Putting

Despite my earlier blog regarding putting and stressing distance as the overriding factor versus direction; direction is a factor to be addressed.

Determining line or direction is not obvious. Always walk to the low side of the green and view the horizon, line, slope from that position. Learn how to read grain. Putts on Bermuda variant greens are WAY different than putting on Bent grass style greens. The grain of Bermuda is easy to figure: look at the cup edge and you'll see one edge that reveals roots and the opposite cup side showing a very slight line of blades growing over the edge. You'll easily determine the grass grain. Obviously, the grain will resist or aide the ball's distance. It of course affects the line and the ball's slide, or unwillingness to slide, with or against the grain.

When determining the amount of break on a putt, remember, the break occurs at the end. Do not be overly concerned with early break in a putt unless it's a huge slope that carries from ball to cup.

Using your dominant eye is important. There is a simple test to determine dominant eye and it takes 1 minute. Learn which it is and then use it for putting just as you do in firing a rifle. When using your putter shaft as a directional guide or alignment tool, viewing the side of the shaft along the hole edge, be sure to use ONLY the dominant eye: it makes a huge difference!!! This is a great way to gauge the degree of slope.

Your stroke, as always in a golf stroke of any type, must remain consistent. How do we achieve this consistency; we never break our left side if we're right handed golfers. If the left side cracks, we lose the constant spoke to the stroke, a hinging left side and the constant becomes a variable, so there goes repeatability! When the left side caves in, even slightly, we lose 4 things: line, club face angle, speed and contact due to changing putter height! Wow, 4 variables versus one constant. Easy decision there!

Good luck, these points when addressed and improved, will absolutely yield fewer putts.