The belly putter is golf’s latest and greatest idea – a compromise between the advantage of the long putter and the practicality of the traditional putter. The belly putter is longer than the traditional putter and shorter than the long putter.
You grip the belly putter just as you may imagine by the image that the name conjures up, by anchoring the top, butt end of the club, literally, into your belly. By anchoring the putter in your belly, the motion of the stroke becomes simpler and more reliable, just like a pendulum effect, just as with the long putter.
Vijay Singh, the professional golfer who unseated Tiger Woods as the world’s top-ranked player in 2004, popularized the belly putter more than any other player. Ironically, when Singh took the top ranking from Tiger Woods, he’d recently switched back from a long spell with the belly putter to a traditional putter.
Filed Under (Golf Putting Tips) by admin on 12-12-2008
Every golf shot combines two basic elements: One is judging distance and the effects of the terrain and wind on the ball. The other is a complete execution of your swing. When it comes to putting, the mental calculations count more for for this shot than any other shot you will make.
Putt shots will also prove to be more difficult as well, but there are ways to help yourself.
Many golfers simply pace the distance to the cup. Instead of this common practice, try to just stand over the ball and look at the line to the hole, while at the same time measuring the distance in 5 or 10 foot intervals. Then check the texture of the grass and remember this last important tip: Take notice of which direction the grass is growing!
You obviously do not have to hit a putt as hard when the grass is growing towards the hole, as opposed of growing towards you, but the grain can be a little difficult to see unless you look closely. So take a moment and use the direction of the grass growth as a gauge to aid in how much power you need (or less) in your putt.
Your putting yips may be easier to fix than you think. Take a look at these 3 common culprits and ask yourself whether or not they are getting in your way of a successful putt:
Over-analysis: You may get so caught up in the mechanics of your stroke that you paralyze your natural movement. You become so self-conscious of your body position, putting stroke, and movements, they can barely take the putter back in any simple, straight fashion, along the target line. You may find yourself watching the putterhead go back and come through the ball or looking up to see how the ball rolls.
Steering: Instead of letting the putterhead freely swing through the ball and propel it toward the hole, you may find yourself trying to steer the ball into the hole. Steering is typically a tension filled attempt to guide the ball into the hole due to a lack of confidence in the putting stroke. Tension can cause you to push the putterhead toward the hole and mistakenly get your wrists or legs into the act.
Insecurity: Getting nervous and insecure over a putt, especially a short one, is a sure way to miss it. Without confidence, you allow all manner of negative thoughts to enter your head and your play. What can you do to make the putt? Will it go in? Can you lose the hole or the match by missing it? Will you feel embarrassed in front of the other players by missing it?
Filed Under (Golf Putting Tips) by admin on 06-12-2008
Are you seeing too many angles when you stand over a putt? Have you checked to see if you may be lined up incorrectly? Your conscious alignment may be at war with your subconscious sense of straightness, and your putting stroke is caught in the middle as your body tries to issue a correction.
Pick a hole on a flat spot on the practice green and drop your ball the few feet from the hole. Stand behind the ball and line up the putt. Be sure to use the printed brand name on the ball as a helper. Position the ball so that the name points straight at the hole. When you get over the ball with your putter, match the aiming line on top of your putter to the line of the logo on the ball.
Put the putterhead flush behind the ball on this line. Now take notice of your feet. Are they perpendicular to the line created by the logo? How about your shoulders? Finally, are you taking the putter head straight back and straight through during the stroke?
Filed Under (Golf Putting Tips) by admin on 04-12-2008
Looking up or peeking to see if the ball goes into the hole is a sure way to miss a putt. Resist the temptation to watch the ball. Keep your head still over the ball and stare down at the empty spot the ball he used to occupy long before you hit the putt.
Listen to hear if the putt falls. You may also catch yourself, one afflicted with the yips, watching your putterhead go back away from the ball and come back through contact. Don’t allow your eyes to follow the putterhead during the stroke. To help focus on the ball, pick a small, noticeable mark on the ball to look at. Keep your eyes fixed on the brand name, printed logo, a simple dimple, or an identification mark throughout your stroke.
Maybe the best way to steady your eyes and to play in the subconscious is to stand over the putt, put your putterhead on the ball, stare at a spot on the ball, and then stand perfectly still for five seconds. During these five seconds of still and calm, let the gaze of your eyes go out of focus. Your eyes still focus on the spot of the ball you were staring at, but everything else becomes fuzzy and soft. Go ahead and stroke the putt with your eyes and mind this blurry, meditative state. You may be surprised by the results!
Hit ‘em straight
Ben
MORE GOLF TIPS:
http://www.trianglecustomclubs.com/golf-tips
http://www.trianglecustomclubs.com/putting-tips
http://www.trianglecustomclubs.com/greatgolftips
