Short-Game Practice: Putting

Short-Game Practice: Putting

Give your golf game a big boost with simple putting fundamentals

Establishing correct putting form is essential to improving your golf game. Putting drills may not be fun, but it they're the most important.

"With any luck, on a par four you'll hit one shot from the tee, one shot from the fairway and two putts. So, if you think about it, putting is half your game," says Keith Reese, Head PGA Professional at Louisville, Kentucky's Valhalla Golf Club, site of the 2008 Ryder Cup Matches.

According to Reese, a putting drills routine that includes the following six keys will result in a marked improvement in your scores:

1. Same length back and through. The key to putting-stroke pace and rhythm is to make the back-stroke the same length as the forward-stroke.

2. Let the shoulders and arms do the work. The main source of movement is the shoulders and arms. They work together and the hands remain quiet.

3. Keep the head steady. Good putters keep their head still from the start of the stroke to the finish. If the head moves, it is nearly impossible to make solid contact.

Short-Game Practice: Putting:

Give your golf game a big boost with simple putting fundamentals