| | | | The Fine Art of Putting | | Putting in golf refers to the successful completion of a round by getting the golf ball on the green directly into the hole, preferably in as few strokes as possible. This simplistic definition belies the complexity and degree of skill involved - successful putting is no easy task and can be the bane of many an aspiring novice.
Putting is a highly individualistic and unique process. While there are common areas and mistakes which you can work on to improve overall, you will have to devise your own method of putting. Regardless of what methods and techniques you use, practice and commitment will ensure optimal results. Even if you find it both tedious and monotonous, golf drills will pay massive dividends in the long term. When you consider over half of the strokes used in any given round of golf expended on putting, honing this skill becomes much more important than it was at first glance.
One of the most important aspects of putting is the grip you make use of to handle the club. The putter should be held level, at a diagonal angle across your palms. The best putting grips effectively stabilize the left wrist, preventing it from bending forward and pointing towards the hole while making the stroke.
If you have the putter properly aligned, you will find that the shaft of the putter is completely level with your arm, thereby meaning that the putter is, in effect, a natural extension of your arm. If you were to lift it up and point it directly in front of you like a rifle, you could stare down the entire length of the putter.
While there is a number of different putting grips that you can choose from, one of the most popular and universally recommended grips is the so called traditional overlap, which means the golfer places the left hand on the putter and the right hand just below the left hand. Both hands are then connected together by wrapping the index finger around the fingers on the right hand. This method is especially favored by novices and veterans alike, thanks to its ease of use and high degree of control offered as a result. |
|
