How to Get the Best Putting Stroke Possible and Some Putting Tips to Boot
February 25, 2008
This may seem like a real amateur question, but I am having a heck of a time with my putter stroke. It’s not so much that I freeze up but I have this strange tendency to space out right before. I really try to make the best putting stroke possible but it always seems that the ball gets right to the edge and just sits there. What can I do to improve? - Frank in Boise, ID
That definitely is a bad situation to be in, now as far as you spacing out right before you putt… I would say that you should probably cut back on certain things that inhibit you concentration. You know what I’m talking about.
Grab a couple of small pieces of wood about 8 inches long by half an inch wide. If you have a couple wood rulers laying around, those would be perfect for this. Now take these with your putter and some balls and go out to your local putting green. What you want to do is line up the two pieces of wood in front of where you will take your stance and these should point in the direction in which you are going to putt.
However, leave them far enough apart that your putter head has about a half inch clearance on either side. These two pieces of wood will form an alley that your putter head and golf ball will travel down. Now take practice putts from 5 to 10 feet in length and focus your mind on taking the putter back straight and following through with shooting the golf ball as straight as possible through this alley. The purpose is to not make contact with the pieces of wood so you can develop your putting stroke.
I have found out through my own experience as well as with helping other virgin golfers that if you are very inconsistent, this technique can really help you get the putter moving in the correct motion. Keep in mind that this will also improve your direction control during your putter stroke.
Frank, by using this simple technique, you will keep your balls from stopping and hanging right at the edge of the hole and sink that putt time and time again. We all know how frustrating that can be when you get so close…
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Should I Wear Gloves for Golf?
February 23, 2008
Hi I need a little help, I just started playing golf recently and I’ve noticed that its really difficult for me to relax when I hold the club and after going to the driving range lately I’ve got some pretty bad blisters. I was wondering if should I go out and buy some gloves for golf? - Andrew in Stillwater, OK
4 words Andrew… Release The Death Grip. You are not Darth Vader and you are not out on a mission to conquer and destroy. This is a game and you’re supposed to enjoy it. Not suffer afterwards. As far as you needing some gloves for golf… Until you can settle down on your G.I. Joe, Kung-Fu grip practice that you have going on, I highly suggest it.
I think I remember an old pro say that you should hold the club like a baby bird, tight enough to keep it from escaping, but not so tight that you would kill the little thing.
After you have properly trained your hands on what they should do when you hold the club, the best thing I can say is let them do it. I mean it’s not that difficult come to think of it, you should be used to it by now with all the other practice that you’ve had before, right? In turn, when you have a good grip you are able to keep other bad things from happening and creeping into your game such as hook’s and slices, etc.
Also, an overly tight grip will do nothing but drag your game down and frustrate you when you’re supposed to be having a great time smacking a bucket of balls down range or plugging away at 18 separate holes. So do you, Andrew, need gloves for golf so you can grip golf clubs better without blisters. Yes… yes you do. Go out and buy some. Do it now.
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Can I get Hurt Playing Golf?
February 19, 2008
Golf Virgin, I’ve heard of people getting hurt while playing a game of golf such as tearing up their back during a golf swing or even getting struck by lightning, should I really be concerned about this? - Deb in Kirkland, WA
Now that is a heck of a question, let’s start by saying that if anyone gets struck by lightning while playing golf… Woe unto them, I would call it either a freak accident or the law of karma. As far as you tearing up your back. Unless you have no kinesthetic ability whatsoever to make one unified whole movement with your entire body then yes, you just might be sore after your first time.
Hey being a virgin hurts doesn’t it? But don’t let this take away from all the joy and pleasure that a great game of golf can bring. Basically, it’s all in that fabled golf swing. You have to learn to relax and not force it. If your hips truly aren’t open then yea you could even injure yourself getting out of bed in the morning.
Look, if you just relax and gently take practice strokes while gradually working your way into it, your golf swing will improve substantially and you will not have to worry much at all about hurting yourself. Now remember this, on that day when you see a storm quickly moving in and that lone straggler is out there trying to make that one last hole… take a deep breath, smile and watch the fireworks.
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