Do You Really Want To Improve In 2008?

When most golfers think of how they can improve their score they often envision themselves beating thousands of golf balls at the driving range. Those of us who have been to the Canadian Open or other PGA Tour events know that the best players in the world do spend hours on the range. However what most fail to realize is how good the tour pros are with the club they use most — the putter.

Let’s face it, the easiest way to improve your golf scores is to improve your putting. The club used most often in golf is the putter. So why not start off 2008 by improving your putting?

In this article you will learn three sure-fire ways to improve your putting without even making a move!

• Get Fit

No, I am not going to beg you to get into the local gym. However I will ask that you get your putter custom fit. Factors to consider in putter fitting are; finding an attractive clubhead, finding the correct shaft length and finding a comfortable grip size.

Ideal Lie Angle
In this article I will dwell on an extremely important factor which is lie angle. While in a relaxed posture it is imperative that the putter is soled flat on the ground (a position we want to duplicate at impact). Figure 1A shows how a putter sits when it is too upright (the most common fitting fault). I have no problem with golfers who like to keep their hands lower than normal while putting. Just make sure your putter is flatter than standard.

Figure 1B shows how a putter sits when it is too flat (a rather uncommon fault). Figure 1C/3C shows how a putter sits when fit perfectly for a golfer. This is what you are looking for. Visit your local CPGA Professional to determine if you have any of the aforementioned deficiencies.

If custom fitting is not available to you, you can always have your existing putter altered in a number of ways at your local golf shop.

• Get a grip

Putting grips vary amongst golfers. In recent years we have seen everything from the claw, to left hand low, andeven the saw! While all hold merit and have had success, I will show you what I feel is a great grip.

A great putting grip starts with holding the golf club in the palms of the hands (contradictory to the full swing grip). Figure 2A shows what a proper top hand grip looks like (for a right handed conventional putting grip). Note how the grip fits perfectly down the life line of the hand. For golfers who just can’t get a feel for this grip, try placing a ruler in your left hand while your palm is facing up (as shown in Figure 2B, place in right hand for lefties), then grip the ruler as you would a putter.

Once you can consistently place your top hand on the grip, the bottom hand grip is simple. To ensure a correct grip with the right hand all we do is cover our middle, ring and pinky fingers with the life line of our right hand while wrapping the right hand fingers lightly around the grip. As a check, make sure your palms are facing each other. The same ruler exercise can be used to get a feel for the right hand grip.

Figure 2C shows the finished product. For readers unfamiliar with the term “life line”, it is illustrated clearly in figure 2D.

• Be Aware of the Sweet Spot

A largely overlooked part of golfing success, especially in putting, is the importance of contacting the ball with the sweet spot of the club. Watch a top rate putter, on television or at your club, and you will find at least one common trait. They all consistently contact the golf ball with the sweet spot of their putter.

The Sweet Spot
One excellent way to increase the probability of pure contact is to address the ball with the sweet spot of the putter directly behind the ball. If nothing else in putting set-up, make a conscious effort to emulate the address shown in Figure 1C/3C.

Avoid a set-up position that has the ball away from the sweet spot toward the heel (figure 3A) or toe of the putter (figure 3B). Once you are able to address the ball correctly every time, begin to take mental notes of whether you actually make pure contact with the ball. It is an unmistakable feeling. I guarantee that well struck putts will find the dark more often than poorly struck putts.

Get Fit, Get a Grip and Be Aware of the Sweet Spot!

If you can accomplish these three simple tasks I guarantee you will improve your putting in 2008 and thus lower your scores.

Scott Allan CPGA Assistant Professional Greystone Golf Club Milton, Ontario Greystone Golf Club is a property of Clublink Corporation
Note: The teaching methodology solely reflects the views of the author and may not reflect the views or opinions of the Ontario PGA or GolfScene About the Ontario PGA Established in 1927, the Ontario Professional Golfers’ Association is a non-profit association comprised of approximately 1,300 golf professionals from Belleville to Windsor with a mandate to promote and advance the game of golf, serving the needs of both its membership and the golf public through professional and junior golf development programs and high-calibre competitive events. For more info, visit www.ontariopga.com

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