Putter Line - On the Green Putting your Golf Ball to the Hole

Using a putter line to Sink your putt

Creating a set of putting routines exists as an essential element to your game of golf. It helps focus your mind, creating the confidence to ensure your game flows smoothly with you scoring consistently. Having a series of simplistic procedures can help strengthen this integral part of your round of golf.

Putting warm up before your golf round

Before your round commences, take time to warm-up on the putting practice area. There’s a great chance that this will help relax your putting swing. In addition, it gives you a feel for the green conditions, in contemplation of that day’s weather. Wet or dry conditions affect ball speeds upon the putting green.

One of the commonly overlooked aspects of putting remains the focus on reading the green. Make sure as you approach the putting-area that you’re taking note of the slopes on the green. Getting a good read’s essential to holing your putt.

Clean your putter before and after you take a putt!

Handling your putter remains another great routine to adopt, even as you approach the green have your putter ready. This creates a psychological connection with the most frequently used club in your golf-bag. You will unconsciously begin to think how to swing your putter. Give the putter’s face a wipe too. This serves two functions. The first’s to literally remove any physical dust or mud from the surface.  The second function helps wipe any mentally negative thoughts from your mind. Confidence remains integral to good putting, so remaining positive is the key here.

Always ensure your ball is marked correctly on the green with your ball marker. Pick up your ball to clean it thoroughly. This will help remove any detritus from your ball allowing it to travel freely upon the green. Take note of the grass length with observation to any moisture on the green. These factors will impede your ball’s speed. Remove any impediments from the line your ball will take to the hole. Twigs, stones, and worm casts will need removal before you take your putt. These obstacles will cause your ball to bounce off its intended line if left in place.

How to read a golf green - the slopes and slides

Visualize the line your ball will take to reach the hole. You have already seen the slopes from your approach now you need to take two further readings of the green. From the ball to the hole, kneel down looking at how the slopes will move the ball. If you need to putt uphill, you will require more force on your putting swing. In reverse, if your ball travels down a slope then adjust the force appropriately. The second reading to take runs from behind the hole looking towards the ball. Look for confirmation of the slopes you read previously.

Preparation - and Keeping Your Head Down when Putting

Make sure you take three preparation swings with an imaginary ball. It’s always wise to make sure your practise swings remain clear from your ball to avoid a penalty if you accidentally make contact. Confirm the line the ball needs to travel with your rehearsal swings judging the speed required to make your ball sink. Keep your head down while breathing deep to help relax. Many golfers lift their head too early, causing the swing of the putter to come out of alignment.

 

Simple putting routines will make your round highly enjoyable while reducing your golf handicap. Just remember to read the greens, clean your ball removing any permitted obstacles on the route to the hole. Ensure you have the correct line combined with the required pace to allow your ball to reach the hole. Stay relaxed by breathing deeply watching with great relish, as your ball sinks into the hole, time-after-time.

The importance of arm swing in keeping your body in a good golf backswing

Every golfer needs to understand the basic principles of their golf swing. Maintaining a correct posture ensures your golf swing stays consistent, while you maintain power through the transition of weight from back swing to forward swing. 

 

Ruling out inconsistency remains the key to reducing your score, thus lowering your handicap. An insight into the separate elements of a good posture can help highlight potential faults in your swing. Remember a powerful posture leads to a powerful golfer.

Discover the five basic elements help understand the correct outline for a great golf posture.

Weight distribution in the golf swing

Firstly, it’s essential that your weight’s distributed evenly on the balls of your feet.  The balls of your feet, relates to the area directly behind your toes. You should not feel pressure pushing you forwards or backwards. The weight remains in the balls of your feet keeping a centralized equilibrium.

Straight spine with bending at the hips when you start your golf swing

A good posture relies on keeping your back straight. This may feel unnatural but it helps as you take a back swing, by allowing your body to naturally pivot on its hips. To accomplish a straight spine you’ll need to bend forward at the hips, slightly exaggerating pushing your bottom outwards.

Why you need to have flexed knees when you begin your back swing

Keeping your knees flexed gently, acts as suspension for your body as you build up into your golf swing. If the knees remain locked, the back swing becomes forced, not allowing for a true, resistance-free golf swing.

