Good Putting.com http://www.goodputting.com/blog Anyone can be a good putter Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:51:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 en Chip Putt it http://www.goodputting.com/blog/2008/07/23/chipp-putt-it/ http://www.goodputting.com/blog/2008/07/23/chipp-putt-it/#comments Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:51:16 +0000 Coach Kip http://www.goodputting.com/blog/?p=74 Do you ever get those really long putts? Like 75 feet or more? Yeah I know it is crazy long, and you have to swing your putter way to long to make a proper putt. So what do you do?

Play it just like a chip shot. Open up your stance a little bit (to the left if you are right handed). Play the ball a little further back in your stance. Not extremely far back but only two balls further back than normal. And use your chipping stoke.

Opening the stance up will allow you to make a little longer backstroke and give it a little more pop than normal. It will also involve your body a little more with the stroke.

How much further? Just as much as a normal chip. Practice a few times and you will see that it makes those long long long putts a little easier.

]]> http://www.goodputting.com/blog/2008/07/23/chipp-putt-it/feed/ Accelerate for Good Putting http://www.goodputting.com/blog/2008/07/16/accelerate-for-good-putting/ http://www.goodputting.com/blog/2008/07/16/accelerate-for-good-putting/#comments Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:47:33 +0000 Coach Kip http://www.goodputting.com/blog/?p=73 Playing with a young player who was struggling during a recent round I noticed something that I have not yet addressed here.

I have talked about the 40-60 swing where the back swing should be about 40% of the total swing and the follow through should be about 60% of the swing. I personally exaggerate this even more giving it about a 20-80 swing. But that was just a simple quick problem to fix.

The big problem with the young man was that because he was using a longer backstroke than a follow through he was not accelerating through the ball. Now I don’t want to imply that with a putt you should accelerate through the ball like a full stroke, but you should have a steady acceleration to promote a longer follow through than backstroke. It is quite a simple step that will improve your putting stoke.

This may be one of the biggest faults in amateurs golf strokes. But it is also the most simple to fix. Try a longer follow through. The only way to achieve this is to accelerate through the putting stroke.

]]> http://www.goodputting.com/blog/2008/07/16/accelerate-for-good-putting/feed/ Drill: Warm-Up http://www.goodputting.com/blog/2008/07/09/drill-warm-up/ http://www.goodputting.com/blog/2008/07/09/drill-warm-up/#comments Wed, 09 Jul 2008 17:11:30 +0000 Coach Kip http://www.goodputting.com/blog/?p=72 Warm up routines are very important to having a good round. It is probably more important to warm-up on the putting green to get ready to play.

A good warm-up routine is to start with short putts. Use no more than three balls to start out with. Hit 9-12 shots or all three balls 3-4 times.

Then go to a medium length putt. Medium is different for everyone, I would say from 10-15 feet. Do that for 9-12 shots or all three balls 3-4 times.

Then try a few long ones. Go as long as possible. You don’t have to spend a whole lot of time doing this, you don’t even have to make them. Practice getting it as close as you can to the hole. If some go in it is a good boost. If they do not go in but get close then you have the right speed. Again don’t spend too much time on the long putts. Focus on getting the right speed and distance.

Finally finish up with some short 3 foot putts. Start off with trying to make 3 in a row. Once your skills are getting better make 6 and 9 in a row. This is a great boost getting ready to play, and will build the confidence in the short putts. Knowing you can make 6 in a row on the practice green will help you with those tricky putts on the course.

]]> http://www.goodputting.com/blog/2008/07/09/drill-warm-up/feed/ Deliver the blow with the Right Hand http://www.goodputting.com/blog/2008/07/02/deliver-the-blow-with-the-right-hand/ http://www.goodputting.com/blog/2008/07/02/deliver-the-blow-with-the-right-hand/#comments Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:05:39 +0000 Coach Kip http://www.goodputting.com/blog/?p=71 With all stokes in golf your grip is the only point that your body comes into contact with the club. Your grip controls the whole golf swing. No matter what grip you use your leading hand guides the stoke, the trailing hand delivers the blow.

So how does this work? It may seem more complicated with a full swing but it is not. Lets look at the putting stoke.

As you take the club back the hands gently pull the club away from the ball. The hands are working in tandem. Once the swing shifts to the downswing the hands have very specific jobs. The leading hand guides the club right back to where it began. Delivering the club back to where it started will ensure that the club is square at impact.

The trailing hand is the hand that gives the stoke the power. On a full swing if you are concentrating on the feel you can really tell that the trailing hand does the work. On a putt you have to keep it in control. There is no popping motion, no quick actions, simply use the right hand to deliver the power.

Using both hands as one will give you a consistent putting stroke leading to more putts made.

]]> http://www.goodputting.com/blog/2008/07/02/deliver-the-blow-with-the-right-hand/feed/ The Most Critical of All: http://www.goodputting.com/blog/2008/06/25/the-most-critical-of-all/ http://www.goodputting.com/blog/2008/06/25/the-most-critical-of-all/#comments Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:14:32 +0000 Coach Kip http://www.goodputting.com/blog/?p=68 Jack Nicklaus Putting

Jack Nicklaus - The most critical of all: Having a positive attitude. Believe you can make em and you frequently will. Believe you can’t and you generally won’t.

