How Important is Putting
Posted by Charlie King on Sun, Nov 09, 2008 @ 06:25 AM
Dumb question, right? Putting is so important that it has been described as a "game within the game." Another way to put it: The object of the game is to put the ball in the hole in the least numberof strokes.
Finding the hole is accomplished over 96% of the time with the putter. In other words - you complete your ultimate objective with the putter in your hands. It doesn't get much more important than that.
To putt well, you must accomplish two simple tasks. First of all, roll the ball well. Secondly, roll it on line. This seems obvious, but there are some psychological and visual barriers to doing these two things.
Barriers to Good Putting
1) The size of the hole
-The small diameter of the hole (4.25 inches) gives the golfer the feeling of having to be perfect.
2) Standing sideways causes a visual distortion
-When reading the putt from directly behind the hole you can see the line as it is. When you stand sideways as you address the ball, you are seeing a distorted image that may be fooling you.
3) Poor practice habits
- Haphazard practice leads to less than stellar results. By practicing in a way that insures success, you develop good habits and your confidence grows.
4) Fear
-Fear, anxiety and nerves - a time-tested recipe for poor performances on the greens.
Click on this link for a putting video that will help your game. The putting video is about halfway down the page and explains my thoughts on rolling the ball well.