Putt Better in 2013!

Have you ever had one of those days on the course when every shot feels great and you just can't miss but once you get to the green you feel like you have hands of stone?  This happens quite often with golfers mainly due to lack of practice or proper practice on the practice green.  Yesterday we focused on the chip shot and the proper technique you should follow in order to hit shots more consistently close to the hole.  Today we will talk about some great short putt drills that you can incorporate into your practice sessions and start to become a better and more consistent putter when you play.

I have a few very quick videos of Mike Schuchart, PGA our Director of Instruction at the Nebraska Golf Academy right here at Wilderness Ridge. 

Our first drill is a ladder drill where your start close and work your way back.  This is a great way to practice as it incorporates chipping and putting together so that you are more confident whether you have a one footer or a ten footer. 

The second drill is a string drill for proper alignment, body position including posture and where your eyes should be in relation to the ball.  We make these drills from Gatorade bottles filled with sand and attach a string.  For outdoor use we use a long string and tie it to two pencils so we can push it into the green.  Stretch it over the hole and and place the ball is placed directly under the string so when you address the shot you will stand close enough that your eyes are over the ball and the string will slice the ball in half.  Your putter should always stay low back and through and never touch the string. 

Finally, if you want to work on your short stroke you can work with a drill called the putting arc which is shown below.  The heel of the putter stays on the flat edge of the board the entire stroke allowing you to have the correct path.  The key is to work on equal back and equal through sizing in your swing.  Actually, for juniors a three foot 2x4 works just as well and will save you about $100

For more information about our lesson programs or to schedule a lesson please visit our website at www.wildernessridgegolf.com or give us a call at 402-434-5106, we would love to show you all the drills that will help make you a better player.

There will be no blog tomorrow but Monday we will have an article from Maureen Farrell, PGA regarding some great winter stretching programs that will get you ready for golf this spring.

Hope this tip helps!

Chris Thomson, PGA