falter.

Rather look to the mental game to improve your putting results. Once you have a putting style and putter picked out you need to train your putting mechanics regularly. Often it is best to do this without hitting putts to a hole so just use your putter and a golf ball and do the necessary drills to keep your mechanics solid. You can even do this at home if you like.

The mental game of putting is a constant challenge as you will need to work on it both on the course and off. You will need to observe your thoughts and ask yourself whether or not the way you are thinking will help you or hurt you in developing more confidence as a putter. Confidence is the key factor you must build and maintain to be a consistently solid putter.

Your mind and body are extremely effective at judging the distance of a putt and executing the mechanics necessary to get the putt to the hole at the right speed and direction. However you need to avoid trying to actively think of distance or mechanics as you are about to strike the putt. You must develop a quiet mind that is focused sharply on the target when you are about to hit your putts.

Before you strike your putt you need to pick out a target. The break of a putt can influence the target you select. A good approach is to make all putts straight putts so if you think a putt will break 3 feet to the left then pick a target that is 3 feet to the right of the hole or imagine another hole 3 feet to the right of the real hole and putt to that.

Once you have selected a target you need to stay focused on that and only think of that as you strike the putt. Do not think about putting mechanics or how you missed the last putt or about dinner or anything else for that matter. Just let your mind and body work to automatically make the best stroke possible and eliminate distractions by staying focused on the target.

When it comes to reading greens the best thing to do is to trust your first impression. Take your time when you step up to a green and take a good look at your putt even from different angles but then come with a good first impression and then trust it. Apply some of these strategies to become the best putter you can be.

Golf Putter | The Right Putter for You

2008-03-06T21:41:00.000-08:00

Choosing the right putter can be the most important decision you make when it comes to your equipment. In fact, the putter is the club you use the most. Choosing the right one is like choosing a best friend.

A few basic considerations to keep in mind when you are making such an important decision have to do with the bottom section or the "head" of the putter. This is where the brains of the putter are. There are other factors to consider such as the length and the grip but the brains of your best friend will be the most important part of choosing the right putter. Before looking at all of these considerations, let us first consider the most important part of this club known as the "head" of the putter.

The head is the most important part of the putter because it is the place where your ball will make contact on the green. The material in the head affects the way the ball moves and its direction across the green. Cheap or "dumb" putters are usually made of lighter plastic, zinc or aluminum. The lighter material requires you to hit the ball even harder on the green and allows for more mistakes.

"Smart", quality putters will usually incorporate stainless steel, titanium or brass. They can also have some wood mixed in or can be made of a combination of these other materials to create a more solid head. The difference will be felt when you hit the ball. On a slow green, the ball will move a lot easier. On a fast green, it will seem that you hardly have to hit it at all.

Perimeter weighting and Lie-angle - Two other important considerations in the head of the putter are perimeter weighting and lie-angle. Perimeter weighting has to do with the size and shape of the head. If you look, you will see a recess in the center of the head. This recess makes it possible for the weight of the head to be distributed in the toe and the heel which is preferable.

The other important factor is the lie-angle in the putter head. This tells you whether the putter is sitting flat against the ground when you hold it. Put yourself in your most comfortable stance and ask the salesman to check this for you. If the putter head is not sitting flat against the ground, you may need to have it adjusted.

Length and Grip - Two final things to consider in a putter are the length and the grip. The standard length of a putter is thirty-five inches. If you tend to stand upright, you may want it longer. If you bend over a lot, a shorter putter may be necessary. There are also various grips to consider so that a golfer with smaller hands may need a smaller diameter grip and vice versa.

Most importantly, choose a putter that looks and feels comfortable to you because this is going to be your best friend! With these considerations in mind, you will know that you have definitely chosen the right putter for you.

Finding the right length putter (End)

2007-12-30T20:36:00.000-08:00

Once your desired length has been determined, the grip is next decision. The Long putter uses a split grip with the top hand anchoring the grip to the chest (On Tour, Tim Clark is a good example).

The Belly putter may use either a spilt grip or a grip with hands together with the putter resting against your belly (see Sergio Garcia's latest method).

The hand position for a Standard length putter can vary in many ways. The most common hand placements are with the trail hand below the lead hand like the standard golf grip. The lower hand for all three methods can have palm facing the target (golf grip style), palm facing the ground (saw style, Mark Calcavecchia), be held with a fist (Chris DiMarco), between the fingers claw style (Vijay Singh, sometimes) and any other way you chose to place it on the grip.