Remember to keep the chin raised with head above the ball

By resisting the temptation to rest your chin on your chest you’ll create a back swing free from inhibition. Your body has natural pivot points that a good golfing posture will keep as free as possible. Your head position stays above the ball, with many golfers preferring to look slightly behind the ball.

In building your swing allow your arms to hang free

Your arms will naturally hang free from your shoulders. No effort’s required to keep your arms forward or backward from your feet. Your arms simply will hang loose without any tension. This gives your body the ideal way of moving from back swing to forward swing in one natural movement. Most importantly it allows your arms to return to their original position upon return of the back swing.

A good posture will feel normal, taking advantage of your body’s natural pivot points. Powerful posture follows from the principles of what your body can physically accomplish. Your body exists as a perfect biological machine. There’s no need to create unnecessary tension, or to force your body to move in a way it’s not designed too. 

Keep you weight evenly spread on the balls of you feet. Straighten your spine keeping your knees flexed. Keep your head above the ball and slightly behind. Allowing your arms to hang free will add to the natural pendulum effect required for a great golf swing. 

Remaining consistent with a great golf swing all leads from having a firm, well-established golf posture. Take time to ensure all the elements of your posture are correct. You’ll find you become a stronger, more proficient golfer.

How to Read a Golf Green and Putt your Golf Ball

Reading a green is referring to a technique in golf of understanding how the slopes and conditions of a green will affect the direction your golf-ball will take when it comes time to take your putt. 

There are many conditions that can change the roll of your golf ball. To begin with you should examine the green on your approach before you even get close to your ball. 


Try to ascertain the way the green leans, or whether it sits flat like a table, or slopes in one general direction.

Look at the green side fringes and surroundings - the weather effect

Consideration needs to be given to the surrounds as well. Has there been recent rain and do the edges look saturated. Most greens are very effective at draining water, however playing a round early in the morning there will often be residual dew left on the putting surface. The same can be said if there has been a recent shower during your round of golf which will result in the green slowing down.

Feel the grass and look at the cut

One of the best ways to check for this is literally to stroke the green with your fingers and check for moisture. This has an added bonus as well. Brushing the green with your hand allows you to feel the length of the grass on the green. 


Both the moisture and length of grass will affect how well the ball rolls and so you will need to putt with more force than normal. The reverse can also be applied if the green is dry and the grass is short or has recently been cut, in this instance use less force, the greens in this condition are fast.

Having ascertained the general slope of the green on your approach and  the condition of the putting surface, you will now need to fine-tune your reading.

How to read a green for the best chance of putting your ball into the hole

Firstly kneel down behind the ball but far enough so you can clearly see the ball and look for any slopes or angles that lean away from the hole. Make sure that you can observe for slopes that lean to the left and to the right of your ball. You will need to factor this into what direction you will hit the ball when it comes to putt.

Now is a good time to walk to the back of the hole and look back towards your golf-ball. Ensure that the hole is also clearly visible and you are low to the ground. Judge whether the slopes from this side look and feel the same as from the ball-side.

The Etiquette of putting - look out for players lines and ball markers

Every golf player should have a  professional Ball Maker with a Divot Repair Tool.  
When you return to your golf ball walk wide around the whole watching out for other players ball markers. As you are walking check your natural sense of balance and feel in your feet any slopes that confirm the directions you saw whilst looking at the hole at ground-level.

Now you have all the elements of the green in your mind, and it is time to focus and decide the direction and pace you need to hit the ball into the cup, it is time to trust your senses and believe in your vision to sink the ball you have read the green successfully after-all.

Tips for Putting the Golf Ball from off the Green

When playing golf there will be many instances when you need to get on the putting green from a short distance. Most golfers automatically reach for a wedge club. 

 

However the less risky shot is to putt onto the green. It is the easiest shot to play as the club is flat faced so the ball will travel relatively straight. All that’s required are a few thoughts and considerations to the surrounds of the green.

