Putting Greens News & Blog

Backyard Putting Practice

Friday, December 16th, 2005

It’s no secret that improving your short game is a critical component to becoming a great golfer. But, did you know that practicing your putting may be the single most important thing you can do to lower your score? Think about it this way: golfers—on average—play at least half of their rounds within one hundred yards of the hole. If you were to break down an even par, 72 par round, you would find that with the allowance of two putts per green, for a total of 36 putts per round, it is easy to see where half the round goes. Therefore, mastering the short game will save you numerous strokes per round.

And, with the incredible advancements in home putting greens, the secret to your short game may lie no further than your own backyard. Here are a few simple exercises you can practice on your own backyard or indoor putting green.

Practice your pitch shot. This shot is played whenever you swing your sand wedge or pitching wedge between 30 and 80 percent of your full swing. Two common pitfalls of this critical stroke are: a) to decelerate when swinging through the ball and duff it, or b) to swing too short, then rapidly accelerate and knife it right across the green like a side-splitter missile. On your home putting green, practice this: swing the club at the same speed back and through. This pendulum style swing will provide you with consistency and distance control. Try swinging back and through so your hands only swing as high as your hips. This concentration will give you a reference for repeating a certain distance shot, and these swings will be an accurate gauge only if your follow through is smooth and rhythmic.
Work on your chip shot. The SW or PW, nine and seven irons will be your tools for better chipping results. Set yourself up with these three clubs on your backyard or indoor putting green, and get ready for a little practice. Putt the stroke with each of the three clubs, each time allowing the clubface to meet the ball on a slightly descending pathway. This insures you’ll always catch the ball before you hit the ground. Experiment with these clubs by standing at the edge of your putting green, then take each club and swing them with a putter stroke the same distance back and through, just like the pitch shot pendulum. Watch what happens to the ball. The distance that the ball carries in the air will vary, as will as the distance it rolls on the green.

By mastering these two shots on your own indoor or backyard putting green, you’ll never again waste greens fees on these simple, but critical strokes. Instead, you can master them right at home, then tackle the golf course confidently.

Source: www.rin.ru/hobby