Also, the lead and trail hands can be reversed (cross-handed, a la the LPGA's Julie Inkster) with any style. And the slight finger changes are endless and individual.

Eye placement can be over the target line or inside this line but is best if parallel to the target line. The posture should keep the weight over the arches so the lower body stays very stable during the stroke.

Since there is more variety in putting styles than in any other facet of golf, it's imperative that you experiment with the different options and consult with a trained expert on what is best for you. That expertise can be found in your local PGA Golf Professional, who is ready and willing at a golf facility near you to help you find the best way to get the ball rolling toward the hole. For a list of facilities staffed by PGA Golf Professionals near you, log on to www.PlayGolfAmerica.com and use the zip code search.

Finding the right length putter

2007-12-30T20:33:00.000-08:00

It is always important to match your putting style with the particular type of putter you are using. Now let's take a look at the specifics of the types of putters available, and the different set ups and grips that can be used. This will hopefully help you select the equipment and method that is best for you.

If you watch golf on television, you will note that PGA Tour players exhibit a number of different stroke techniques and use a variety of different putters. When the chosen method is in harmony with the equipment, good putts are usually the result.

There are three commonly used putter lengths:

-- The Long putter, which is rested against the chest near the sternum (50-plus inches).

-- The Belly putter, which is rested against the belly near the navel (40-50 inches).

-- And the most common, the Standard or Short putter (28-37 inches).

The length of the putter is the first decision that you need to make. I suggest you try all three putter lengths and putting styles to find the one in which you are most comfortable with and most proficient at getting the correct roll.

The length of the putter needs to be fitted to your stroke, and the balance (weight ratio between head and handle) of the putter needs to match the length of the putter.
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Putting And My Aching Back!(End)

2007-12-30T20:32:00.000-08:00

I am betting by now you have a pretty good idea of what to do to rid yourself of that lower back soreness. The lower back must become stronger and increase its endurance capacities. This will increase the durability of the lower back to withstand the stresses placed upon it during your daily activities. Strength can be defined as having enough force production with your muscles to perform a certain activity, and endurance is having enough energy in those muscles to do an activity over and over again.

These are simplified definitions, but they work well for what we are talking about. Strength in relation to the lower back has to do with the ability to maintain postures. You must get the lower back strong enough to maintain the postures of the activities you participate in (i.e. golf). Endurance in the lower back is creating enough stored energy in the lower back muscles to do to whatever activity it is that you do over and over again without getting tired (i.e. golf swing).

The combination of strengthening the lower back and creating more endurance within these muscles creates the highest probability of the lower back staying healthy for all activities. The next question you probably have is: what are the proper exercises I should perform to get my back in better shape for golf?

Putting And My Aching Back!(Continue)

2007-12-30T20:25:00.000-08:00

How to Fix that Aching Lower Back

Before we describe ways to fix the lower back let us first give some suggestions to those who already have severe lower back problems. I would first suggest you see your personal physician. Always better safe than sorry. If you are someone who constantly has a sore lower back or you get up every morning with a stiff back, go see your doctor. You never know what might be going on in that lower back area. Quite possibly you may have a problem with a disk, a bone spur, or any number of serious lower back problems.

I have seen a lot of these issues in my day, and I will say, number one, it always important to be under the supervision of a physician in such cases, and, number two, if you catch such lower back problems early they are much easier to treat than the ones that linger. So do yourself a favor and go see your physician before things get worse.

Now, on to how to help eliminate the lower back that tires on the back nine of your weekly round. We know from above that we are using the back “24-7” so to speak. Golfing requires the lower back to work even harder than normal. This is a result of the rotating, stabilizing, and power production required of the swing. The lower back is getting tired because it is neither strong enough nor does it have enough endurance within its muscles to support the activities you perform on a daily basis!
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Putting And My Aching Back!(Continue)

2007-12-30T20:23:00.000-08:00

You get behind the ball, line the putt up, look at the line, maybe crouch down, take a few practice putts, and then away you go. In all the actions described above, your lower back is actively working to maintain posture in all those positions. Do this little activity to give you an idea of what your back is doing all the time to support your body. Take your hand and make a fist. Squeeze that fist as hard as you can for one minute, no less, more if you can. Now relax. How do your hand and forearm feel? Pretty tired, huh, maybe stiff. What you just did is exactly what your lower back does all the time. It is constantly contracting to hold your body upright. After time it gets tired and the result is a sore, stiff, and tight lower back.

