Contents
Golf Basics
Golf Scoring
The Rules of Golf
Golf Equipment
How to Swing a Golf Club
How to Putt a Golf Ball
How to Hit a Chip Shot
How to Use the Pitching Wedge
How to Hit a Flop Shot
How to Hit Sand Shots
Golf Etiquette
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How to Putt a Golf Ball
Putting is the process of hitting the golf ball on the green so that it rolls across the green and into the cup.
How to Determine the Line of the Putt
Putting greens are almost never perfectly flat. The natural slopes on the green cause the ball to curve, or break, downhill. The steeper the slope, the greater the break. When putting, you first need to “read” the slopes of the green and aim your putt so that the break of the green takes the ball toward the cup.
How to Square the Putter to the Line
To hit the ball along the line, or path, you want, your putter must be square (perpendicular) to the line:
- Stand behind the ball and pick out a spot (a discolored bit of grass, a ball mark, etc.) that’s a foot or two in front of your ball along the line you want to putt.
- Holding the putter behind the ball, square it to the spot.
The Putting Grip
The putting grip is similar, but not identical, to the grip for a full swing. There are two key differences between the full-swing grip and the putting grip. When putting, you should:
- Hold the club grip in the palms of both hands, as opposed to in the fingers
- Place your thumbs directly on top of the grip, as opposed to slightly to the left or right
The Putting Motion
A good putting stroke is a pendulum-like action, in which you swing from the triangle formed by the arms and a line across the shoulders. Don’t hinge your wrists at any time during the movement, and keep your head motionless.
Putting Distance and Speed
When putting, try to strike the ball so that, if the cup weren’t in the way, the ball would roll about a foot past where the cup lies. Hitting the ball firmly helps to:
- Eliminate or lessen the amount of break
- Minimize the influence of small imperfections, such as pebbles or sand, on the roll of the putt
- Reduce the chance of leaving the putt short (hitting your putt without enough power to reach the cup)
The distance and speed of your putt depend on the size of the stroke. A bigger backswing and follow-through will produce a stronger putt.
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