| Great putting one day, disastrous the next! Here are | | | | these seemingly insignificant changes can give your |
| some useful tips that could help you putt more | | | | confidence a needed boost. Don't neglect your |
| consistently. | | | | putting when you practice. But avoid becoming |
| How can it be that on one day you putt beautifully, | | | | obsessive about it. If you practice putting over a long |
| and the next you're all but helpless on the greens? | | | | period of time, your back will begin to ache and your |
| Putting in golf is one of the most inconsistent skills in | | | | concentration will wander to greener pastures. The |
| all of sports. Good putters usually putt well, but even | | | | majority of golfers ignore two important shots while |
| the smooth strokers go into short or prolonged | | | | practicing their putting: They don't work on putting |
| slumps. Pros are fairly equal from tee to green, with | | | | from the fringe. And that's a shot that most golfers |
| a few notable exceptions like Tiger. It's the guy or | | | | use frequently on the golf course. Make sure you |
| gal who putts well throughout a tournament that | | | | devote part of your putting practice to stroking |
| brings home the bacon. Unlike the basics - golf set | | | | approach putts from the fringe, both close to the |
| up, grip, and swing - putting is a world unto itself. | | | | actual putting surface and - depending on the texture |
| There's no right way or wrong way; it's what works | | | | of the fringe - as much as eight to ten feet off the |
| for you that counts. Your putting grip is important, | | | | green. A second troublesome putt that should be |
| but what feels good and works for you might be a | | | | practiced from time to time is the dilemma that's |
| handicap for a fellow player. Check with some good | | | | presented when your ball comes to rest on the |
| putters and see how they place their hands on the | | | | putting surface against the first cut of the fringe. |
| club. It doesn't hurt to experiment with new methods | | | | That can be a daunting shot if you haven't practiced |
| occasionally. The putter - as a club - is vital to your | | | | it. The key is hitting the top half of the ball while |
| success or lack thereof. And it doesn't have to cost | | | | stroking the putter smoothly over the top of the |
| $100; some of the prices for golf clubs have become | | | | fringe. If you try and chop down on this putt, it can |
| ridiculous. Foremost, you need a putter that looks | | | | have disastrous results. However, having said that, |
| good to you; that seems silly, but if you don't gain | | | | sometimes chopping down on the putt is the only |
| confidence from your putter's appearance, you won't | | | | way you can hit the shot if the fringe is fairly high. |
| putt well with it. Clubheads on putters come in so | | | | You have to experiment to find the method that |
| many diverse shapes and sizes that just selecting | | | | works best for you. Short and focused putting |
| one that seems right for you can be a chore in itself. | | | | practice is better than long, tiring sessions that |
| The weight is important, but only insofar as it feels | | | | become boring. You can work on just about every |
| right to you; almost everyone has a different weight | | | | type of putt in a 15-20 minute practice period. |
| preference for their putter. Don't hesitate to buy an | | | | Another key to good putting is to keep a journal of |
| inexpensive or used putter if you find one you think | | | | thoughts that work well for you when you're going |
| might fit your style. If you like everything but the | | | | well. And, conversely, record what is wrong when |
| grip, you can get that changed in a golf shop. And it's | | | | you're in a slump. It might be something that will |
| not expensive. If you have and old and trusted | | | | recur - both good and bad - and if you have a journal |
| putter that has served you well and you're slumping, | | | | to refer back to, you might head off potential |
| try placing a new and different-sized grip on it. All of | | | | problems at the pass. |