Putting Magic : How to Improve Your Putting Stroke

Let's face it, all the pros can hit the shots. They can drive the ball a long way in a straight line. They can all hit great iron shots. Sand shots and chipping from around the green is easy for all these pros. Half wedge shots cause them no problem at all. The one thing that really separates the winners from the also-rans is being able to putt the ball. Phil Mickelson can putt. Tiger Woods is a great putter. These guys win with a good putting stroke. The rest of the PGA tour pros wish that they had that crucial skill. As the old saying goes, "drive for show and putt for dough". If you want to save strokes you must putt well.

If you watch professional golfers enough, you will see that they have developed a routine. They do things the same way each time. After a while, the routine becomes automatic. Professionals follow a routine for each drive, iron shot, chip and putt. To become a better putter, you must develop a good putting routine. Save putts with a good putting stroke.

Once your ball is on the green, always mark it. Next, pick up your ball and clean it thoroughly. If it isn't your turn, get behind your marker, and get a quick read of the green. Once it is your turn to putt it is time to begin your routine. Developing a routine will help you become a better putter.

Replace your ball with the printing at a 90 degree angle to the green (from top to bottom). This helps you see how the ball will track. Get behind your ball, a sufficient distance away, to determine the probable path that the ball will take to the hole. There are many methods to employ that determine which way the ball will break toward the hole, plum bobbing etc. Use the one that you like the best.

Once you've determined how the ball will break it is now time to begin your setup routine for your putt. Most of the pros use a strong grip that eliminates the use of the wrists. The really good putters use a pendulum swing that eliminates using their wrists. The wrists are locked and the arms swing in a straight line like a pendulum on a clock.

If you watch a pro-player, they set up their stance with their feet about shoulder width apart. They then take two or three practice swings to get a feel for how far the putt will travel. Then they adjust their stance and make their putt. They use the same routine, whether it is a long putt or a short putt. You can improve your putting stroke by copying them.

Longer putts give most players absolute fits. Try this method on your next 30 to 40 foot putt. Once you have bent down to analyze how your putt will break, split the putt into two or three sections. Pretend that you are only putting for 10 feet. Visualize how the ball will break. Then split up the second section and visualize how it will break. The same for the third section. This might help you on the longer putts. The idea is to get it close and not sink it. By breaking it up into sections you get a clearer idea of the length and slope involved.

Give setting up a routine for your putts a try. Always mark your ball and pick it up and clean it each time. Replace the ball when it is your turn to putt. Place your ball with the printing aligned top to bottom with the flagstick. Take two or three practice swings, and make your putting stroke. See if you're putting doesn't improve.