Putting Under Pressure

Golf is a puzzle without an answer. I've played the game for forty years and I still haven't the slightest idea how to play.
**Gary Player

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Putting can be the most stressful part of the game. Depending on how close you are to the pin, it's the last opportunity you have to shave some strokes off your score. The secret to a successful putt is the ability to work under pressure.

What's the problem?

Putting trouble usually comes from unnecessary body movement during the stroke. Practice a four foot length putt and focus on keeping the entire body perfectly still except for hands, arms and shoulders.

What can I do?

Try a stress exercise. With 10 balls, line up a straight putt of about four feet. Set a goal for the number of putts that you can get in a row and gradually incrase this goal to 50. If you miss one, you have to start all over again!

This is a good way to learn to deal with the pressur of putting. As you approach your fiftieth stroke, it will start to feel more and more like a real game. With the risk of having to start all over, a lot is riding on the final few shots.

Once you're used to this kind of stress, you'll be better able to deal with that last moment on the green.

Now get out there and improve your putting game!!

Fran