Up to this point we understand that the lower back is involved to a great extent in supporting the body. Now, how about when we move? Have you ever felt that back tighten up when you are getting out of a chair, and then you have to wait a second after you stand up before you start walking? Again, I will guess that the majority of us can answer yes to this question. This an example of a movement where the lower back is already fatigued, but nevertheless the lower back is now involved in moving the body, even though it is fatigued. When you walk, run, bend-over, turn, or rotate, your lower back is involved in the movement.

The lower back gets a so-to-speak “double whammy” when it comes to what it does for the body. The lower back is involved in both supporting a position in which you place your body and also in the movement of the body. (If you need an example of how much the lower back works during the day, keep your fist clamped for a day, and see how your forearm feels the next day.) So at this point we know the reasons why our back is sore when we step over that 4 footer for birdie (sorry it is still not a gimme in my book, gotta be inside the leather). It is a twofold reason: number one has to do with posture, and number two with movement. Now that we know why our lower back gets sore or tight, how do we fix it?
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Putting And My Aching Back!

2007-12-30T20:22:00.000-08:00

The Magic Key To Putting(End)

2007-12-30T20:20:00.000-08:00

When you are not having problems putting, your confidence is increased and you are having free movement. When you miss an easy putt, then you become tense and you try more carefully. The more tense you become, the more freedom you lose and your putting goes down the drain.

You can change everything about your putting and try to copy every professional player imaginable, but it all hinges on you being relaxed. Relax your muscles. Be loose and free. Pretend your muscles are like jelly.

Making a good shot is impossible if you are tense. When you stiffen up from your face to your feet, you lose the freedom that you need to make a good shot. You may make several shots this way, but there will come a time when all you will hit are bad shots. You need to stay relaxed enough to fall down (but stay up).

If you will stay relaxed then your putt will improve, your confidence will rise, and you will be more relaxed for the entire golf game!

Are you looking for the magic key to putting? RELAX! Good putting hinges on this one key!

The Magic Key To Putting

2007-12-30T20:18:00.000-08:00

Lag Putting (End)

2007-12-30T20:17:00.001-08:00

So on the takeway, I start transfering the weight, which at address is neutral, maybe 40% left leg, 60% right leg. Its important to keep your right side from SWAYING. Thats a NO NO. We are rotating our body and shifting weight to the right side. Your right leg should stay pretty close to its same position as when you are setup at address, except you will have more tension, torque, and weight on it when you get to the top of your backswing.

For me, today, I had one of the best ball striking sessions in probably 2 solid years.At times, I actually hit a draw.

The big issue was with my driver, which has been my ultimate nemisis in those 2 years. I would setup, start my backswing, shift my weight, and this allowed my arms to “DROP” on the downswing more effectively, hence removing much of my over the top. Now, granted, I didn’t have a video recorder on me, so I am sure I came over the top a little because of habit, but it was much better.

What I witnessed was a better ball flight (height wise), a more accurate tee shot with, at worst, a 20 yard fade on it. That is most likely due to this being the first day I am working on this. Now I have to fine tune this swing, but its a step in the right direction.

I was hitting high straight iron shots, solid 290 yard + drives, and a heightened confidence in my swing, all do to WEIGHT TRANSFER.

Its just amazing that 1 small tip that has been shouted in your ear for months can take that long to “click”.

But hey, better now then never.

Lag Putting (Continue)

2007-12-30T20:16:00.001-08:00

In my case, I happened to also block one of my drivers maybe 100 yards off line. No joke!

Lon Kinney, head pro of Harbour Trees Golf Club, while in his proshop yesterday offered me one bit of advice.

Bryan! Get your weight shifted to your right side. Its not even moving. Of course your gonna come over the top, your not even getting behind the ball
. Straight and too the point, but you know what, he was right. Look at my side view of my swing in the videos section, you will see my left side barely moves. I have good rotation, but no weight transfer.

So on a good day when my timing is good, I am able to hit the ball fairly straight, except subconsciously I am making small swing adjustments on the downswing to compensate for my lack of a weight transfer to the right side.

So today, during lunch, I went over to a local range to hit a $6 bag of balls.

