Tip of the Week

True or False: Every putt is a straight putt?
Think about this for a second before you answer.

When I ask students this question I usually get a 50/50 response. The correct answer is true.

Learning to line yourself up properly on a putt is one of the most important things you can do to help yourself make more putts. Too many golfers line themselves up parallel to the hole when they putt. Then, they try to push the putt out to the right on a right-to-left putt or pull the putt to the left on a left-to-right putt.

Next question: When is the only time that your feet are actually lined up parallel with the hole? Think about it for a second - On a straight putt. So your feet are actually lined up to the left of the hole and your target line is straight to the hole.

If your feet were lined up at the hole, where will the ball go? It would go about 12 inches to the right of the hole. Think of it this way: If the putt is going to break 12 inches from the right to the left, where will your feet be lined up? Parallel to your target line, which would be directly at the hole.

If you have a putt that is going to break 3 inches from the right to the left, your feet will be lined up parallel to the target line, which would be 9 inches left of the hole. If you have a putt that is breaking 6 inches from the left to the right, your feet will be lined up parallel to your target line which would be 18 inches left of the hole.

A good drill to work on is to find a spot where you have a straight putt and set a club on the ground across the tip of your toes. Now take another club and line it up on your target line, directly at the hole. Are the two clubs parallel? If they are, then you are lined up correctly. Now try the same drill with right-to-left putts and left-to-right putts.

Every putt is a straight putt. Proper alignment will help you get more putts started on line and thus make more putts.

Setting Goals for the Season
Now that the golf season is underway, one of the first things all golfers should do is set goals for the year. Too many players just play golf with no intention to improve. If you want to improve your game, you must set aside time to practice all areas of your game and you must set goals.
 
I like to see golfers break down their games into segments. Putting, chipping, irons, woods and sand play. As you set goals for each area of your game, here is what I suggest you do.
 
The first goal you need to set is for your average score or handicap. If you averaged 92 last year, set a goal to average 89 this year. If your handicap was a 15 last year, set a goal of lowering it to a 12 or 11 this year.
 
Putts Per Round and Putts Per Hole
Set a goal of averaging less than 30 putts per 18 holes round. Set a goal of averaging less than two putts per hole and set a goal of having no 3 putts. You all know that putting is the one area where you can greatly reduce your average score and handicap (on the average, putting makes up 43% of all your shots), so make it a point to work hard on your putting early in the spring.
 
Up and Downs
Set a goal of getting up and down 50% of the time when you miss a green. Some players might set a goal of getting up and down 33% or 25% of the time. A low handicap golfer may set a goal of 66% or 75% of the time. Remember from 100 yards into the hole makes up 68% of your shots.
 
Greens in Regulation
A good goal here is to try to hit 50% of your greens in regulation. Higher handicap players may try to hit 25%-33% of greens. Lower handicap golfers may set a goal of hitting 60%-75% of greens in regulation.
 
Fairways in Regulation
Here again, a good goal may be 50%. You all know it is easier to hit the green when hitting from the fairway as compared to the rough. One of the biggest mistakes I see these days is too many players are more concerned with distance as compared to accuracy. Remember, accuracy first and distance second, and you'll find yourself hitting approach shots to the greens from the middle of the fairway.
 
Sand Saves
This area of golf is the least practiced area in all of golf. Most golfers have a tough enough time just getting the ball on the green from a bunker. Try to find time to hit a few practice bunker shots the next time you play and as you get better and more consistent, set a goal that makes sense to you.
 
Some golfers will set goals in their heads and then forget about them by the time we get to June. Do me a favor and write your goals on a piece of paper and continue to work on reaching those goals. After each round write down your stats for total putts, up and downs, greens in regulation, fairway in regulation and sand saves. As you track your stats you will see right away where you need to improve and, as you continue to improve, your scores will continue to go lower.
 
Another thing - don't set goals that are too easy to reach. Set goals that make you work hard to reach them. The amount of time you spend on practicing is well worth it and then, as you see your game improve, you can thank me for making you set goals for the 2007 golf season.