3 ways to become the MacGyver of putting

It’s no secret that a golfers’ 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 they’ve 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 escape…well, just about anything!

So what can you do to improve your putting, I hear you ask. Below I’ve 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 you’ll be coming in under par on the Constable course in no time!

Don’t neglect the left!

As a right-handed person, you’ll 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 can’t 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

You’re not driving or chipping – so don’t hit the ball! You need to think ‘roll’. The key to controlling the ball over distance is to roll it.

Let your weight favour your left side in an open stance – 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 ‘hit’ 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 ‘target line’ 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, we’ll see you on the greens!