
Putting
is all about the “feel” of the
disc flying to the target with the proper speed, height, line and
disc angle. All these components are important, and when done properly,
they become integrated into one “feel”. The quality
of the putts you practice is far more important than the number.
Only quality putts count. Those are the ones you want to practice
and reinforce. Forget the bad putts. Putting just to hit a certain
number of putts, or for a set period of time, is useless without
quality.
The following tips can help you establish the "feel"
of a quality putt.
- Set aside 10 to 15 minutes for putting warm-up before every
round of golf you play. This will enable you connect with the
"feel" of your putt and boost your confidence.
- Practice a variety of putts including straddle putts, left
to right, right to left, uphill, downhill and straight-away
shots.
- Consider getting five or more putters to use just for practice.
They should all be of the same model and weight. Repetition
helps to reinforce the "feel" of a quality putt, plus
you can practice many more putts with five discs than you can
using only one.
- Practice quality putts. These are the putts you want to practice
and reinforce. Forget the bad putts. Putting just to hit a certain
number of putts, or for a set period of time, can be harmful
without quality. You may be reinforcing bad habits. Just because
a putt goes in, doesn't make it a good one.
- Focus on a single chain link, not the entire target. Focusing
on a single link makes the target "appear" larger.
This way, if you miss hitting your link by a little, your putt
should still go in. It gives you a perception of a larger margin
of error and can increase your confidence.
- Create a pre-putt routine by saying the same words to yourself
before every putt or by completing a specific string of actions
each time you putt. When you make your pre-putt routine a habit,
it can help to lift the mental pressure you may feel when it
comes time to sink that "big putt".
- Wrap up your practice session before a round by sinking five
or six quality 10-25 foot "must get" putts instead
of trying to make a few 30 - 50 foot "wanna have"
putts. Making a string of shorter quality putts allows you to
finish practice on a confident high point.
One way to end a putting slump for short range putts:
A quick temporary fix is to change putters. You can even use
a driver. This tricks you into focusing on the disc, and what
it is doing, instead of yourself. A long-term fix would be to
continue focusing on what the putter is doing. What you
are trying to do is feel your putt, not imagine it.
Don't miss Dave's Driving Tips
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