| When you hit your puts are you off line so many | | | | head, ofcourse the ball will travel accordingly. |
| times? | | | | Have a look at your bladeafter it has hit the ball - say |
| You say to yourself "How did I do that? It was such | | | | two inches past the ball - and see where it is pointing. |
| a simple putand dead straight, yet I managed to hit it | | | | If you have closed it or opened it, it will be obvious |
| to the left of the hole" | | | | here and you will beable to make the necessary |
| - or was it to the right? | | | | changes to your putting stroke. |
| Which ever way, you did something wrong. If you | | | | You think you are watching the ball, but are you? |
| lifted your head asyou hit the ball, such an easy thing | | | | Think of a nail sticking out of the ball from the point |
| to do due to a slightlyanxious attitude, you will | | | | where youwant to hit it. |
| always hit your ball to the left of thehole. | | | | Think about driving this nail into the ball. |
| Last week, I tried putting with a very much shorter | | | | This means that you will have to look at the dimple |
| back swingwhich meant that I had to hit the ball with | | | | that you want to hit. |
| authority to get it upto the hole. | | | | You have to hit this dimple with your putter's sweet |
| On the practice putting green before the game, | | | | spot. |
| itworked amazingly well. So I took it out onto the | | | | You really have to watch this part of the ball to hit it. |
| course and onlyhad 31 puts during the round. | | | | Then, don't look up but wait to hear the ball falling |
| This meant an improvement of between | | | | into the hole. |
| 9 and 5 shots. | | | | Think about all these tips, and take one at a time. |
| You can certainly wrack up a score by hitting | | | | Spend some time with each one and practice it on |
| moreputs during a round can't you? | | | | the practice putting green. |
| So, concentrating on your putting and reducing the | | | | Practice until the particular tip has become a part of |
| number of putscan lead to a win and a reduction in | | | | your normalputting technique. |
| your handicap. | | | | Otherwise, when you get out onto the course |
| OK, here are some tips on how to hit a straight put. | | | | youwill become very confused. |
| Firstly, as already mentioned, take a shorter back | | | | You will not remember to do a certainpart of the put |
| stroke and hitwith authority. | | | | until you miss. |
| Next, exaggerate your follow through. | | | | Then you will clearly know what youdidn't do and |
| This will of course make youhit with authority and | | | | kick yourself. |
| accelerate through the ball and keep yourputter head | | | | Not a good attitude during a round ofgolf when you |
| on line. | | | | have to be so positive and confident. |
| Another reason for hitting the ball to the left of the | | | | I hope these tips help you and improve your game. |
| hole ismovement of the hands as you hit the ball. | | | | They certainlyimproved mine. I am terribly impressed |
| What happens is that thehands rotate a bit to the | | | | by the results of the shortback swing. |
| left. | | | | I was told about this a couple of years ago, but |
| To overcome this, try turning your right hand in an | | | | neverreally tried it until very recently. We h ear about |
| anticlockwisedirection so that the back of your hand | | | | so many tipsbut dismiss most as not being relevant |
| faces the hole. | | | | to our game don't we? |
| This can stop the rotation of your hands. | | | | Big mistake! |
| Next, if you hit the ball with an open or closed putter | | | | |