My goal during this quick 45 minute ball hitting session. To focus my attention on getting my weight, on my backswing, to the right side.

For the last 2 years, people have told me this, and for whatever reason, I “thought” I was getting to the right side, but in reality, I wasn’t. Sometimes it takes video to tell you that, but even I didn’t recognize it.
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Lag Putting (Continue)

2007-12-30T20:13:00.000-08:00

Weight Transfer and the Golf Swing
Leave it to me to be as ignorant about the golf swing as I have for the last 2 years.

Do you ever have those times where multiple people tell you whats wrong with your swing or they give you advice on how to fix something, and you try and get it, but you don’t GET IT. Then, you have an epiphany moment on the range or on the course and you say to yourself.

Holy cow! Thats it!

For the last 2 years, I have been fighting an over the top swing. Don’t believe me, just view the videos page. Those videos are from Pinehurst in March, but as you can tell, I look ‘decent’ going to the top, though a little steep, but on the downswing there are ALOT of major problems happening that will kill any accuracy or power you are hoping your shot will have.

Yesterday, I played 18 holes. It might be one of the worst driving/3-wood days I have ever had in a long time. I probably his 5 balls out of bounds, REALLY FAR LEFT out of bounds. You know why, because I am still doing what I did in those videos. I come over the top, I get crunched at impact, and so either the clubface is closed at impact and the ball goes 50 yards left of the target line, or it goes 50 yards right of the target line.
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Lag Putting (Continue)

2007-12-30T20:11:00.000-08:00

Make more putts!
Lately my putting has become better but still not where I want it to be. I give up a few strokes every round on just either mental or physical breakdowns with the flat stick.

I was pulling or pushing putts and had almost zero confidence in my putting. I am gaining some of it back now, but for about three weeks I was scared to putt, even little tap ins!

So here is what I’ve been doing to get over my putting woes, maybe it will help someone reading this as well.

Everyone has read before to use the logo on the golfball to line up your putt I am sure. We me being like most other golfers I to had heard this, but it seemed when I tried it I never got the ball online and as you know if you don’t get the ball online it doesn’t matter how good of a stroke you have, you wont make the putt.

I was thinking about this technique the other day since my way of putting was going down hill and it hit me how hard it actually is to line up a putt using the logo on the golf ball by lining the logo up at the cup. Say if you have a 20 foot putt that is straight in its difficult to get the logo lined up exactly and even harder if there is break.

So, the way I’ve found to make this technique a lot easier is to find your line and find something about an inch in front of your ball (fuzz, light spot in the green, etc ) that is also in the line and line the logo up with that. Its a lot easier to line your ball up with something right in front of it then it is to line it up with something twenty feet away. Since I’ve done this my putting has greatly improved. As I said its still not where I’d like it to be, but that’s golf. I don’t think any aspect of out games will ever be where we want them unless your name is Tiger.
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Lag Putting (Continue)

2007-12-30T20:10:00.000-08:00

3. If you are a full group (4 players) and you know you are slow, give the players in the groups behind you a break and let them through IF there is nobody in front of you.

Many players don’t know the rules, especially if they are very high handicapper’s. However, it is common courtesy to let faster player’s go through onto the next hole.

4. Don’t pull an old style Sergio Garcia where it takes you 10 hours to execute 1 shot. If you have a long preshot routine, you may need reconfigure some things. Assuming you have gathered all your shot information prior to execution, actually setting up to the ball and making a swing should take no more then 15 seconds. If it takes longer then that, you are thinking about the shot WAY too much.

As I said earlier, many player’s will wait until it’s their turn to hit, begin gathering their information, viewing their shot from all angles, setting up, and then executing. If you had a stop watch on them, the total time per shot could sometimes reach 3 minutes.

In golf minutes, a single minute can act like an eternity.

Follow these 4 steps and I can promise your golf rounds will play quicker, and the groups behind you will be in a happier mood.
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Lag Putting (Continue)

2007-12-30T20:08:00.000-08:00

How to quicken up the pace of play
If you are like me, then you hate slow play. You also hate being a single behind a foursome who takes 3 minutes per shot. To top if off, they don’t let you go through!

It can be nerve wracking. However, there are some things you can do, as a player, to help speed up your group and not aggravate the other players in the group’s behind you.

