No matter how good you are at hitting long distance shorts or how accurately you can hit from 100 yards, surely no one can deny the importance of putting. Whether it is a 4 feet putt or a 20 feet long putt, each putt can change the whole momentum of the game.

For accurate putting, it is important to hit the ball very accurately as well as in the right direction. The basic of putting is to keep your eye on the ball and find the exact target on which you want to hit the ball. It is not a necessity that you point at the hole while playing shots as many other factors also count in hitting the ball. These factors include the slope (if any) of green, intensity of wind etc.

Address the ball at a comfortable distance. Now move the putter in pendulum motion. This is exactly what you require. A pendulum swing will give you more control over the ball.

Place the ball in almost the middle of your feet and hit the ball while keeping your eye on the ball. This would make putting as easy as a piece of cake for you.


Direction - Reading the Green

Direction is very important in putting as minute difference in reading of green can make you lose one crucial stroke. So what to do to read the green correctly.

The primary thing is to practice a lot as to feel the heaviness of the green. Then the strike of each player depends on style as well as how hard you hit the ball. But no matter how professional you are, no one can deny the importance of hitting the putt in the right direction.

For a downhill putt, you need to strike the ball more gently depending on the amount of slope. Read the green preferably from behind the ball. Then move on to the side of the ball to know the exact distance of ball from the hole. To add to your advantage, go to the other side of the hole, opposite to the balls placement. This will give you a clear view of the ball and slope as well.

But all these things are secondary in putting. The thing of primary importance is that you should keep your nerves and concentration so as to have the best results.


Grips for Putting

There are a variety of grips for putting as it depends on the comfort of the player. But we give you an overview of two mostly used types.

The most widely used grip for putting is the ten-finger grip where you put the little finger of the leading hand with index finger of the trailing hand. With the thumb of trailing hand tucked firmly in the center of the leading hands palm. Please see the 'Grips Tips' for details.

Some people also use the "weak hand leading" grip. In this type, e.g. a person who plays with right hand uses his left hand as the leading one and put that is supported by the stronger hand. The stronger hand holds the forearm against the grip of putter. This is not a recommendable way of putting for beginners.