Putting Practice
During this series or articles I have repeatedly referred to the need for positive practise before your round commences.
If you have not allowed sufficient time before your start time for a full warm up practise session you MUST find some time to practise your putting which for golfers of all standards is a key part of the game.
I have spoken in the past of the need to practise success rather than failure by holing a number of short length putts rather than trying to hole 30 footers.
I also have a number of other tips that will help your putting during the course of the round and which will assist to eliminate nerves during pressure situations.
Firstly, practise putting to a 1 Euro coin because this will alter your perception of the size of the hole.
You will be in a win-win situation because if you miss the coin it will not feel like a failure because it is such a small target but when you start to actually putt at the hole it will seem large compared with the coin and this will give you more confidence.
Secondly, practise the putting ladder.
What is this I hear you say?
Take five golf balls an attempt to knock the first ball a distance of 20ft.
Aim to knock the second ball 15ft,the third 10ft and so on.
You will gain a touch and feel that you would not develop by putting at a hole where your focus is on holing the ball.
During the 1993 Ryder Cup at the Belfry, Fred Couples could be seen doing a similar ‘practise drill’ with short wedge shots where he attempted to hit successive shot five yards further than the previous shots.
So you see even the worlds best develop practise methods aimed at improving touch and feel during their actual round of golf.