Golf Tips from the Pro

There are two important ingredients that go into a successful putt, one being line and the other being speed. Golfers tend to have a better handle on direction than they do the pace. Imagine yourself playing catch with your father in the backyard. You are more likely to throw the ball over his head or bounce it at his knees, than to throw it sideways and bounce it off the house. Putting is no different, and while we often become obsessed with line we give little attention to the pace that must match. Next time you decide to practice your putting, forget about the hole. Take six balls, and just putt them trying to work solely on speed. If you are successful, all 6 balls will be in a cluster. You will be amazed that even though line was unimportant, your subconscious delivered them all to the same area. Repeat this drill several times before playing and you will get a great understanding of the green’s speed and the line that needs to match.