I would say that if Jack tells me that it is important to have a positive attitude about your putting then it is important to me to have a positive attitude. So why is it so important to have a positive attitude when putting? Your attitude will tell you that you can make it and you will begin to see the line. Your attitude will tell you that you can do it and you will. Your poor attitude will tell you that you have no chance and you will find a way to not make it.

So if you have a choice between being negative and having a poor chance at making a putt, or being positive and having a good chance at making a putt what would you choose? We know what Jack Nicklaus would choose.

]]> http://www.goodputting.com/blog/2008/06/25/the-most-critical-of-all/feed/ Stay Still and Sink more Putts http://www.goodputting.com/blog/2008/06/18/stay-still-and-sink-more-putts/ http://www.goodputting.com/blog/2008/06/18/stay-still-and-sink-more-putts/#comments Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:13:20 +0000 Coach Kip http://www.goodputting.com/blog/?p=67 Keep your head and body still during your putting stroke. Without keeping your head and body still you will be inconsistent at best, and have very little chance of making any putts.

Keeping your head still will reduce tension in your shoulders and neck and give you a more fluid swing. Your shoulders will naturally swing around your neck with your head still. This is a loose and tension free swing. If your head is moving there will be additional tension in your swing and this will lead to inconsistent putts.

Also what did every coach tell you when you were young? It did not matter if it was baseball, football, soccer, or golf, what did they tell you? Keep your eye on the ball. With head movement it is difficult to keep your eye on the ball. So keep it still and you will have more consistent putting, and better scores.

Keeping your body still will again reduce inconsistent putting and increase your putting ability. We have spoken about forming a triangle with your shoulders and hands. This triangle hinges on your neck and swings around it. Your body stays still, especially your lower body. There is no need to give extra movement. Extra movement leads to extra putts and higher scores.

The more simple your putting stroke is the more consistent it will be. With practice your putting will get better and better. Without a consistent swing no matter how much practice you do you will not improve your putting.

]]> http://www.goodputting.com/blog/2008/06/18/stay-still-and-sink-more-putts/feed/ The Art of Focus http://www.goodputting.com/blog/2008/05/27/the-art-of-focus/ http://www.goodputting.com/blog/2008/05/27/the-art-of-focus/#comments Tue, 27 May 2008 14:36:23 +0000 Coach Kip http://www.goodputting.com/blog/?p=65 The BrainNinety percent of golf is mental. Oh heck, make that 95%! Arnold Palmer stated, “The toughest 6 inches in the game of golf is between a player’s ears”.
The fastest way to lower your score is to master the ability to focus.
Most golfers tend to think they must practice more, find a new instructor, buy more videos, get the swing right, change those clubs. But one of the often overlooked and most important mental aspects of the game is focus.
Now you want to make sure you focus on the result you want. In golf the shot is determined by your level of concentration. You’ve likely just rushed right in and played shots without concentrating. No wonder the ball ended up going haywire!
It’s better to make ten focused swings than 100 quick, thoughtless ones. Your swing will naturally break down when you’re fatigued. So be sure to take a break when you’re practicing. Brain breaks give your mind and body a chance to implement what you’re learning.
One way to practice the art of focusing is to light a candle and stare into the flame, only thinking of the flame. Every time your mind starts to move to any other thought, bring it back to the flame. Think of the dancing orange colors, how they melt inside of each other.
The first time you do this, you might be hard -pressed to last for 3 minutes. Work up to 20 minutes, and your ability to focus on anything will have improved immensely. You’ll be able to take this enhanced skill to the golf course.
When you’re playing, just think about the next shot. During down time, allow your mind to relax and wander for a few minutes. Don’t try to concentrate the entire game, or you’ll get very fatigued, very quickly. Save the mental workout for thoughtful shot decisions and center on what shot you’re going to play next.
Also, keep your cool and behave in an emotionally controlled manner. You will perform more effectively. In the great game of golf, emotions soar and fall quickly. You can go from totally happy to totally ticked off in no time at all. In fact, the feeling of anger is actually a series of reactions that happen in just 1/30th of a second.
Stop it at the first spark. The important thing is to figure out what is really making you angry. Think of the grand scheme of life and how today is just a speck. Your golf game is a speck on a speck. It helps to minimize the situation and look at the big picture of what’s really important in life.
Master the mental art of focus, and you’ve got 95% of the game of golf all figured out!

