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3 Ways to Become the MacGyver of Putting
Itâs no secret that a golfersâ short game is where rounds are noticeably won or lost.
Watching championship tours even from the comfort of my own sitting room I find myself holding my breath as experienced golfers line up a putt, hoping against hope that theyâve read their environment well enough to utilise all the skills in their arsenal to accomplish the satisfying sinking of their golf ball. The feeling is akin to watching Houdini escape an underwater safe or MacGyver escapeâŚwell, just about anything!
So what can you do to improve your putting, I hear you ask. Below Iâve identified three tips that, theory-wise, will help you see a marked improvement in your game. Not to do myself and my team out of a job, but if you follow my suggestions youâll be coming in under par on the Constable course in no time!
Donât neglect the left!
As a right-handed person, youâll often neglect your left. Your right is your dominant hand, and naturally you do many more things with this hand than you would with the left. But when it comes to golfing, you canât afford to leave your hands behind! Your non-dominant hand (in this case, the left) is needed as a guide. Practice putting left-hand only. Have someone hold a club in front of you for target line guidance.
Think roll, not hit
Youâre not driving or chipping â so donât hit the ball! You need to think ârollâ. The key to controlling the ball over distance is to roll it.
Let your weight favour your left side in an open stance â this will make it easier to feel the left hand following the target line. Then lean your putter shaft towards the target. As you make your stroke, keep the head of the putter low to the ground even as the ball is moving. If you aim to âhitâ the ball here, it will hop and jump its way over the green.
Beyond the ball
With most sports, the more you think about something, the more likely you are to overthink and hit a bad putt. Some players overcome the tendency to overthink by not looking at the ball at all, instead they look beyond it towards the hole. Practice this technique by placing a tee in front of the ball to help hold the âtarget lineâ in sight, rather than the ball itself.
In most cases, the tips above should yield a positive result, but my team and I are always keen to hear what works for you. Drop us a line in the comments box if you have another golf-hack that improves your short game. Otherwise, weâll see you on the greens!
