Nail The Short Putts

In my opinion, making putts that are inside five feet is all about having confidence in your abilities. The best short putters in the world all have incredible confidence in their putting and their ability to drain short putts. Tiger Woods was, at one point, the best putter inside five feet in the world and that was because he had confidence in himself and his putting.

It all starts with your stroke. You must have a putting stroke that is easy to repeat, achieves the best results for you and that you are comfortable with. Your stroke can be any kind of method; straight back and through, inside-to-inside, out-to-in, whatever works for you. The important part is that you trust your stroke and know that you can make putts with it.

The second key to making short putts is to check your grip pressure. Most golfers get very tense over short putts because there is that expectation that your putt must go in the hole. There is a stigma of embarrassment associated with missing a short putt, but you have to put that to the side and not let it creep into your head when over a short putt. When addressing the ball, make sure your grip pressure is very light all the way through the stroke and impact with the ball. This really helps to make sure you are not getting too tense over the ball and trying to steer the ball in the hole.

The third key to making short putts is the KEEP YOUR HEAD DOWN. I see so many amateurs lift their head up at impact or just before impact because they are too anxious to see if the ball is going in the hole. Lifting your head is the worst thing you can do because it alters your stroke and pulls your whole body away from the target. The best thing to do if you are having trouble with keeping your head down is to just listen for the ball to go in the hole. If you are within five feet of the hole, you will be able to hear the distinctive rattle of the ball falling in the cup, there is no need to lift your head. Practice keeping your head down until you hear the ball fall in the cup and then you can lift your head.

Finally, don’t get caught up in the stigma that is involved with missing a short putt. The best players in the world miss putts from inside a few feet all the time, it is going to happen. You just cannot let it shake your confidence in your stroke. Practice those three keys next time you are out on the putting green and then take it to the course with you next time you play and you will be on your way to better scores and fewer three putts.

Styles Of Gripping The Club

There are three styles of gripping the club that I would recommend for all players. These styles of gripping the club have developed over time to become the most widely used and successful ways to transfer the maximum amount of power and control to the golf ball.

View of Grip from Face-On

The first style of grip is the “Ten Finger” grip, which is very similar to the way you would grip a baseball bat. The left hand is on top and the right hand is on bottom with no fingers overlapping. The index finger of your left hand is right next to the pinky finger of your right hand. The thumbs on both of your hands should be pointing nearly straight down the shaft. This grip is great for beginner golfers because it is very comfortable and allows you to transfer a lot of power to the golf ball. I would not recommend this grip for better players because the right hand is in a very powerful position, which could easily lead to the release of the club too early which will result in shots that hook or pull left. Better players should look for a grip that is stable and neutral so that they can repeat and control the golf swing at impact. I would recommend this grip for all beginning, women and junior golfers.

Ten Finger Grip

The second style of grip is the “Interlock” grip, which is very similar to the “Ten Finger” grip except for the placement of a couple fingers. The index finger of your left hand and the pinky finger of your right hand intertwine. This gives you more of a connected feel throughout your hands. This grip is great for players who are looking for a little more consistency and are past the beginning stages of playing the game. The “Interlock” grip can be great for better players. I also recommend this grip for players that have smaller hands. I personally use this grip when I play and have had a lot of success with it.

Interlock Grip

The third style of grip is the “Overlap” grip. The “Overlap” grip is formed by placing your hands on the club like a “Ten Finger” grip, but placing the pinky finger of your right hand on top of the index finger of your left hand. This also creates a feel of unity between your two hands on the club and can help deliver power and control to the golf ball. Many players with larger hands use this grip because it slightly shortens the length of the grip that your hands take up. This grip is widely used on professional tours and I would recommend this grip for anyone who is past the beginning stages of playing the game and is looking to improve.

Overlap Grip

Your style of grip is completely up to you because you need to find something that is comfortable to you, but also allows you to strike the golf ball with power and precision. Many golfers have had success with all three styles of gripping the club and all have been played on professional tours throughout the world.