1. Prepare for your shot in advance. When you get to a player’s ball prior to your own ball, take a look at your angle, take a look at the distance, and start determining how you want to play the shot.

Don’t wait until its your turn to start determining this information. When you get to your golf ball, you should already know how you want the shot executed. Aside from a few yardage tweaks, take a look at the line, take a couple practice swings (take a COUPLE practice swings, not 20), setup and hit the ball.

The one mistake that plague slow groups on a golf course are those that wait until the last minute to start figuring out how they want to hit the ball, what club to take, etc…

2. Once on the green, follow the same advice as above. Begin getting a read on your putt. Determine the slope, the line, the distance, and get a strong feeling of how you will hit the putt.

Tiger Wood’s does a great job (though at times he can still be slow) of gathering all of this information as his playing competitors execute their shots.

Please note: This does not mean to walk around your ball AS your playing partners are actually hitting their shot. DO NOT be a distraction to their own game. Gather your shot information AS they are also gathering their information.
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Lag Putting

2007-12-30T20:06:00.000-08:00

If you’re like me (and a lot of other amatuers) you want to get better at lag putting.

If you lag putt better then that means less three putts and less three putts means lower scores. My lag putting has improved lately and my scores reflect it. It is a lot easier to score when you are not three putting three times a round!

I had a lesson about a month ago from a PGA instructor (who is very good I might add) and he helped me out with hitting the ball on the toe of the club, and putting. Since this post is about putting I wont get into the ball on the toe deal.

He said there is a simple little drill you can practice for 30 minutes every day or every other day and you will without a doubt be a better lag putter, and he was right. Almost instantly I was a better lag putter by doing these drills for a couple days even. So, what’s the magic drill you ask? Well I’ll tell you!

Start out with five balls all about 25 feet from the fringe. Putt all five balls toward the fringe trying to stop all the balls so they are barely touching the fringe or just bearly rolling into the fringe. (Its harder then you think) Once you get all five to stop just short or just onto the frige, move back further from the fringe and putt to a different part of the fringe so you get some breakers, uphill and downhill putts. This drill teaches you speed but you’re not putting toward the hole, therefore you’re not trying to make a putt, therefore you’re not hurting your confidence when you miss, cause there is nothing to miss. One of the worst things you can do is practice putting and not be making anything, its just a total confidence killer.

Try this drill for 30 mintues for three days a week and just see if you’re cutting down on those three putts!
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Five Most Common Putting Mistakes (End)

2007-12-30T20:02:00.001-08:00

Choking the Putter
A common mistake I see in my golf instruction sessions on putting is players gripping their putters too tightly. Some players grip their putters so tight, their hands almost turn white. A soft and constant grip pressure is vital to maintaining a smooth, free-flowing stroke and creating better “feel” when putting. For players who think they may be choking the putter, try holding an uncooked egg between your right index finger (or left index finger, if your left-handed) and the shaft of your putter. Now drop a few balls and stroke some putts. If your grip is too tight, you’ll soon know.

Too Handsy
Another common mistake I see in golf instruction sessions on putting is players using too much of their hands in their putting stroke. Being too handsy eliminates the true feel of a smooth, free-swinging pendulum and cause jerky inconsistent putts. One remedy is to use a belly putter. Simply anchor the putter to a comfortable point on your midsection and swing away. Add a “one-two” count to the stroke to improve rhythm. This approach reduces the amount of movement in the smaller muscles in your hand and keeps the blade on plane.

Eliminating these common mistakes from your putting will not only build rhythm in your putting stroke, they’ll also help increase your confidence in your putting. That’s big. Ask any professional golfer what the key to great putting is and he or she will probably tell you it’s confidence. Great putters are shocked when they miss a short putt. That’s how confident they are. To improve your golf handicap, you need to work on things that build confidence and increase accuracy your short putting.

Five Most Common Putting Mistakes (Continue)

2007-12-30T20:00:00.000-08:00

No Putting Ritual
Another common mistake in putting is a lack of putting ritual. If watch Tiger Woods, Fred Funk, or Sergio Garcia putt, you’ll notice that they all have a putting ritual. Their rituals are all different. One player walks all around the putt before stepping up to hit it. Another takes his practice strokes behind the ball. But the one thing that’s not different is that they use the same ritual every time they make a putt, regardless of the length or difficulty. Develop your own putting ritual. Base it on sound putting techniques and what makes you feel comfortable. And use it every time you have a putt. You’ll find that a ritual not only relaxes you and helps build confidence in your putting.

