Ron Hanson's Golf Tips
Putting Basics
There are two components to putting: direction and distance.
Many of us have difficulty in lining up a putt to the target.
The target is the intended line the ball is to start on,
not the hole. Start with the putter head perpendicular to
the target line. A way to help to align the putter properly
is to place the ball so that the line of the name of the
ball extends to the target. Now there is a reference point
to square the putter. The putter face should be perpendicular
to the line on the ball. There are a myriad of ways to putt.
If you are struggling, try the following for a set-up to
help with direction. Make the set-up and stroke simple by
setting the feet, knees and shoulders parallel to the target
line. There should be a little bend at the hips. Knees should
be flexed very slightly but comfortably. Arms should drop
relaxed from fairly level shoulders. The grip should be light
with the palms of the hands facing each other and the backs
of the hands going towards the target and away from the target.
The ball should be placed in the center or forward part of
stance. Weight distribution is centered where the ball is
placed. If the ball is forward just inside the front foot,
then the weight should be centered well towards the front
foot. Eyes should be directly over the top of the ball to
be able to see the line to the target. Once the set-up is
completed, the only concerned should be distance.
The least complicated way to achieve the proper distance
is to have the fewest number of variables in the stroke.
The movement of the putter emanates from the shoulders while
maintaining the wishbone set-up relationship of the arms
with the putter. The wrists do not move. The motion is similar
to young kids doing the elephant walk with their arms as
the trunk, letting them go back and forth to and fro. A big
key is to keep arms relaxed. The distance the ball rolls
is determined by the length of the stroke, not by hitting
it harder. How ever far the putter goes back, it needs to
go past the ball the same distance. If force is added or
decreased in the stroke, it is a variable. Rely on the weight
of the putter to create the distance. The weight of the putter
is constant. Distance is a feel. Take practice strokes to
feel distance. If the distance on the practice stroke does
not feel correct, take another practice stroke.
To become a better putter, first look at the set-up then
work on distance. Spend some time on the putting green and
watch your handicap drop.
Getting your eyes over the top of the ball.
If you playing pool, you would want to look directly down
the cue stick to the back of the ball. This allows you to
see the line. We want to see the same type of line as we
putt. In order to do so, our eyes need to be on the line
of the putt. Here are some ways to check your eye position:
1. Take a range ball and place the ball so the stripes run
around the equator of the ball. If your eyes are properly
placed in the set-up, you should see the same amount of stripe
on the near side of the ball as you do on the far side.
2. Set up to the ball in your putting position. Take a second
ball and drop it from the bridge of you nose. If the second
ball lands on the ball, you are good to go. If not, make
adjustments.
3. Enlist someone to look from the target line extended to
see if you are over the top of the ball.
E-mail
Ron about lessons!
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