How to Hit The Golf Ball on the Putting Green - Avoid the Pitfalls

By looking at the common pitfalls associated with putting you can begin to takes steps to not only improving your golf but making that score become a better reflection of your golfing abilities.

Putting in golf is not only one of the most important parts of the game but can also become the most frustrating. Missing putts not only causes your score to increase in a round of golf but can leave you as a golfer feeling annoyed and confused about your golfing performance.

How to Judge the Pace of a Golf Ball

Golfers need to feel the weight of the putt. What this equates too is exactly how much pace to hit the ball with to allow it to drop into the cup. A great tool to help you practice putting ranges is to use a putting mat. The SKLZ Accelerator Pro Ball Return Putting Mat comes personally recommended as it teaches you to apply the correct speed to the ball to ensure it sinks in every hole.

To Over-Shoot the Golf Hole is Better than Under-Shooting

You need to judge how hard or soft to hit the ball. Many players become too worried about hitting the ball way past the hole that they under-hit the golf ball resulting in a short putt. Similarly over-hitting the ball, while a common mistake, results in the ball rolling away from the hole at incredible speed. The way to hit the ball at the correct pace makes warm up putts necessary, so you can adjust the pace.

It is understood that it is generally better for you to over-hit the ball because if it is online it might drop, however with a short putt this chance does not exist. Your putting swing should become gentle like a pendulum. Avoid stabbing the ball or flicking your wrists, both of these errors will have a negative effect on ball movement by causing the ball to bounce rather than roll.

Read the Green and Keep Your Head Still

Often an incorrect reading of the golf green will lead to the ball traveling in the wrong direction. Read the green and see how any slopes will affect the balls movement. You need to hit into the slope to counter-act the ball rolling one way or another. This same method is applied when putting up or down a green slope. It’s important that you keep your body straight, your hands and arms will become like a pendulum with no independent movement.

Do not raise your head too early. Many golfers make this common mistake and it results in the putter becoming misaligned with the ball when it follows through the ball. Your head remains stable in the same start position, looking down at the original spot where the ball originally started from for 1 to 2 seconds after the putt has been made.

Clean Your Golf Balls

Always make sure your ball remains clean and free from mud. On the putting green you can mark and pick-up your ball to help this process. Also, always check for obstructions on your putting line. A twig, a small leaf, a worm cast, stones, or sand from a nearby bunker can cause obstructions to your golf-ball. Your putting line must become free and clear.

With these simple steps you will become a comfortable putter.  Avoiding the most common mistakes that golfers make when it comes to putting, and you will see your score tumble. Remember always aim to 2 putt on every hole and trust your inner thoughts about the ball movement and how green slopes will affect the balls direction.