Let’s face it, we would all take a few shots off our scorecard happily…. How many times have you been in the clubhouse enjoying a post round refreshment and announcing to your buddies… “ if only I hadn’t doubled on the par 5” or lamenting that one in the water on the 14th. If you’re a regular on this site, you’re almost certainly someone who wants to improve their game, and this post is designed to help you do just that!
Do you find yourself frustrated with your scores, even after hours of practice and rounds of golf? Well, what if I told you that you could lower your score by 5% with just one simple change this weekend? That could be turning an 80 into a 76! I don’t know about your weekend group but that would be the difference between taking the money and buying the beers in my four ball!
The change I’m talking about is to improve your putting. Putting is often overlooked when it comes to improving your golf game, but it’s actually one of the most important aspects of the game. After all, putting is where you score the most shots. And the best bit is, to save 4 strokes, there are really easy changes you can make!
So, what can you do to improve your putting? Here’s one simple change you can make this weekend:
Focus on speed control.
One of the most common mistakes that golfers make when putting is focusing too much on the line and not enough on the speed. The speed of your putt is just as important as the line, if not more so. If you can get the speed right, you’ll give yourself a better chance of making the putt, even if your line is a little off.
So, the next time you’re on the putting green, focus on your speed control. Take a few practice strokes and try to get a feel for the speed of the green. Then, when you’re ready to putt, focus on hitting the ball with the right speed.
The best part about this change is that you can do it anywhere – on the practice green, on the course, or even in your living room. All you need is a putter and a ball.
My personal favorite drill for this is to mark a hole on whatever surface I have, carpet, practice mat or real green if you’re at the course and play a points game – 3 points if you hole it, 2 if you’re 1 foot past the hole. 1 point if you’re past it but within 2 feet. 0 points however if you’re short of the hole, even if its just half a ball difference!
I make mini bets with myself – last time you scored 20 points in 9 holes, let’s say. Well you can’t go for that beer with a buddy until you beat that score, or even better get a buddy to play with you on the practice ground – loser buys the burgers!
By improving your speed control, you’ll be able to make more putts and lower your score by 5% or more. And who doesn’t want to be the one talking about the shots saved in the club house, rather than the shots lost!
So, this weekend, give this simple change a try. Focus on your speed control when you’re putting, and see how it improves your game. Who knows, you might just surprise yourself with how much your score improves.