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.

Your Minds Eye and Golf Ball Putting to the Hole

Over the course of a round of golf this will be the shot that you play the most and yet very little attention is given to either improving this part of your game or practicing it off the golf course.

Ideally what every golfer is looking for is to reduce their handicap, which in essence means to improve their golf. Now as a test of whether or not you need to improve this part of your game it would be wise and profitable the next time you play golf to record not only your score for each hole, but how many putts it took you too.

The Pinemeadow Golf Men's PGX Putter uses a great optic guidance system to focus your minds eye when putting. This helps you line up the putt to give it the correct trajectory before you putt.

What you should be looking for on your scorecard is to 2 putt only. Anymore than 2 putts a hole and you have problem with your putting technique which needs to be resolved. To emphasize this point if you take 3 putts every whole, you will increase you handicap by a staggering 18 points! Nobody wants to see this.

Why you need to 2 Putt - how to reduce your golfing score

On the positive side, if you aim to 2 putt each hole there will always be a very good chance that you 1 putt. This in effect will be a very big bonus not only to your scorecard, but your self-confidence as a golfer.

Unfortunately there are no secret formulas or tricks that can help you accomplish the achievement of putting every putt you see. However you can improve your technique so that you increase your percentage.

The power of the minds eye in golf

Your minds-eye is a great tool in getting that putt to sink. Minds-eye often refers to seeing the line the ball must take to drop-in the hole, for example close your eyes and watch the ball travel and drop in the hole, this is your minds-eye working! You have to see how the line shapes and moves the ball according to how the green slopes.

Now you have seen the line, next you need to consider the varying factors that can impede the balls movement. Ask yourself the question if the green slopes up or down, look at the length of the grass on the putting green and consider the moisture prevalent on the course. If there are any obstacles, twigs, worm casts, leaves then immediately remove them.

To help you get in the putting-mood it will be beneficial to take 2 or 3 practice putts away from the ball. You may be questioning how far to hit the ball, well here is a technique to help settle your minds-eye.

The pre-golf routine to reduce and lower your handicap

Firstly take a practice swing and really aim to hit the imaginary ball very hard well beyond the hole, say a percentage of 50% (plus) extra than is necessary.  Next take another practice swing at an imaginary ball and aim to massively under-hit the ball so it falls very short for example -50% (minus) distance. Your next practice putt will now settle between these two in terms of tempo and feel. This is the putt you need to make.

Step up to the ball and take the putt.

There is no need to allow or make your mind wonder, you have all the elements in place in your minds-eye.

You have:

• The read
• The line
• The pace

All you need to get the 2 putt in the hole.

Have a look at the Scotty Cameron Golf Select Newport 2.5 Putter - RH 35" as a second resort if the above golfing  tips seem daunting.