Easy Ways To Improve Your PuttingThere are very few things more frustrating than missing an easy putt. Here are a few tips to help improve your game.

Invest In The Right Putter

A great putter can make or break your short game. So you want to make sure you’re getting the putter that’s right for you. As with everything in golf, the right putter depends on your philosophy and there are two different competing putting philosophies. The first is that your swing should operate like a screen door, putting motion in an arch. The second is the swing should be a pendulum motion. You want to match your putter to your philosophy. If you have a screen door swing you want a heel-shaft putter and, if you have a pendulum swing you want a center shaft putter.

You’ll also want to consider the most prevalent types of greens you putt on. If you putt on slow greens, you’ll want a heavier putter while fast greens call for a lighter putter. You’ll also want to consider the putter face density. Some golfers prefer, a soft-face while others choose a hard one. Come on in to the pro shop to find out which types are most comfortable and recommended. And finally, you’ll need to pick between a blade or a mallet style putter. Blade-style putters tend to be weighted in the heel and toe while mallet putters are weighted further back from the face. The look and feel of these putters is very different and the one you choose is really just a matter of comfort.

Putting Form

Once you have your putter picked out there’s very little form involved. What really matters in putting is to focus more on face angle than path angle. Then just stay loose, keep your stroke clean, and limit your overall motion.

Practice Makes Putting Perfection

As with anything in golf, practice makes perfect. Here are three simple practices you can do to ensure that you are landing more putts:

  • Do rhythmic stroke drills: Swing your putter back and forth to a count of 1-2, 1-2, 1-2, until you feel a very smooth swing.
  • Try Phil Mickelson’s favorite putting exercise: Place tees all around the hole on the practice green like a clock and then you putt from each of those tees, that way you get all the breaks that are available. Keep putting until you make them all. Then move the tees further or closer.
  • Practice 18 inch shots: On the practice green, try to putt the ball 18 inches past the hole. Some studies have shown that balls rolling 18 inches past the hole are more likely to roll in than putts designed to die at the hole. Just try it and see if it works for you.

Recapping, invest in a great putter, focus on smooth form, and practice, practice, practice. For more ideas, schedule a lesson with one of our Westlake Golf pros.