Before putting from off the Green

Before you have reached for your putter you need to consider the distance and roll of the green approaches. Draw an imaginary direct line from your ball to the hole and consider how the slopes affect the ball. Check the length of the grass and its thickness. Obstructions that your ball will need to travel through will affect the pace of the golf ball. Are there any wet areas or boggy patches? All of these elements will affect the balls direction and how fast it will travel.

A heavy putter or winter putter will give you enough weight to confidently strike the ball from the green fringe areas.

Ball Position and the Lay of the Ball

A handy tip to know is how the ball is laying. If the golf ball is sitting up nice and crisp then all is good. If it is sunken in the fringe grass, then how you hit the ball will create bounce. The grass on the fringe will catch your putter if you putt to low to the ground. Instead you will need to chop down slightly making the ball pop out.

Blind hills and slopes that will reduce the speed of your golf ball

Before putting onto the green over a blind hill or slope check to see what lies behind it. The last thing you want is to putt over a hill into a bunker. Check how patchy the grass is and whether the slope will slow or speed your golf ball up.

The Golf Green the Fringe and GIR

It is essential that you read the green. Notice the slopes and the in what direction the green runs will need to be taken into consideration. If for example a slope forces your ball to the right before you get to the green, whilst the green runs to the left, then you will need to hit the ball straight taking note as the ball moves one way then the other to finish on the target! Remember though that a ball on the fringe is not counted as GIR - see the Greens in Regulation (GIRS) page on my blog for an explanation.

Putting onto the golf green is an essential skill to understand when playing golf. Not only is it a low-risk shot but if hit with the correct pace and path it will end up very close to the pin. This type of shot is considered by some as requiring no skill, but when played with the above tips you will amaze your golfing partners and yourself too.

Tips for How to Keep Warm on the Golf course

Keeping warm when playing golf is not only essential as it helps keep your body supple, but it’s more comfortable when your are playing your round. 

Fortunately for the golfer there are several methods and tips to bear in mind that ensure when you are on the golf course you are warm. Playing golf in cold weather should not be a painful experience as long as you are as warm as possible.

Wearing Thermal Layers when on the Golf Course

The most obvious solution is to wear thin thermal layers. Not only are the merino wool thermals light and flexible, but most importantly they will also not create an impediment to you golf swing. By trapping layers of warm air between your body and outer clothing you are beginning to heat yourself up and providing protection from the external cold temperature.

Keep your Head Warm - Buy a Proper Golf Hat

Always wear a hat with the bobble-hat being the warmest option. The quality and knit of the wool will help protect your most vital golfing asset, your brain.

Keeping your Hands Warm

Gloves are an important option however there is one variant on the market that is in actual fact a mitten. This has the advantage that you can easily fit your gloved hand into the mitten and so it saves you having to remove your golfing glove on the golf course. In addition to his feature the other mitten can be attached to your golfing trolley and stays in place by a simple connector. This allows you to warm your hands when pulling your trolley. The mitten then stays in place when you remove your hand to take a golf shot.

Chemical Hand warmers such as HotHands work very well

Roll Neck Golfing Tops

Roll neck tops and sweaters are ideal as they cover your neck area and still allow full rotation when you hit the golf ball. Check with your golf club that is permissible during winter, although they should have no objections.

Many modern winter golf coats have a fleece lining which adds another warm and supple layer for the golfer.

Ensure you have a thermos in your Golf Bag

Carrying a flask is an ideal way to provide a warming hot beverage during your round of golf. You can fill it with coffee, tea, even a hot cordial such as blackcurrant. You will be very popular if you bring additional mugs or cups for your playing partners too! If your golf bag has additional space, then it is even possible to bring a flask of soup with you. Soup is ideal as not only is it warming, it is also easy to digest and can help prevent fatigue against the cold.

Reusable Chemical Hard Warmers for the Modern Golfer

Many golf shops also supply disposable one-off hand warmers which work by chemical reaction and can provide heat as required. Many other shops sell this product so it is always advisable to look for the best deal.

Why a Hip Flask is not a Good Idea

A hip flask, although it sounds tempting, is not a great idea as alcohol actually dilates your skins blood vessels which actually make you colder.

By following these common-sense tips for staying warm on the golf course, you will enjoy your golf much more than before. It really is important to keep warm so you can enjoy the round and concentrate on the golf.