Golf Putting Blog

Copyright (c) 2009 Scott Cole

As golf remains hugely popular, even through a global recession, golf fitness has come to the fore as PGA Tour pros have evolved into more fit athletes due to the domination of Tiger Woods. Tiger decided early in his career that he would train for his profession as a world class athlete. As a result, we see far fewer golfers on tour like John Daly, and a lot more athletic looking golfers such as Tiger, Adam Scott and Camillo Villegas.

Golf instruction is now evolving into a profession that involves far more than just giving a quick fix to a golfer, although that is still what some may want. Some instructors are content with providing this type of service, but the top instructors realize that they actually have far more to offer their students than just a tip or two on how to fix their golf swings.

Due to the increased focus by professional golfers on their fitness, the idea of golf fitness has become more credible. Professional golfers now often employ the services of a fitness instructor along with their golf instructor.

However, some fitness instructors erroneously suggest to the average golfer that the secret to longer tee shots and a more consistent golf swing is fitness alone. Golfers who have been frustrated by their own lack of improvement from golf lessons are easy prey for fitness trainers who want to sell them on a few fitness tips to improve their golf games.

Then there are the “golf instructors” online who will sell the average golfer on the idea that there is an “easy” way to swing the golf club, if you only sign up for their newsletter, or purchase their DVDs. However, all you have to do is get an understanding of how hard Tiger Woods works on his game, and his fitness, to realize that improving your golf swing requires hard work! Tiger works on his golf game and fitness 10 to 12 hours per day when he is gearing up for the majors! There are no shortcuts in golf!

The top golf instructors realize that they are in a position to better serve their students by being able to identify ways for a student to improve their golf swing through both golf instruction AND golf fitness training. Just like the evolution of today’s PGA Tour stars, the new generation of golf instructors understand that they need to be able offer both services in order to remain competitive in the field.

A golf instructor who practices the “hands on” teaching method of Hank Haney, Tiger Woods’ current instructor, can more easily identify the physical issues of a student. A golf instructor who also has significant experience in a variety of physical training methods can then provide suggestions, or even an entire program, to a student on how to achieve their golf swing goals through fitness training.

This type of instructor is extremely valuable to the golf student. In one location, the student can learn all they need to know about the golf swing, and how to address their own physical limitations to accomplish their goals. Compare that to the golf instructors who simply try to make a suggestion as to how to make a quick fix to a golf swing without ever moving the student through the swing. Or, compare the well-rounded instructor to the fitness trainer who really has no experience in golf instruction. “Golf Fitness” experts can offer a variety of gimmicky exercises, but they really do not have an understanding of what really drives the golf swing.

Presently, there are not many instructors out there who can offer this well-rounded instruction and training. However, this is the future of golf instruction, so consider seeking out those instructors who are on the cutting edge. Your golf game is sure to benefit!

By: Scott Cole

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As spring approaches, many golfers will pull their clubs from the closet and hit the course. Often the winter layoff lasts for months.

Something funny happens to many of these golfers. They begin the year making a lot of putts. As the year progresses, they seem to get worse and worse with the putting. This effect is caused by the clean slate left after a long layoff from playing.

The problems with their putting strokes have been forgotten by their bodies after months of not repeating them. The result is a clear mind rather than a focus on any specific part of the putting stroke.

Still, most will quickly revert back to what they were doing wrong before the layoff. They will hit the first bad putt, or make the first bad stroke and that is all it takes to send the golfer searching for the correction. The search leads to confusion and inconsistency. In no time at all, the golfer is so stroke oriented they have no chance of putting well.

This year, why not do something different? Instead of getting caught up in the search for a perfect putting stroke, learn to play putting as the target game it really is. When you learn target putting, your stroke becomes automatic. There is no confusion or inconsistency because you will be focused on making the putt, rather than the stroke.

And your putting will continue to improve along with your target awareness and experience in making putts rather than putting strokes. Best of all, the putting improvement will carry over to the next year, and the next.

By: Darell Mckissick

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golf asked:

Golf lessons with Denis Pugh – Choosing your putter

Once you put your body in the proper position you will realize how easy it is to improve your putting stroke and lower your scores. When standing behind your ball lining up your put you don’t stand to the left or the right of the ball, you stand directly behind the ball to get a good read. Same holds true for setting up to make a put. You must have your eyes directly over the ball to get the right read on the line.

Try this drill to get your body in the proper position to make a natural stroke. Set up to your ball and imagine a string hanging from your nose to the ground. Where the string touches the ground is where the ball should be. Your arms should hang naturally, and your hands should be between that string and your body.

Now make sure your weight is resting on your legs, freeing up the tension in your upper body allowing you to make a comfortable stroke. Concentrate on keeping your eyes locked on the ball, your head perfectly still, and rock your shoulders back and forth to control your stroke. Once you put your body in the proper positions you should feel how much easier it is to make a natural stroke and only think about the speed of the put instead of 50 other swing thoughts that will distract you.

The putting stroke by far is the easiest way to lower your scores, so get your eyes over the ball, hands hanging naturally close to your body, your head still, and start sinking more puts.

By: Steven Bonk

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Golfers, all over the world, want to improve their putt.

This is partly generated by the false impression we have that good golfers smile at the sternest putting challenge and sink their ball whenever theres an audience. (Not true, of course, as pro golfers miss as many putts as they get. Like us lesser mortals.)

There is a second reason for this inner pressure to putt perfectly. We remember our near misses on the green but forget our mistakes out on the fairway.

Turn this into some positive practice routines because I am pleased to be able to tell you, you can improve your putt.

Get on a practice green that is flat. You’re doing this so the only thing you need to focus on is your putt. OK? Use this technique on a perfectly flat green.

Now, the crucial element — line up the head of your putter square with your line. Learn how to do that. Practice until you can.

Sounds simple, doesn’t it. But this is the thing that causes most putting errors. So don’t be put off by my basic suggestion. Practice keeping the putter square until you’ve got it down solid.

And then take this one level higher. Learn to be consistent. Make practice putts until you can get a hole every time.

You’ll notice something great at this point — your confidence will have lifted. After that, each time you step out on the golf course for a real game watch your score card!

By: Len McGrane

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