Worry about Outcomes
Weekend players worry too much about the outcome of a short putt. What if I miss the putt? This places a lot of pressure on the golfer. Since the pressure of outcomes is tied directly to the hole, try eliminating it when you practice to relieve the pressure. Next time you’re on the practice green, work on drills that improve your putting accuracy without using the hole. For example, place a scorecard over the hole and try to roll the ball over the card, so that the ball ends about two feet past the hole. These drills will improve your accuracy without the added pressure of sinking the putt.
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Five Most Common Putting Mistakes

2007-12-30T19:56:00.000-08:00

No one’s shocked anymore when Tiger Woods drills a 20-foot putt to win a championship. He’s one of the best clutch putters in the game. But did you know that when he practices putting Tiger spends more time working on short putts than long putts. That’s right. One media sources estimates he spends about 65 percent of the time he spends practicing putting working on short putts.

Most putts are from 5 to 15 feet. These short putts probably make up about 25-30 percent of your total score. You don’t need a golf lesson to figure out that if you sink more of these short putts, you’d lower your golf handicap by at least a couple of strokes. Unfortunately, weekend golfers tend to commit too many mistakes when facing short putts. Here are some common mistakes golfers make when putting and some drills on how to eliminate them.

Confidence is the Key
Many golfers flinch when they putt. Or, they rush the putt so much their stroke becomes choppy and uneven. You can become a great putter if your putting stroke is smooth and free flowing. Creating good rhythm in your putting stroke is the best way of eliminating flinching and rushing. No matter what style of putting you use, if you flinch or rush you’ll probably miss lot of putts. Unfortunately, most golfers concentrate more on sinking putts than working on developing a smooth stroke.

Next time you’re on the practice green, make some smooth pendulum strokes with your eyes closed. As you make your stroke, count out a simple cadence “one-two.” “one-two.” Once you feel a good flow, have a friend place a ball at his discretion in the path of your putter head. No knowing when the ball is coming helps eliminate the flinching or rushing that can cause you to miss those short putts.
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Improve Your Putting With These Tips (End)

2007-12-30T19:53:00.000-08:00

Pay attention to the Toe:
When you are putting downhill you will face difficulty as they are rather fast. The toe of the putter needs to be used to hit the ball, it will make the ball stay low and prevent it from bouncing too high and eventually away. However this does not have to be done when you are putting uphill.

Without the Putter:
If you find it difficult to manage your distance of putting then try to do it without the putter. Place your hand in the same position as the putter and practice rolling the ball as you roll it in the alley. This will help you have some sense of the distance and will be corrective for your putting.

The Pro Choice:
If you observe a pro then you will notice that as he lines up the breaking putts he always prefers the higher side of the hole rather than its lower side. This is because if a putt is about to break up near a hole then, in such a condition if the ball is above the hole then gravity will be beneficial for you and the ball will roll into the hole. Similarly if your ball is on the lower side gravity is bound to work against you, so use your common sense.

Analyzing the Course:
For a golfer it is very important to be able to analyze a course, this is because it will determine the course of his game. He needs to know the points or rather the factors which will work for his benefits and which wont. The speed and the break is what he should know before he begins playing. This is because these two factors can change on the same course within a span of two days. So practicing a few putts before the real thing can help them know all of this.

Improve Your Putting With These Tips

2007-12-30T19:49:00.000-08:00

Do you need more focus? Do you want to improve your putting before you tee off? Don't worry read on and you'll find whatever you need right here.

Games to improve Putting:
If you need to improve your short putts then practice a simple game. Place a dime, and putt to it. There could be nothing better to improve your focus and concentration.

Keep the focus of the eye on the Dime:
Place your ball on a dime, and then what you need to do is focus your eyes only on the dime as you play your stroke. Don't follow the path of the ball, Keep looking at the dime; this will help you improve your short putts specifically.

Right on target:
The three foot putts can really irritate you if you are all nerves. Think that there is a bull's-eye that there at the back of the cup. Doing this your clubface will move square of the hole and it will accelerate your putt.

Shut your Eyes and Putt:
If you keep your eyes closed and putt then it will facilitate your feeling the movements of the body. The movement of your shoulders will seem like a pendulum. Don't be surprised if you hear the ball sound inside the cup.

