Lowering Your Golf Scores Starts with the Putter

All golfers want to shoot lower than the scores they post. It is the challenge of the game at its rawest level to be better and the score is what we measure improvement by. There are many that don’t care enough to put in the time to practice and some that just can’t. But if you really desire to post lower scores than those currently shot, the quickest way to reduce those scores begins with the putter.

Working to achieve a consistent putting stroke requires many elements be performed correctly. Once these elements are, speed of the green becomes the only process that a quality putter needs to  determine. The basic elements are;

• Posture that is comfortable
• Balanced on the balls of your feet
• Ball placement slightly ahead of center
• Hanging of your arms from the shoulders
• Firm wrists that don’t break
• Maintaining of the “Y” by utilizing the shoulder blades
• Extending the “Directional Point” parallel to the intended putting line

Spending time at a putting practice facility requires focus on each element and incorporating them into a repeatable routine that is done subconsciously. Over time, repeating each correctly, the mind just automatically performs.

Your putting mind-training begins as you approach the green. Seeing the subtleties of the slopes, the length of the grass and whether it is moist or dry. Then setting up behind your golf ball to visualize the intended line the putt shall travel.

Whether you plumb-bob, crouch behind or even lay on the green to read the putt, visualizing a pathway to the hole can assist the mind in determining a “feeling” of how hard or soft to hit the golf ball. Using keys, such as the text imprinted on the ball, points the golf ball down the intended line and assists in your setup alignment.

Practicing a pre-putt routine speeds the putting process during actual play. Indecisiveness creates slow play and tentative putting strokes. Tentative putting strokes lead to multiple putts. Multiple putts lead to higher scores. Making 3 putts on every green totals 54 strokes, by itself. Reducing the putt totals to 2 putts each green is 18 strokes less.

That may be the difference in breaking 100. No 3-putts and a reduction in the amount of 2-putt greens breaks 90 or even 80. The putter is used on every hole more than 90% during any golf round. Having a quality putting stroke that is consistent and confident has a dramatic effect on your overall  golf score. Develop this, then we can work on that banana-hook.

Lowering your golf scores has to begin with the club that is utilized the most. Common sense dictates this yet most golfers go to the driving range to belt drive after drive. It would be my contention that for every one time to the range, the practice putting green should be visited twice, for the same amount of time. Quality putting strokes are marveled, just look at Tiger Woods.

The nearest to perfect putting posture and rhythmic stroke in the game and when he is on, nobody can compete with him. I’m not saying you will be the next Tiger, but by practicing all facets of your putting; the pre-putt routine and the setup, alignment, controlling your putting stroke with your shoulder blades, your putting stroke will become more consistent and your golf scores will lower.