Learn To putt

Learn to putt

Many golfers spend an extraordinary amount of time learning to make an awesome drive. In truth, there's nothing prettier than the golf ball flying through the air and bouncing neatly onto the green - except the ball dropping neatly into the cup. While working on those longer shots is important, poor putting skill can literally lose the game.

Learning to put accurately every time can be a great expenditure of your time. Consistently getting to the green isn't going to do you a lot of good unless you're able to drop the ball once you're there. Take a few tips from the pros regarding the successful putt.

The "yips" are the bane of many golfers on the putt. This is simply a hesitation - rather like a hiccup - that causes you to get a less-than-smooth putt. A smooth stroke will always lend you better control over the ball.

When you're practicing your putt, pay attention to that accuracy. If you're having trouble controlling the line of travel, give yourself some help until you get a better feel for the game. You might find it helpful to make a mark on your club to clearly indicate the center of the putter. Marking the ball may also help you make a very solid swing. Chalk is a good way to make these marks, because it will easily wipe off after your practice session.

Try making yourself a mental picture of the pathway the ball should travel. If that mental picture doesn't help, try laying a piece of string along the ground between your ball and the cup. It may seem like a very simple thing, but watching the point that your ball veers can help you figure out what to do to correct the problem.

Too much spin on the putt can create some problems as well. Spin is one of the most difficult things to control, and the short distance at the putt is all about control.

If it's a long putt, resist the urge to put too much muscle into the swing. Avoid unnecessary loft. The higher your ball travels, the less control you have over it.

You also have to resist the urge to overshoot your target. Overshooting is a problem in many sports - not just golf. Imagine the number of times you've seen someone take a shot at a pool table only to have the ball ricochet off the back of the pocket and bounce back out. The same sometimes happens with baseball, football and basketball when the person throwing oversteps the amount of power needed to make a successful play. It's human nature to overthrow. Guard against that at the putt. There's little more frustrating than to walk past the cup to the new putting position which is even farther from the cup than the last - all because your swing was simply too powerful and the ball passed over the top of the cup.

When you're ready to putt, take a moment and take control before you take the swing. Remember that the control is every bit as important as your aim.