]]> http://www.goodputting.com/blog/2008/05/27/the-art-of-focus/feed/ Golf is a Process http://www.goodputting.com/blog/2008/05/22/golf-is-a-process/ http://www.goodputting.com/blog/2008/05/22/golf-is-a-process/#comments Thu, 22 May 2008 17:36:23 +0000 Coach Kip http://www.goodputting.com/blog/?p=63 Swinging in the TreesGolf is learned little by little one step at a time.
Not exactly a modern American game, is it?
Well, if your heart is set on “convenience” sports, you might want to consider kickball or four-square. Golf isn’t learned in a day. Or even a year. According to some players - even a decade is too short! There’s no such thing as a perfect golf game. That’s all part of the “beauty and beast” nature that makes up this simple, complicated game.
I certainly do not claim to be an expert on the long game, but here are some fundamental tips, though, that can shave a few years of frustration off your career! Some golfers disagree on even the basics. So I guarantee you’ll find somewhere someone who will disagree with me. But here’s what I’ve found to help golfers tremendously in improving their game.
The three most important steps that you want to keep in mind all the time are

  • keep your head still
  • keep your club head traveling in a straight line while in contact with the ball
  • relax your muscles.

I really can’t say enough about the importance of keeping your head perfectly still throughout your shot. I’ve seen frustrated golfers of all sizes improve immediately upon concentrating on this one step.
When your head is still, you can see the ball clearly. And how can you hit something that you can’t see?
Keeping your club head traveling in a straight line while in contact with the ball will help you avoid slicing and a host of other ills.
Relaxation of your muscles aids tremendously in keeping your balance. Balance is paramount to a good golf game and you don’t want to have to brace your muscles all over your body. Stand comfortably so you can reach the ball easily. As far as propelling the ball is concerned. the muscles which add to the force are the muscles which twist the body around. They’re the most powerful. So relax those arms!
If your game is off, go back to these three important steps. Don’t change your stance or swing. Just go back to the three basics and you’ll get back on track.

]]> http://www.goodputting.com/blog/2008/05/22/golf-is-a-process/feed/ Feel In the Golf Swing http://www.goodputting.com/blog/2008/05/17/feel-in-the-golf-swing/ http://www.goodputting.com/blog/2008/05/17/feel-in-the-golf-swing/#comments Sat, 17 May 2008 21:02:13 +0000 Coach Kip http://www.goodputting.com/blog/?p=62
It has been said hundreds of times. “Feel” is the main part of playing golf. Instinctively you know whether something is right or wrong for you just by how it “feels.”

It may be a little confusing to define the “feel” of golf, but let’s try to take this confusing term and put it into something more concrete.

The basics are of utmost importance. Go over in your mind how it feels to prepare completely for that shot that you are trying to make.

Another thing to consider is that feeling the power of the stroke is not a necessity. Swing easily and remember that you are transferring energy to the ball. If you will rid yourself of everything that works to destroy your balance, you will be on the right path. Delete everything that does not feel comfortable. Keeping your balance and being comfortable will help to increase the power that you can use. Some players lift their head near the end of their swing thinking that it will increase the power of their stroke. It doesn’t add power, it actually decreases the power of your swing.

Being comfortable can help you in playing golf by allowing you to play more easily and fluidly as possible. Many times being comfortable is completely mental.

While you are moving, it is very important to keep your eye on the ball. This is very important. When you are comfortable, you are using your strength properly.

When you tense your muscles, you are instantly moving away from the proper way of playing golf. If you want to check your golf methods, evaluate how comfortable you feel. If you are playing well using your own way of playing, then play your way and forget about copying other players. If you need to learn a skill from someone, ask them why they are swinging that way and then you can apply the knowledge to your own swing. Imitating someone else’s swing will not help you.

With a little time, you will be able to understand what a correct shot feels like, what club that you like the feel of, and be more comfortable with your decisions. Then you will understand the “feel” of golf!

]]> http://www.goodputting.com/blog/2008/05/17/feel-in-the-golf-swing/feed/ Long Putts http://www.goodputting.com/blog/2008/05/01/long-putts/ http://www.goodputting.com/blog/2008/05/01/long-putts/#comments Thu, 01 May 2008 22:51:17 +0000 Coach Kip http://www.goodputting.com/blog/?p=59 Ball on GreenHow do you get the feel for really long putts? Try tossing a ball underhanded and let it roll to the hole. This same movement that you use to underhand the ball to the hole is the same force and movement that you need to swing the putter. It is a simple little drill to get your distances down.

Now what if you have a putt that is so long that you putting stroke is becoming uncomfortable? It will happen from time to time. The putting stroke is only meant to go so far. If you are uncomfortable making a putting stroke use a chipping motion.

Open your stance up slightly and play the ball off your back foot. Swing the putter as if you are playing a bump and run, or use your usual chipping motion. Concentrate on delivering the putter square to the line that you want the ball to start on.

With extreamly long putts don’t worry too much about the line. What you want to think of is the underhanded toss. You are not really going to look at the line and try to figure out where the ball is going to break. All you do is toss the ball in the general direction of the hole and hope it ends up close. With putting we are not going to hope it ends up close, instead we are going to putt the ball in the general direction that we think the putt should go. Instead we are going to concentrate on the distance of the ball. I like to say “we are just going to throw it up there and see what happens” Again back to the underhanded toss. The mentality and the action are all the same.

Good luck and let us know how things are going. We would love to hear from you.

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