How to Become a Better Putter

For most golfers, one of the best ways to significantly lower their scores is to improve putting. This important part of the game is often overlooked, where most golfers spend their time hitting irons and drivers at the range little time is spent on the putting green. Let’s break this down. If you are playing an 18 hole par 72 course and two putt every hole that equals 36 strokes, halfway to par! On average you will only use your driver 12 - 14 times a round.

When you have a smooth stroke, the rest of your game is sure to follow. Keep reading to learn some of the best tips and tricks for how to become a better putter.

“I pretty much use it all the time now, I have my Foresight GCQuad which is what most guys seem like they are using, because it is so much more portable than a lot of the other stuff out there”

“I take it just to see launch angles, spin numbers are huge, and carry numbers”

“I hit it out on the range and then I take it out on the golf course”

Learn to Read Greens

For longer puts, reading greens is crucial. While this isn’t a skill you’ll develop overnight, it’s an important piece of being able to identify a slope direction in your position on the green.

Some of the best tips for reading greens include:

• Your first instinct is best; stick with it.
• Read with your feet.
• Focus on more than just speed.
• Create an insurance read.
• Look from behind the hole.

Sensory awareness is crucial for improving your putting game. Perspective is everything on the course.

Work on Your Alignment

The most common error that golfers make is not aligning themselves to their target line. From the start, this greatly diminishes their chances of making a good putt from any distance.

So what is proper alignment? It starts by ensuring that your shoulders are square to the target line. The shoulders drive a good putting stroke, not the hands.

To get your shoulders square, ensure your feet, knees, and hips are also square. If any part of your body is out of alignment, your putt won’t be as successful. The stance may feel a little uncomfortable at first, but, with enough practice, your body will get used to it.

Keep Your Eyes Over the Ball

In most sports, you want to keep your eyes on the ball, but, in order to improve your putting stroke, you’ll want to have your eyes directly over your line of putt. This way, you’ll avoid distorting your viewpoint, which can impact your aim.

Unsure if your eyes are over the ball? To test it out, drop a second golf ball from your lead eye. If you’re set up properly, the ball you drop will land on the first ball that is set.

Practice Your Putting Stroke

Amateur golfers rarely have a putting stroke that’s reliable or repetitive. This means that even if their alignment is nearly perfect, they will still hit putts that don’t get to their target line.

The best way to develop the touch is to use feel drills and distance control. Try using three to six balls and hitting them at a different distance. Place a few balls on the same line at 25, 30, and 35 feet from the hole. Try to make each putt, and then repeat the process from different lengths and directions.

You’ll also want to practice uphill, downhill, and level putts.

Work with Foresight Sports

We hope that the above tips will help you to improve your putting game so that you can officially call yourself a good putter. Aside from spending time on the green, practice with purpose and know numbers with an innovative launch monitor from Foresight Sports. Our launch monitors can be used indoors and outdoors to improve every aspect of your game, including putting.

To learn more, or to discuss your specific needs, contact us today!