Simulating complex skills such as putting has always been a bit daunting. Early simulators enabled golfers to put to a physical cup and record their score on the screen. Newer technology provides a step up, but it’s still quite challenging. Here are some putting tips that I’ve found helpful.
- Know your distance. The key to good putting is good speed control and good speed must factor both actual distance with changes in elevation. Simulators provide an exact measurement of the distance to the cup and the overall change in elevation between the ball and the cup. I find it helpful to add/subtract a foot of distance for every inch up/down in elevation between the ball and the cup. So, for example, a putt of 25 feet that decends 5 inches would require a putting effort of 20 feet. Obviously, there are many other factors that come into play outdoors like the speed of the green, grain, ball marks, and so forth. Know your speed to get it closer.
- Seeing is believing. To understand what the distance actually looks like try equating that distance to something you can see. For example, our simulators are 20 feet long, so the above putt would need to be stroked with the same effort as trying to take a putt from the back of the simulator to the front. Take a practice stroke while standing at the back edge of the simulator then walk over to your ball and stroke with the effort you “learned” taking your practice stroke.
- Get the feel of the game. Some of our guests decide to forego putting, others use generous gimees, and a few actually play without gimmes; but those who learn to play without gimmes tell me they putt much better outdoors because of their indoor putting play. We suggest that our first-time guests learn putting by using 12 foot gimees their first time in and lower it as they feel more comfortable with this aspect of the game.
Indoors or outside, the key to playing the game is to make it fun.
“Play-a-Round Golf: It’s real fun inside.”
