6 Steps To Perfect Putting

Thanks for visiting FreePuttingTips.com! Let's talk about our six steps for perfect putting. These are six steps I created that if followed will be sure to knock strokes off your game. Before I talk about the six steps remember that golf is a game of confidence, so when you approach these steps come at it with all you have got and be confident about every swing and shot. Enough talking lets get to it;

Choosing a Putter/Grip- This can be so crucial if you are attached to that old club that your father gave you from 1912 that was carved in a wood shop. You need a putter you are comfortable with! I know when you see this step you are ready to cruise on down to number two because getting a new putter isn't in the picture right now but you need a putter that you can really feel the transfer of the weight on the putter face and get a good feel for the swing. There are tons of different putter types and you might find one that you feel 100 percent better swinging and that will make all the difference in your game. Check out some putters at our Store. Make sure you keep your grip light on the putter so you can really feel the putter face at the end of the shaft. Don't make them so loose that you lose control but they need to be as loose as you can comfortably have them. Alright lets move on.
Perfecting Your Stance and Swing- Lets make sure you have your basic stance mechanics down so your form can be consistent which will make a monster difference in your game. Your body direction has the most influence over where the ball is going to go so developing good stance is crucial. For the most part try to have your feet about shoulder width apart unless you find that uncomfortable and prefer something different thats fine. Your eyes should be over the ball and you should be able to drop a ball from your nose and have it land on the ball you are hitting. Try to lean over the ball and not hunch. For more go to our Form section. For your swing you want to make sure the shoulders are acting like the pendulum for your swing. Your arms should be relaxing and let your shoulders do all of the work. Your front and back swing should be identical, your swing should look like a clock hand going from 7 o'clock to 5 o'clock and should keep a very steady pace because the more consistency you develop the easier it will be to develop your game. More on Stroke.
Reading the Green- Don't underestimate the power of green reading skills. Being able to read the green is one of the most important skill you can have in golf. When walking up to the green take mental notes of the greens and map a mental route of how you know you will get the results you want from the shot. If you see a mountain then you know the green is most likely slope away from it, and if there is any water near the green, whether a creek or an ocean, the ball is more than likely going to roll towards it. Reading the terrain and understanding green speeds is huge. Practice putting against, across, and with the grain to develop an idea of how the grass can effect green speeds, which can really change your game from course to course if your not prepared. Read more on Reading The Green.
Develop a Putting Routine- Every pro golfer has a putting routine that they follow each time they step up to the green. There is a reason for this and its because a good putting routine can completly change your game up by providing insight and consistency through all you playing. A good routine would be like so. 1.) Read the green upon approaching like we just talked about, look at the grain. 2.) Plan out the shot in your head and think about different variables that might affect the distance or direction of your ball such as a break. 3.) Stand behind the ball and really get an idea for the speed and distance the ball needs to get in the hole. 4.) Set up for the shot in your stance a little behind the ball and take a couple practice strokes, really focusing on using your shoulders to do the swinging. 5.) Clear your head and only focus on the putt and all the mechanics of getting it in the hole. 6.) Take your shot! Anything that goes wrong with the shot just analyze and see how to improve. More on this.
Get Your Mind Right- This may seem again like anther given that you want to cruise past onto number six but its worth spending a little time on. You really need to be able to clear your mind before you make a shot of distractions and other thoughts. What do you think is happening when you see pros miss putts from three feet out, they are not focusing, we all know they can make these shots but many time because of the idea of the easy shot we forget to focus and really take each stroke with care, even our practice strokes. Don't even take practice strokes that are not as well thought out as the most important shot of your life. Your mind must get used to putting to win no matter what the circumstances. Really get a routine of how to clear your mind, whatever that is for you, when your playing. This will really improve your game .
. Practice- Obviously this would have to be in here somewhere right? The first routine I want you to do is take ten balls and put them in a circle around the hole, with the first one about six inches from the hole and the tenth one as far back as 10 feet or so. Start with the first one and progressivly move to the tenth, but if you miss one start over. This is a difficult drill to master but is one of the best to improve your game within ten feet to give extra security when your playing a difficult course. Practice reading the green too, and remember to practice putting with and against the grain.
Take these six steps and look for putting success!