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Golfswingbasic.com is dedicated to providing quality information on the subject of golf swing basics and in particular, on the proper way to drive, chip, and putt.

Putt Like A Pro

We all know that the pros can hit the shots. They can drive the ball a long way in a straight line. They can all hit great iron shots. Sand shots and chipping from around the green is easy for all these pros. Half wedge shots cause them no problem at all. The one thing that really separates the winners from the rest of us is being able to putt the ball.

If you watch professional golfers, you will see that they have developed a routine. They do things the same way each time. After a while, the routine becomes automatic. Professionals follow a routine for each drive, iron shot, chip and putt. To become a better putter, you must develop a good putting routine.　 Save putts with a good putting stroke. Tiger Woods even states that when he is going out to play the course, he is “re-playing it”.　 He has done the shot so many times exactly the same way that it is not new to him.

1. Mark Your Ball

Once your ball is on the green, always mark it. Pick up your ball and clean it thoroughly. If it isn’t your turn, get behind your marker, and get a read of the green. When it is your turn to putt it is time to begin your routine. Developing a routine will help you become a better putter.

2. Read the Line

The key to good putting is to see in your mind the line between the ball and the hole. However, most golfers make one common mistake. They analyze the potential trajectory starting from the hole backwards toward the ball. Mistake! You have to do exactly the opposite – you have to mentally visualize the best route of the ball from its current position toward the hole.Replace your ball with the printing at a 90 degree angle to the green (from top to bottom). This helps you see how the ball will track. Get behind your ball, a sufficient distance away, to determine the probable path that the ball will take to the hole. There are many methods to use that determine which way the ball will break toward the hole, plum bobbing etc. Use the one that you like the best.

3. Place Your Ball Properly

Replace your ball with the printing at a 90 degree angle to the green (from top to bottom). This helps you see how the ball will track. Get behind your ball, a sufficient distance away, to determine the probable path that the ball will take to the hole. There are many methods to use that determine which way the ball will break toward the hole, plum bobbing etc. Use the one that you like the best.

4. Change Your Grip

The hands play a very little part in the putting stroke, and should not override the up and down movement of the shoulders. The most popular grip is the Reverse Overlap which brings the hands together as one unit. The left index finger is on top of the fingers on the right hand and the right little finger is touching the grip.

5. Keep Your Head Still

Every good putter keeps their head perfectly still from start to finish of their putting stroke. The eyes, as well as the head, should be on the vertical of the ball before striking. Sometimes you may have the temptation to look if the ball strike is heading towards the hole – Don’t! This attitude can cause even the most minimal head movement that may cause putting failure or inconsistencies.

6. Use a Pendulum Swing

Once you’ve determined how the ball will break it is now time to begin your setup routine for your putt. Most of the pros use a strong grip that eliminates the use of the wrists. The really good putters use a pendulum swing that eliminates using their wrists. The wrists are locked and the arms swing in a straight line like a pendulum.

If you watch a pro-player, they set up their stance with their feet about shoulder width apart. Then they take two or three practice swings to get a feel for how far the putt will travel. Then they adjust their stance and make their putt. They use the same routine, whether it is a long puttor a short putt. You can improve your putting stroke by copying them.

Factors That Affect Your Golf Swing

Not every golfer has the same golf swing. A person’s strength, range of motion and flexibility all come into play when swinging the golf club. So what works for one golfer, may not work for another – each golfer has to find their own playing style that helps them achieve the results they want. The key is to know what is going to happen when you hit your ball- is it going to fade, hook, slice – and how you can use your body to effectively create a consistent powerful swing. One thing that can help you make immediate and positive improvements on your game is understanding the factors that affect the golf ball at the moment of impact by the golf club. When you understand what happens and why, you can make small adjustments to your swing to achieve the results you want. If you happen to make a change that made the shot worse than before, then just go back to your previous swing and reassess. The moment of impact, typically known as the moment the golf club sweet spot hits the ball, is a combination of four factors that will ultimately determine what direction and how far the ball will travel. The golf ball will react to these factors regardless of how well they are preformed.

Factor 1: The angle of the clubface at the moment of impact with the ball. This is the most important factor influencing the initial direction and the spin of the ball. You must face the clubface in the direction of the target you’ve chosen farther down the course. If the clubface is straight and perpendicular to the golf ball at the moment of impact, it will travel straight down the course with no spin.

Factor 2: The clubhead angle with relation to the golf ball. There is the vertical and horizontal angle of impact, which together determine the initial direction of the ball and the height of the golf balls flight path. The vertical angle of impact will determine how high the ball will fly. The horizontal angle of impact determines the initial direction that the ball will travel. Too low or too high and you lose distance in your shot.

Factor 3: Theclubface must hit the ball on the sweet spot. The sweet spot is the area on the face of the golf club that will transfer the power of your golf swingto the golf ball. Transferring this power effectively will maximize its potential and send the ball further and straighter down the course (assuming the angle of the clubface and the club head at the moment of impact are correct).

Factor 4: The speed of your golf swing will determine how much power you transfer to the golf ball and ultimately how far it will go when you hit it on the sweet spot. The speed or power of the golf swing is not dependent on just muscles. It is affected by your flexibility and range of motion. So if you are not the most muscular golfer on the course, don’t worry.

Obtaining a golf swing that will send the ball the furthest and straightest is not necessarily done by the golfer with the most power or the best stance. It is done by the golfer who understands what factors affect the distance and direction the golf ball will travel when struck by the golf club. Knowing these factors and using them to adjust your golf swing will allow you to gain distance and accuracy on your shots. 　