Golf Tips: Want to reduce 3 putts…Read On!
Every feel like the picture above?!?!
One of the most annoying shots in golf is that 3rd putt. I don’t know about you, but being on in regulation or trying to save a par or bogey and then topping the brilliant play with a 3-putt…let me just say I am sure I am not alone when many ‘creative’ words fill the brain!!!
Let me try to help you gain a little bit more control in your putting and maybe, just maybe take a couple strokes off your score and index over the summer.
How to Putt the ball close to the hole
Have you found yourself working mostly on your putting mechanics and length during practice time and then once you get out on the course it just isn’t happening? You are not alone. One thing that I have learned the many years of playing amateur and professional golf is that working on your putting tempo is key to success on the greens. You see everyone addresses the ball differently with the flat stick. Take a time to watch the LPGA and PGA and watch each player’s putting styles…very unique and different from bending at a 90degree angle at the hips like Wie or open stance and lower right shoulder for Nicklaus (he has done all right) to Tiger’s robot approach and Paula Creamer’s basic style. Regardless of your grip, posture or stance, the one thing they all have in common…a solid and repeatable tempo.
One way to become a better putter is to establish YOUR reliable stroke tempo and repeat it each and every time on each and every putt. Your tempo with be different than mine, than your weekend playing partners and even different from the pros. Every players had their own unique ‘tic-toc’ timing and it is very personal.
Check your tempo out by this easy drill
Stick two tees in the ground on the putting green about a foot apart. Walk away from the tee about 10 paces and drop 6-12 balls down on the green and try to get every putt to stop between the two tees.
Key: Figure out the stroke length you need to roll the ball consistently the correct distance with your personal tempo…think tempo and let the mechanic thoughts melt away. I personally say, ‘One-and-two’. Some players pick two words that they can repeat…’mom-and-dad’, ‘jack-and-Jill’ …something that speaks to you.
Keeping your stroke length consistent in this drill will allow you to see if you are using the exact same tempo for each putt. Too fast or too slow will not allow the ball to stop between the tees. You will find your tempo and then once you do, putt 10 balls straight stopping between tees. Once you mastered this distance, change it up to different distances—5 feet, 10feet, 15feet, 20feet and so on…as far back as you want.
What this practice will do in establishing your own unique technique is to take some of the stress out on the course when you are standing over the ball. You will find that you will focus on the distance and tempo vs. how your hands should be on the club, how to take it back, how to finish…you will finally have a simple thought to help improve your overall consistency and confidence.
Give it a try and let us know at Bunkers Paradise how your practice time goes next time you are on the green!
‘keep smiling and always believe’
