Golf Putting
Golfing these days has descended to some point wherein all that matters is long drives. So for novice golfers, their imminent big issues are on this vein: is 460cc SasQuatch just too big and will a 450cc LoCo be enough? How about the newest Bertha? Will the ball have enough velocity?
All thanks to the collective bandwagon, drive seem to be the only “thing” of golf. But what about putting?
Golf putting can be decidedly harder than golf drives, because it involves reading the green well. Slight contours and slopes can break the ball; grass grains can affect its roll. But as you see, novice golfers seem to give more attention on achieving long drives. For them longer, more powerful drives means more pars to spare for the green situation. But it should be noted that golf putting in the green is also a very important aspect of golf, as much as those distance drives. It ensures that you stay under par by making sure the ball gets slinked into the hole on the required par.
Have you been in this situation that you hit a prime during a fairway drive only to lose the round by chipping a shot during the approach shot? Golf putting is remarkably different from golf drives, using different sets of skills. While golf drives is more about speed and power, golf putting is more about finesse and deft handling.
How to Read Golf Greens when Putting
What are the primers of golf putting? The very first step is to read the green. Except on “gimme” cases, golf putting can involve in hitting a target cup on a 9 yard distance. That makes for a plenty of green reading. While they say that good green reading comes with experience in which you have to see or experience to understand the way they work; the absence of experience you can always arm yourself with the basic information. And it always helps.
One primer is identifying the grain and the condition of the grass. Grass grows in a common direction. They are called as Grain. This affects largely the roll of the golf ball. Putting a ball across the grass grain should expect resistance, therefore a fewer feet distance and the ball will stop. Putting the ball with the grain however there is less resistance, and thus the ball will readily roll. And it could cause over shots. So consider the grain of the grass while putting. Use the grain to your advantage and use appropriate force.
Subtle contours of the green, those that aren’t readily apparent can affect Break, or the effected roll of the ball due to the contour. On strong rolls, breaks aren’t usually felt but on finesse putts, breaks can drastically pull shots. So one hard and dry grass, or if the contour is downhill or a grain with the slope, play for more break. The same goes with the type of grass on the green: Bermuda grass, kikuyu all should involve playing for more breaks. The opposite goes on playing the ball uphill, against the grain, wet grass, and thick grass, play for less break. The point is always: Less golf ball speed equals more break; more golf ball speed equals less break. Take note that when I say put more break, it means less ball speed but more feel or control.
Improving Your Putts
Usually this involves playing more time. But there are ways on practicing those trick shots without logging on the nearest course. Golf putting training aid is the way. There are some putting mats available that are complete even with holes. And you can even customize the holes, making them elevated or such. These allow easy putting practice with friends even on the living room. It’s even a great way to spice up peer gatherings.
One fascinating golf putting aid the 2 Way Putter Alignment System. It’s more of a club add-on that features dotted lines that should straighten out the club face to the hole direction. Frankly, this is almost a cheat.
Putting flawlessly is as important as consistent drives. Both net you less par.