If you’ve worked really hard to make it to the green in only one or two shots, the last thing you want to do is mess it all up by taking numerous putts. Sinking your putt is the final part of the hole, and how it goes often determines whether you have a good hole or one you wish you could erase from your scorecard.
It’s interesting to note that different people have quite different preferences when it comes to greens. Some like a smaller green, so there’s less margin for error, whereas others like a big green so that they can try and sink a twenty-five yard putt. Still, on average, finishing the hole usually involves sinking a putt somewhere between 4 and 6 feet in length. Remember, even pros miss those putts sometimes, so there’s no point getting too upset if you miss one too.
But like most things in life, your chances of success improve enormously if you practice. As your success rate improves, so will your scores, which will give you the incentive to continue practicing. The best way to begin is to start small. Concentrate on short, straight putts, so that you can learn all the basics of putting without needing to worry about other factors. Focusing purely on the putting will help you to get a feel for your putter.
Line up around 10 golf balls approximately four feet from the hole, and work on putting them. Initially you’ll miss a few, if not all of them, but keep repeating the exercise until you can putt every single ball every time. Once you have this simple exercise mastered, extend the distance and start again.
If you find it difficult to get to the golf course regularly, you can also practice putting at home, because you don’t need a lot of space. Practicing at home can also help you to build confidence, because you don’t feel like anybody else is watching. The best thing about practicing your putts is that your confidence will improve with each putt, and so your level of fear about making a putt of that distance will decrease.
