Getting the Right Feel for Putting
Putting is all about 'feel' and there is no better way to get the feel of your putter than by blocking out all other outside distracting factors.
You are probably wondering how you might be able to do this.
Try closing your eyes for a moment and see how you can focus more easily something. Just the action of closing your eyes will eliminate more than half of the distraction that we encounter constantly throughout the day.
So this is a lesson in playing golf with your eyes closed. Seriously - this is a great way to perfect your putting by getting the right 'feel'. You won't need the ball initially - just the putter and you standing on the green.
Get into your normal putting stance and visualize a ball on the ground and line it up with the hole.
Swing your putter, as you would do if you were to hit a ball. Now do it again with your eyes closed and become aware of the pressure of your hands on the grip.
Feel the lightness of your grip and the weight of the putter hanging in your hands. As you swing gently, be aware of the club as it grazes the grass on the green. You should be able to feel the pressure of the grass dragging lightly on your club.
You can continue to swing backwards and forwards in a fluid motion making slight adjustments to eliminate the drag on your putter and more importantly you will be able to focus on the lightness of touch you have on the grip of your club. This is the important part of this exercise.
This will allow you to swing your putter while retaining the same light grip throughout the movement not squeezing tighter on the club at any point through your swing. Once you have done this a few times with and without your eyes closed, place a ball on the ground and concentrate more on the 'feel' of the club in your hands than the ball you are hitting.
This is also excellent training for getting the right distance on the green, as you will begin to have a better feel for what your putter will do
To your putting success
Fran Watson
