Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Over the past couple of months, I have been playing a little more golf and have had the opportunity to take part in a few more of the Awali Golf Club competitions, writes Matt Chalmers.
I have enjoyed seeing some of the people I have worked with in the past play some great shots and also show them (now and again) that I can roll in a few birdies myself!
It is no secret that I believe putting is the most important aspect of golf. In my experience, most people have got a decent concept of reading greens and starting the ball on their desired target line. The biggest fault I see, however, is pace.
If you line up your ball correctly and use your shoulders to rock the putter back and through, you shouldn’t ever hit the ball too far off line. Producing the right speed is the key to getting your putts to drop.
Let’s discuss a very simple drill that can help to improve your speed and distance control.
Choose five balls, line them up next to each other and aim your putter away from any targets (don’t aim for anything specific).
Take your set up and make a smooth stroke where you try to move the ball approximately 15 feet.
Keep your eyes down! Do not look at the ball you have just hit, address the next one and try to make a stroke that moves the ball the exact same distance.
Repeat this until you have hit the final ball. Look up and see where the balls have gone.
When you look up, hopefully you will see a very tight grouping of balls that fill you with confidence! If this is not the case, try again and work hard to improve your feel. Another benefit of keeping your eyes down is that it will help you strike your putts out the middle of the putter, resulting in more consistency.
If you discipline yourself to keep your eyes down and practice using your shoulders to move the putter back and through, it won’t be long until you strike the ball more consistently. This consistency with breed confidence and belief that you can roll putts at the right speed and hopefully see a few more of them drop into the hole.
Good luck and happy golfing!
