Trevor Ng
Golf putting is a test of precision and patience. It involves using a putter to hit a ball into a hole on the green, the flattest and smoothest part of the golf course. To teach golf putting, it's important to start with the basics: ensuring your students have the correct posture, grip, and alignment. For beginners, it's best to start with a conventional grip, which involves placing the left hand on the grip with the thumb running straight down the shaft, and then placing the right hand below, with the palm facing the target. It's also important to teach students how to read the slope of the green, which can be done through the Plumb Bob Method, the Visual Inspection Method, or the AimPoint Method. Once students have mastered these basics, they can start practising their putting stroke, keeping in mind the importance of maintaining a steady posture, aligning their shot, and gripping the putter comfortably.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Technique | Golf putting involves propelling the golf ball into the hole using a putter. |
| Location | Putting is typically done on the putting green, the flattest and smoothest part of the golf course. |
| Skills required | Putting requires a unique combination of technical skill, spatial awareness, and mental focus. |
| Key factors | Speed, aim, and stroke. |
| Speed | The speed at which you hit the ball is critical because it affects how far the ball will travel and how much it will be affected by the green’s slope and condition. |
| Aim | Various methods can be used to aim, including the Plumb Bob Method, Visual Inspection, Book Method, and AimPoint Method. |
| Stroke | The execution of your stroke is crucial and involves a precise balance of form, rhythm, and contact. |
| Posture | Maintain a steady posture with a balanced and comfortable stance. Your feet should be shoulder-width apart, parallel to your target line. Lean forward from your hips so that your eyes are directly over or just inside the ball. |
| Alignment | Proper alignment involves not just your body and the putter face aiming at the target but also aligning your mind’s eye to the path you want the ball to take, all the way to the hole. |
| Grip | Your grip should be comfortable yet firm. Beginners should start with a conventional grip, which involves placing the left hand on the grip with the thumb running straight down the shaft and the right hand below with the palm facing the target. |
| Teaching children | When teaching children, it is important to provide positive reinforcement and avoid yelling. Give them a putter that fits their size and let them explore different ways of holding the club. |
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What You'll Learn
The importance of posture
Posture is incredibly important in golf, and this is no different when it comes to putting. The right posture will help you feel comfortable and confident, and will also ensure you are able to make a free-swinging stroke.
The first thing to do is to stand upright, then bend from the waist and 'sit' a little, flexing your knees. This will allow your arms to hang down in a relaxed way, and your hands can rest softly on your thighs. Your knees should be at a comfortable angle, and your forearms should be comfortably extended when holding the putter. You don't want your arms to be cramped and hunched up, as this will restrict your movement and impact your stroke.
Your posture should be relaxed, with your shoulders and head down and still. Your weight should be balanced, and your feet should be placed at shoulder width, parallel to your target line. You should then lean forward from your hips so that your eyes are directly over the ball, or just inside it. This will allow you to swing the putter back and through along the target line.
You can practice your posture by performing a quick drill: stand upright and let your arms hang down by your sides, then clap your hands together. You should grip the club where your hands meet. This ensures your club is aligned with your body, and when you hinge at the hip, your angles are correct.
Good posture will help you to stay in position, and your spine angle and knee flex will match at the address and impact. This will give you confidence when playing.
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How to grip the club
When teaching someone how to grip a golf club, it is important to let them hold the club in a way that feels comfortable for them. For right-handed golfers, this may mean putting their right hand down, and vice versa for left-handers.
For those looking to improve their grip, it is recommended to start with a "conventional" grip. For right-handed golfers, place your left hand on the grip with your thumb running straight down the shaft. Then, place your right hand below it, with your right palm facing the target and your right thumb running down the shaft. The pressure should be light, at about a 4 out of 10. Imagine you are holding a small bird: firm enough that it doesn't fly away, but gentle enough not to hurt it.
As you progress, you may want to experiment with different grips, such as cross-handed (left hand low) or claw grips. However, it is important to master the basics first and maintain consistency. Whatever grip you choose, use it every single time. Even perfect stroke mechanics won't help if you're aiming at the wrong spot. Alignment in putting is crucial and involves both your putter and your body. Always read the green from behind the ball.
To set up a putt, place the club behind the ball, then lean forward to align your eyes directly over or just inside the ball. This will allow you to see directly down the line of the putt and ensure your arms are hanging down and able to move freely. When pulling your arms back and pushing them toward the hole, you are essentially swinging the wrong end of the club and relying on an inconsistent power source. Instead, work on keeping your hands relatively centred in front of your body and use your wrists and elbows to swing the putter back. Let the putter use gravity to fall into the back of the ball.
The best putters make a stroke where the putterhead creates the triangle's base and the grip end is the point. The goal is to keep this triangle shape intact during the stroke.
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Reading the green
Visual Inspection
Start by standing behind the ball and looking at the hole, then look at the ball from the hole’s side. This provides a good overall visual of the green’s undulations and slopes. Take your time to study the green from different angles and get a sense of the slope by "feeling" it through your feet. Crouch down or squat behind the ball to get a worm's-eye view and finalize your read.
Grass Grain
Observe the grass grain, which refers to the direction in which the grass on the green grows. Look for clues such as lighter or darker patches, which can indicate the direction of the grain. Putts into the grain tend to be slower, while putts with the grain will be faster. This will impact the speed and trajectory of your ball.