Fix your head and Putt:
If your head stays put then it makes your putt better. Not just before you putt after hitting the ball your focus should be on not moving your head. If you move your head then this can lead you to opening your shoulders and the putt will go wrong. Keep your head still, along with your eyes shut and you will be surprised at the results.
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Golf Putting Instruction (End)

2007-12-30T19:48:00.000-08:00

Get A Grip

Always check your grip. It's important for the consistency of your shot that your grip is the same each time. Like the address position, this is an important part of putting that often gets overlooked.

For practice purposes, it's probably best to use your usual grip. Now is not the time to try out a new grip you learned from somebody. You can always work that in to another part of your training routine.

Your grip on the ball should be relaxed. When you're practicing, it's a good idea to use a lighter grip than you would use during the game. The idea is to practice exercising the right control over the club.

Go With The Short Putts

When you're practicing, you want to smack those balls into the stratosphere, but actually it's the short putts that give most golfers a headache. Your putting practice routine should focus more on short shots than on long ones. These can be especially tricky.

Work On Speed

Getting your putting speed just right is more than just a matter of going as fast as you can. Practice getting just the right control over the club, so you can hit the ball at just the right speed you need to make the hole.

As you watch your golf game improve over time, never forget to get back to basics once in a while. It never hurts to review the essentials of putting. And, always keep your ears open when you're playing with other golfers. You never know when you might pick up some golf putting instruction during the game.

Golf Putting Instruction

2007-12-30T19:44:00.000-08:00

Many pro golfers say that good putting is the most important part of your golf game. How you practice, not just how much you practice, can also affect your game.

A little golf putting instruction goes a long way. Here are some tips for beginners, or refreshers for old pros.

Keep A Skill Set

Keep track of all your putting practice exercises and skills. A skill set is a list of all the stuff you've learned before during your training.

Sometimes a basic exercise that you used in your practice routine gets forgotten under all the new stuff you've learned. If you keep a good skill set list, you can rotate all your exercises and make sure you hit them all.

Practice Your Address

Be careful when getting ready to shoot. Don't just go out there and start putting. Spend a little time during your practice session making sure you have a good, well-balanced starting stance.

Make sure you're posture is good, with your back nice and straight. Don't hunch over the ball. Your weight should be balanced, but leaning a little bit on your forward foot (left foot for right-handers).

One technique for relaxation is to stand for a few minutes in address position and let all the tension go out of your muscles and body. A little deep breathing might be a good part of the routine.

Your feet shouldn't be too wide. Most trainers recommend your feet be about shoulder-width apart. Also, don't get too close to the ball. If you find yourself bending over it like the Hunchback of Notre Dame, you're too close.
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The Art Of Putting (End)

2007-12-30T19:41:00.000-08:00

• Make sure you’re totally relaxed before you strike the ball. Loosen up your muscles so they feel flabby and jelly-like. Never tense up your muscles when putting!

• Make your back and follow through strokes the same length.

• Keep your putter face square by weakening your left hand and strengthening your right.

• Rely less on your wrists and more on your shoulders when putting.

• Keep that left wrist firm.

• Relax your knees a little. Don’t lock up.

• Your heels should be shoulder-width apart.

• Gary McCord advises that on curved putts, keep your feel parallel to the line you’ve chosen, not parallel to the hole.

• As you make contact with the ball, you want to accelerate the putter. Keep the putter grip moving toward your target.

• It’s better to miss a putt by sending it beyond the hole than by having it come up short. Finishing off the shot will be easier.

• Practice your putt at home on your carpet when the weather is bad or you can’t get to the golf course.

• Find a putter that works well for you and stay with it.

• Have something at stake at every hole so you become accustomed to putting under pressure.

The Art Of Putting

2007-12-30T19:38:00.000-08:00

Putting For Beginners (End)

2007-12-30T19:37:00.000-08:00

A putt, by definition, is a light and gentle stroke meant to cause the golf ball to roll straight into the hole. Without restraint, those light and gentle strokes won’t be easy to accomplish, let alone master. Putting, therefore, requires a lot of discipline and control. Keep in mind that your objective is to make the ball roll not fly. If you can muster Zen-like calm with each putt, then so much the better.

