Last week, we discussed the importance of your wedges and how to hit more accurate approach shots. While this is very important, you also need to focus on other areas of the game. These areas include the driver, long irons, wedges, approach shots and finally chipping and pitching. As you know, learning to hit a 300-yard drive down the fairway or a perfect 200-yard iron shot takes practice, lessons and patience. But what if I told you by simply focusing on your putting, you could immediately lower your score and play better golf without needing to hit thousands of golf balls at the range?
Putting may not be as exciting as watching a 300-yard drive fly down the fairway, or the sound of a perfectly struck iron shot targeting the pin like a heat-seeking missile, but it does contribute 43 percent of your score, and as the famous quote says…
“How you start is important, very important, but in the end it is how you finish that counts” – B.C. Forbes
Putting is one of the quickest and easiest areas of your game to practice with immediate results. But, the biggest problem I see when teaching golfers on the course or helping students improve putting technique is an incorrectly fitted putter. Most times the putter is too long, the grip is too fat or the putter is not balanced. Having a putter that is correctly fitted for your height can be a major factor in sinking more putts. There are three areas we need to consider when choosing a perfectly balanced putter: Length, Loft and Lie.
LENGTH
For many golfers starting out, most putters on the market are too long, between 34-36 inches in length. This does not allow our arms to hang naturally in an extended fashion, and only serves to create additional levers (the elbows) in the putting stroke. Longer length putters also tend to dictate our posture, forcing us to stand more upright, into a position where our shoulders will start to rotate when putting, and this is not the motion that will prove to be the most reliable.
If you want to sink more putts, check the length of your putter and see whether it allows your arms to hang freely. If not, try taking some length off the end. The putter will now be able to swing more freely back and through, also making it easier to get the eyes over the target line.
LOFT
The loft on the putter can also cause problems when trying to get a good roll on the ball, and many putters have too much loft, some up to six degrees. We need some loft to help get the ball rolling, but too much will only serve to chip the ball, creating excessive backspin and making it easier for the ball to get knocked offline. Three degrees of loft at address will enable the correct amount of loft at impact to lift the ball out of the small indentation it makes on the green and get it rolling forwards.
LIE
Lie angles of putters should also be checked, so that they allow the arms to hang freely, with the putter head lying flat on the ground. Too many golfers have to manipulate their hands to get the putter head flat because the lie angle is not correct for their particular height.
With all the new putters on the market, you now have an exciting choice of color, shape, length and grip. You don’t always need a $400 putter to play better golf, but a well-fitted putter can make immediate improvements to your game. If you need help choosing a putter, or currently own a putter and find your game could improve, then why not visit us for a putting lesson, which combines fitting and technique – you may find yourself getting a few more birdies than expected in your next round!
Grant Griffiths
Master Golf Teaching Professional
Summer Golf Director
