What to look for on the Greens

By: Golf Guru

If I asked you to rate your putting over the last 10 rounds out of 10 I wonder how many of you would score higher than 8? Do you know how may putts you average per round? Do you have a benchmark or a standard that determines a successful putting round? Two putts per hole over 18 holes equals 36 putts but if you look at the average putts per round for the pros on the tours you'll find they average well under 30. OK, you're not a pro, but if your average is over 32 then putting is one part of your game that could stand improvement.

You are probably sitting back in your chair thinking that I'm going to recommend you spend at least two half hour sessions on the putting green each week, time permitting. I'm not, at least not in this lesson.

What I am going to suggest is that you can improve your putting by doing some simple visualisation exercises. And you don't even have to move to do them.

To start - think of your own course or the course you play most of your golf on. Now think which hole has the green with the most slope. Are you picturing it in your mind? Take a piece of paper from your printer and draw the green from a birds eye perspective. Draw an H where you think the highest part of the green is and an L for the lowest.

Now, can you answer these questions about the green - does it slope from front to back and, if it does, is the slope consistent the length of the green? Is there a flat part of the green? If there is, draw a hole on your plan showing where it is. Now shade in an area on your green where you think the most slope or break is. Put a hole in the middle of the shaded area. Imagine a ball is 8 yards or metres or 25 feet from the hole in the shaded area. Draw the ball on your plan. Picture the putt on the green and then draw a line from the ball to the hole. The end result - you have drawn a line based on your experience and knowledge of the green you've chosen.

You have visualised the ball's path from where it was on the green on into the hole. If you only drew one line you must have a clear picture of how the ball responds to the slope. Draw another ball on the opposite side of the hole and draw your line. A clear picture of the ball travelling over the green is what you want. If you can do it on paper you can certainly do it when you're playing. For every putt you hit from now on imagine that you are drawing the line on the green with a white marker. The more defined the line is the better.

"See" it clearly and your putting has to improve.

Article Source: http://www.bettergolfarticles.com

My name is Paul Hartstone. I am a double A rated member of the NZPGA. I know the grip is the most important fundamental. I would say that 90% of the golfers I see on the lesson tee have a poor hold of the club. It is the main reason why they slice, hook, push or pull. That is why I designed and developed the Griperfect gloves. By following 4 simple steps the golfer can see and feel what a good grip is - and they can take the same correct grip again and again. Go to www.aagolf.net

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