Four Simple Ways to Improve Your Golf Putt

So many times when taking up the sport of golf, or wishing to improve our individual game, we overlook the importance of perfecting our putt, putting it off, instead, as an easy skill to master. With a significant amount of our scores coming from our putting strokes, suffice it to say that this is a mistake. The following four tips will help you to improve this necessary stroke and after a bit of practice could help to significantly lower your golf score.

One: As in every other area of golf, making sure that your posture is correct is ideal in helping you to make the best possible shot. While each person holds their club in a unique (but make sure consistent) way to putt, the stance taken for posture is pretty much the same to ensure you are making the most of your turn. First of all, relax your body. You do not want to be stiff when putting. Now slightly bend at your knees a bit, still relaxed. Wiggle your hands and arms a bit to ensure you are not standing rigid. Take hold of your club in your typical putting manner. Your arms will be slightly bent and your elbows will be directed towards your ribcage. Place your feet slightly apart with your shoulders parallel to the line your ball is going to take as it heads into the hole. Make sure that your eyes are directly over the top center of the ball. You have now placed yourself in the most opportune posture for guiding your ball to the hole smoothly.

Two: Line up the shot in your mind's eye. You may think it's just a putt shot, hence an easy shot, and simply try to hit it in without first concentrating on the position. This type of thinking can hurt your game. You want to treat the putt with importance and take your time getting the correct visual on how you want the shot to go. It can not be reiterated enough that if you can improve your putt shot dramatically, you will improve your game score dramatically. Crouch down on the green, look at the ball in relation to the hole; several times. Make sure you have the correct visual of how you want the ball to travel from your club to the hole. If you want to, place a club on each side of the ball, directing them towards the hole. This gives you an actual visual to follow as you practice putting.

Three: Your back swing needs to be relevant to the distance you need to putt. If you swing too long you are going to overdrive your shot, and if you swing too short, you are going to have to swing again to seal the deal. The key here is to remember that you want to swing the club and have the ball flow along with it. You are not trying to hit or nudge a ball here, you are trying to swing your club with just the right amount of flow to accelerate the ball into the hole, simply because it is in the way of your smooth flowing swing. Imagine that your arm and club are one and that they are the equivalent of a pendulum on a large grandfather clock. You want your swing to flow smoothly as such. You will feel the correct back swing if you imagine the shot as described and after a few practices with this in mind, you will help to improve your putt.

Four: Do not make the mistake of watching your ball too early. It distracts you and can alter your putt. Watch your hands to ensure you are making a smooth stroke. This will help you to keep your eyes down and ensure your stroke is going in the direction you intended it to go. It will also help you to focus on how your hands affect the stroke so you are concentrating on where you really want the ball to go, instead of just trying to hit it. It seems like a simple tip, but if you follow it, you will be amazed at how quickly you notice a positive difference in your putt.

These four tips are all easy to follow and if practiced, can quickly help you to improve your overall golf score. Remember the putt is as important as any other shot in the game and it deserves your complete focus and concentration.