Mastering the Zen-like art of the putt is probably the part of golf to which the word "finesse" best applies. For some, it's the most challenging element of the game. You may have perfected a powerhouse swing, but the game can still come down to a single putt -- and as the clichC) goes, a miss is as good as a mile. Belma Johnson gets some advice from golf instructor Brad Redding on how to conquer the last few feet and inches leading to the cup. Redding has been named the number one golf instructor in Tennessee by Golf Digest magazine and is a six-time winner of the PGA Teacher of the Year award in Tennessee. The "perfect" putter. Finding the ideal putter is, for many golfers, akin to the quest for the Holy Grail. The highly subjective endeavor is by no means an exact science -- as many golfers who've traded numerous putters can attest. Find a putter that's well suited to your height. Beyond the fit, the putter that's right for you is one that has the right "feel." There are hundreds of styles to choose from (figure A), and you should try a number of them until you find one that feels good and balanced in your hands. Consider the weight, the face of the putter and the style of the hosel -- the angled section that offsets the face from the shaft of the club. Try practice-putting with a variety of styles, paying close attention to the feel of each when the face contacts the ball, and noting how the ball rolls when you repeat the same putting action several times. Grip and stance. Correct grip and stance help ensure that the golfer utilizes the upper body and shoulders when putting. Grasp the club firmly with your dominant hand (right, if you're right-handed), wrapping your fingers around the handle comfortably. Overlap your other hand with the index finger running parallel to the club along the outside (figure B). The pinkie finger of your dominant hand should be in contact with the club grip. This positioning helps firm up your grip so that you utilize your shoulders -- not your wrists and hands -- when putting. The proper stance is one in which you bend slightly forward from the hips with your back fairly straight. This places your spine at an angle that also encourages the use of your shoulders as the dominant force behind your putting stroke. Loft and lie. As the golfer addresses the ball, the two measurements critical to the angle of the putter are loft and lie. The lie is the forward/backward tilt of the putter relative to the golfer's body, while the lie is the left/right tilt. A gauge (figure C) will help you determine whether your grip and stance are giving you a good loft and lie, and may help you determine whether you need a putter in which the face provides more or less loft. There are putting aids that will assist you in pinpointing any mistakes in your swing and in developing a consistent stroke. When you practice using a putting track (figure D), the parallel tracks help you ensure that your stroke goes straight back and straight through, and that the face of your putter stays square with the ball (figure E). If your putter face tends to be too open or closed, it's impossible to hit the ball consistently each time. Practicing with this device for 15 minutes a day for two weeks will help you begin developing a consistent putting stroke. Unlike a drive or chipping swing, putting utilizes the movement of the golfer's shoulders rather than wrists and forearms. A useful exercise involves having a friend hold a wooden dowel (or the shaft of a putter) on a straight horizontal plane across your chest and even across both shoulders (figure F). Utilize the straight plane as you practice the action of putting. Ensure that your shoulders move in unison and your head stays still. Visualize a smooth, pendulum-like stroke. The ends of the dowel should rise and fall evenly like a seesaw. Family Sports Fun Fact: - Twenty-eight percent of golfers admit to having broken a club in anger. The 72 percent who say that they've never done so also claim that they never take mulligans.
RESOURCES :
Putting Track
Pelz Golf
Austin, TX 78734
Phone: 512-263-7668
Website: www.pelzgolf.com
GOLF magazine
Sports Illustrated
Website: www.golfmag.com
Golf Digest magazine
Golf Digest
Website: www.golfdigest.com
PING Golf
Golf clubs and information.
Ping Golf
Website: www.pinggolf.com
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