Putting is the most integral part of every golfer’s game, but it is often overlooked and misunderstood in the grand scheme of things.
According to Sports and Leisure Research Group, 2010, approximately 40 percent of the avid golfer’s game consists of strokes materializing on the putting green. An avid golfer is considered anyone who plays consistently once a week throughout the calendar year. The number of strokes made on the green is an alarming statistic, considering there are five parts of the game, which factor into your total score. These are full swing, chipping/pitching, bunkers, putting and mental aspect.
If you visit a golf course to play a round or just to view the serenity of the surroundings, you will notice more than half of the patrons will always be practicing on their full swing. Instead, they should really be on the putting green. You consistently will find one person on the putting green practicing for every three individuals on the driving range. Given this, it’s no surprise the average golfer wonders why his score remains the same and rarely lowers. This is why putting is so important to the outcome.
To put it simply, there are two key aspects to putting outside of mechanics, which are line and speed. First, you must pick your target line. You then determine the speed of the ball traveling to the hole. Match your clubface parallel to your feet, hips and shoulders to your intended target line. Then, you must decide the distance the putter stroke will travel back and through. This is easier said than done, which is why Professional Golf Association (PGA) pros spend hours and hours perfecting their routines.
Again, according to Sports and Leisure Research Group, 2010, if you have ever visited our PGA Tour’s Phoenix Open in January, you’ll notice approximately 75 percent of the PGA Tour pros remain close to the putting green as compared to the driving range. There is a distinct reason for this fact. They earn their livelihood playing the game correctly.
Many avid golfers dreaming of the same low scores as their favorite tour professionals should take the hint of concentrating on putting, which is the most important aspect of the game. Putting is the core foundation of golf. If you don’t putt consistently, you can plan on an extremely long day on the links.
When you are ready to take your putting game to the next level, please visit www.lassendas.com/academy, or contact Ben Weir directly at (602) 391-7100. You also can send an e-mail to benweir@pga.com.