Another key element in putting is where you set your sights. You should keep an eye on the ball before you make your swing. But you must also take care to keep your head perfectly still during and moments after your stroke. No matter how slight, any unnecessary movement while swinging could throw your aim off and ruin your putt. Instead of physically tracking it, make it a habit to visualize the ball’s path in your mind’s eye.

Above all, practice. Whether you’re swinging on the greens or putting into a cup set on a carpeted floor, practice, practice, practice. Experiment with different speeds and distances. Set goals as to the number of balls you can sink in succession and then gradually increase your limit as you improve. Take note of the techniques that bring you the most excellent results.

By constantly challenging yourself and refining your methods, you’ll eventually discover the rhythm that works best for you. Once you have that down pat, you’ll be able to compose and orchestrate a symphony of putting perfection.

Putting For Beginners

2007-12-30T19:35:00.000-08:00

Putting Tips (End)

2007-12-30T19:33:00.000-08:00

6.Speed is king. Putting is all about speed. If you are going to hit a bad putt, you are much better off getting the speed right than the line. A putt that is slightly off line still has a chance if the line is only slightly off but the speed is right. Even if it is a foot offline you will still have a tap in. A putt left short will never go in and if it is hit too hard it has to go dead center or it will lip out.
7.Make your short putts easier. To minimize three putt greens, and to make your round less stressful, you should try to lag your long putts to the easiest place from which to make your second putt. A relatively flat uphill five footer is a lot easier to make than hard breaking downhill three footer. On long putts its all about where you putt from next, not making it.
8. Maintain your stroke speed through impact. Many putts are missed because of "deceleration" of the putter head through the impact area. This has lead many well meaning golf teachers to suggest that you should "accelerate through the ball". This advice has wreaked havoc with the strokes of many amatuers. A better way to do it is to take the putter back at the same speed you need on the through stroke, and then restablish and maintain that speed on the forward stroke on through the ball. The speed of the putter head at impact should be established well before you actually hit the ball rather than trying to acclelerate to that speed at the precise moment of impact.
9. Make at least one putt per hole. As simple as this putting tip is to do, most amateurs just don't do it. Instead, they pick up the ball when it is still a foot or two away. As a result, they miss almost every putt they hit during the round. Do yourself a favor and putt those "gimme" putts. Even making a one foot putt can help build your confidence. You need to see as many putts drop as possible.
10.Always be positive. Putting is mostly a mental game, and short putting is TOTALLY DIFFERENT from any other golf shot. It is a near certainty that any putt you think you will miss will not go in.
11.Be commited to your choices. If you are going to make your putts, you must be 100% committed to the line and speed you have chosen. There is no room for doubt. In the end, all you can do is hit the ball on the line you pick and at the speed you want. If you do that and the putt doesn't go in, it's not your fault. It's just golf.

http://www.targetputting.com

Putting Tips

2007-12-30T19:29:00.000-08:00

It's a fact that the most often used golf club in every bag, every round, is the putter. It follows that no other club in the bag is responsible for more wasted shots.

A lot of problems get blamed on the putter itself, but equipment is not the problem. Good putting comes from a good attitude and you can't buy that in the pro shop.

A missed short putt is one of the only bad shots in golf that you cannot recover from. All you can do is add one to the score and tap the ball in.

On the other hand, you can still save par from the trees off the tee or the bunker by the green. You can still make the 10 footer you may have after the worst long putt you can possibly hit.

So it makes perfect sense that if you want to lower your scores you should start with your short range putting. I hope some of these putting tips will help you putt better from close in.

1.Always line up the ball. At the very least, use the brand name to line up with. The best way, though, is to use a Sharpie and make a line that is straight and easy to see. Would you rather shoot a good score with an ugly ball or an ugly score with a pretty ball?
2.NEVER practice on bad greens. Does it really help you to hit putts on a slow bumpy green? NO! The best you can hope for is to do no damage. Don't waste your time and endanger your putting confidence putting on bad greens.
3.Play more break on fast greens. The ball rolls at slower speeds to go the same distance, so logically it will break more than the same putt if the overall speed of the green were slower. The faster the putting surface is, the more effect the slope will have.
4.Play less break on slow greens. This putting tip is just an extension of the previous one. The speed of the greens will always have as much to do with the break than the slope does. Take this into account when you are reading the green.
5.Play more break on downhill putts and less on uphill putts. Another extension of putting lessons 3 and 4. All other things being equal, a downhill putt will break more than an uphill putt of the same length and slope.