BackyardPutter.com

In golf, the difference between having a good game and a fantastic game largely depends on your skill as a putter. Here are a few tips to help you refine your knowledge and skill as a putter:

Build your confidence

Start your putting practice exercise by visualizing the ball going in the hole after every stroke. I know this might seem silly to some, but establishing a positive mindset can do wonders for your putting and overall game. After you’ve visualized yourself being successful, another great step to building confidence is to make short putts of two to three feet at the beginning of your exercise.

Read the green

Before you start putting, evaluate the green to determine how it’s laid out. The lower you are to the ground, the better you’ll be able to see where the dips and slopes are located. Remember to get views from various angles of the green and adjust your shot as necessary.

Develop the proper stance

Having the proper stance can greatly improve your putting ability. A good stance is to position the body as strait and upright as possible and then to look down at the ball with your shoulders and neck gently bent. Remember, you body should not be uncomfortably rigid or stiff, but somewhat relaxed.

Distance control

When you’re preparing to hit the ball, don’t forget that the amount of force you put into your stroke will directly affect not only the distance, but also how straight the ball will roll. Any one putt might require a little more force to get the ball to roll in a straight line. Practicing your putts consistently will help you acquire the correct amount of speed and feel for a variety of distances; eventually, this might even lead to muscle memorization for some of your putts and strokes.

Polish your stroke

Before you hit, line up your ball and aim where your stroke is going to hit the ball. You want to line up your stroke with the direction you want the ball to travel; preferably in a straight line towards the hole. After you do this, you want to practice with a few smooth strokes before you hit. This is where you can acquire a feel and speed for the ball before you hit.

Practice makes perfect

Just like with almost anything in life, if you want to become proficient at something, you need to devote the necessary time to study and practice your craft. So, if you want to develop your overall game, you need to study and practice the art of putting. Start by familiarizing yourself, or refreshing your memory, on the basics of putting, and then practice the techniques on the putting green. Having your own putting green can go a long way in helping you to improve your game.