Surroundings
Consider your surroundings, including the position of the sun and the presence of shadows. Shadows can exaggerate slopes and make breaks appear more significant than they are. Take in the larger surroundings and size up the putt from the low side of the hole, as recommended by Dave Stockton, a legendary putter.
Plumb Bob Method
Use your putter as a plumb line to judge the slope. Stand behind your ball at a right angle to the hole and hold up your putter so it covers the ball. Align the shaft of your putter with the ball, and if the shaft tilts to one side, it indicates that the green slopes in that direction.
AimPoint Method
Developed by Mark Sweeney, this technique uses your feet to feel the slope of the green and a hand-based system to express the steepness. Stand over your putt and estimate the angle of the slope as a percentage. Then, stand behind the ball, facing the hole, and extend your arm out in front of you, raising a number of fingers vertically corresponding to the slope percentage. The point at which your fingers intersect with the hole gives you an 'AimPoint', which is where you should aim your putt.
Remember, reading the green takes practice and patience. By refining your skills, you'll gain a competitive edge and enhance your overall golf experience.
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Alignment techniques
Alignment is key to putting, and it can be tricky to get right. Consistency is important, as this helps develop muscle memory, making it easier to get into the proper alignment. Here are some alignment techniques to improve your putting:
Eye Position
Your eyes have a significant role to play in alignment. Your head position can affect the accuracy of your putt. If your head is too far forward, the putt will look correct on the left side, and if your eyes are too far back, the putt will seem ideally positioned on the left. It is generally agreed that your eyes should be positioned directly above or slightly inside the ball.
Dominant Eye
Some golfers suggest making sure your dominant eye is on top of the golf ball. This means that when you look at your target, there is no visual distortion.
Stance
Your stance is important for alignment. You should position your feet about 2.25 to 2.75 inches away from the inside edge of the ball. You can have your feet flared, parallel, or turned in—whatever feels comfortable for you. Then, choose your grip and hold the club out in front so the shaft is an extension of your arms. Move your elbows together, tilt forward at the waist, and continue bending until your putter hits the ground.
Alignment Check
It is a good idea to build an alignment check into your pre-shot routine. Start by aiming the putter face at your initial target (not necessarily the hole, as there could be a break). Then, build your stance around the putter, with your feet aiming parallel left of the hole (for right-handed golfers).
Visual Aids
Visual aids can help you master putter alignment. You can draw a line on your ball and aim it from behind. Most PGA Tour players use a line on their ball, and you can use a Sharpie or transfers to do this. The more lines perpendicular to the bottom of the putter face, the easier it will be to line up.
Practice Drills
There are some simple drills you can do to improve your alignment. One is to place a hotel key card on a green to indicate the correct putting line. Rest your ball on top of the key so its alignment mark matches the path. Then, square the putter's face to the line of the putt and make your stroke. Another drill is to putt a couple of balls without a spot and get a feel for the line and pace, then place a flat ball marker down to mark the spot the ball needs to roll over to get on the right line.
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The stroke
Posture and Alignment
Start by setting up a balanced and comfortable stance, with your feet shoulder-width apart and parallel to the target line. Lean forward from your hips, ensuring your eyes are directly over or slightly inside the ball. This posture allows for a full swing along the target line. When aligning your shot, it's important to visualise the path you want the ball to take and point the putter face directly along this imagined line.
Grip
Grip the putter comfortably, firmly, yet gently, with a pressure of about 4 out of 10. For right-handed golfers, place your left hand on the grip with the thumb running straight down the shaft, then position your right hand below with the palm facing the target and thumb also running down the shaft.
The Triangle
A secret to a great putting stroke is forming and maintaining a triangle shape. Create this triangle by positioning your hands relatively centred in front of your body, with the putterhead at the base and the grip end as the point. As you swing, keep this triangle intact, using your wrists and elbows to guide the putter back and letting gravity bring it down into the ball.
Contact
Make contact with the centre of the ball, ensuring the putter strikes squarely after impact. Avoid manipulating the stroke with your hands or pushing the putter towards the ball, as this will affect the accuracy of your shot.
Practice Drills
To improve consistency, try a drill where you lean your putter against your hip and place your hands together, palms facing as if holding a club. Rock your shoulders in a pendulum motion to get a feel for keeping your wrists stable. Another drill to improve head stability is to set up with a golf ball a couple of inches from a wall, taking your stance so the top of your head slightly touches the wall. Stroke the putt and you'll instantly know if your head moved.
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Frequently asked questions
Your posture should be athletic but comfortable. Stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart, knees slightly flexed. Bend from your hips, not your waist. Your arms should hang naturally, creating a straight line from your shoulders down to the putter head. Your eyes should be positioned directly over the ball or slightly inside the line.
The goal is stability and feel. The conventional grip for right-handed golfers has the weaker left hand above the dominant right hand. Beginners should start with this grip. Place your left hand on the grip with your thumb running straight down the shaft. Then place your right hand below it, with your right palm facing the target and thumb also running down the shaft. The pressure should be light.
One of the biggest challenges for beginners is to gauge the power of their putts. You need to rely on your own cues to evaluate the distance between yourself and the hole. Visual cues can help with this. For example, the big toe of your trail foot can be the 10-foot mark, the line with your little toe marks the 20-foot mark, an inch further is 30-foot, etc.
Practising visualisation can improve focus and reinforce good habits. Miniature golf putting courses or 'putt-putt' golf provide a fun and relaxed setting to practice your skills. Training mirrors are another great tool to perfect your alignment, position and stroke.
