Golf Tips

How important are short putts? Think about the number of putts you have from 6 feet and in during a round of golf. Now think about how many of those you miss and how it inevitably leads to lots of frustration post-round as you analyze your score. For some of us, short putts are not gimme's, so to speak, so here are some tips to sharpen up your short putts.

Steady as a rock

1--from the waist down, move nothing
2--at set-up, get balanced with your eyes directly above the ball and your hands even with, or slightly ahead of the ball
3--focus only on the back of the ball and not the putter head as you make your stroke
4--rock your shoulders and arms in a "triangle" to ensure the simplest, most repeatable stroke
5--most importantly, keep your head down and steady. An old friend of mine used to say: "if you peek, it's gonna leak." Obviously, he was referring to our tendency to look up quickly after the stroke to follow the ball, and very often as a result the ball ends up short and pushed because the putter-face was open at impact

So remember, to allow the putter to swing back and release through the ball properly:

*rock your shoulders
*no lower body movement
*keep head still--no peeking!
*listen for the ball to go in

Finally, and most importantly, you have to believe you are a great putter. Practice the tips I have given and begin to make your putts on the practice green. Expect to drain putts, and over those short putts (when they matter), tell yourself "I putt solid." That is a "present tense" and positive affirmation of your ability.