Tuesday's Tip: Thoughts to Improve Putting

Are you a good putter?

How you answer this question will say a lot about your current ability (obviously) but also your potential. I’m going to go on a limb and say that never in the history of the game has there been a great putter that thought they were bad. I’ll even go a step further and say that there’s also never been a bad putter that thought they were great.

I know that’s subjective and impossible to measure, but my point is that the stronger your belief that you are a great putter, the more likely you can become one. There are many players out there that may underestimate how good they are. And there’s a few bad ones that think they’re not so bad. What is important is that the first step in becoming a great putter is to simply believe you can be one.

So enough mumbo jumbo of how to think about yourself… what else do you have to do in order to be a great putter?

Putting requires you to be good at three skills and three skills only:

1. Reading the Green

2. Hitting Your Line

3. Speed Control

Over the last 6 years I have been using Science and Motion’s Sam Putt Lab to help players identify what is making it difficult for them to hit their line and/or control their speed. Now, with AimPoint Express in my toolbox, I can help players complete their quest to putting greatness by showing them an extremely simple and effective way to read a green.

As much as I’d love to spell it all out for you here in this article, I’m contractually not allowed to do so. That being said, make sure you are on the lookout for AimPoint Express clinics that will be exclusively hosted by your’s truly at the High Performance Golf Academy.

I realize how boring putting is to most players, especially recreational golfers. But for those of you that care about your score, I would encourage you to let me help you improve your putting now! And if you’ve never used AimPoint Express, there’s low hanging fruit that you can pick to get that improvement going very soon.

AimPoint Certified!!

I am very proud to announce that I have completed AimPoint Certification and you can expect to see several clinics in 2022 teaching AimPoint Express, one of the world’s most simple and effective methods of green reading.

AimPoint Express is a green reading technology that is used by countless players across all major professional tours, as well as elite college and junior golfers. The nice thing about it is that you don’t have to be an elite player to learn AimPoint Express and to begin reading greens at a championship level.

Below are the two ways that I will be teaching AimPoint Express:

Group Clinics

• 2 Hours

• 8 players max (minimum of 3)

• Cost: $150 per player

• Look for dates coming soon!

Individual AimPoint Session

• 1 Hour

• Cost: $200

• Can be scheduled using my online lesson book CLICK HERE

Want to learn more about AimPoint? Click Here to visit the website.

GOLF TIP: Consistent Putting Setup

Here's a simple way to get in a consistent setup each and every time for your putting. Got questions or want more tips? Email me at tyrus@hpgolfacademy.com

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NEW VIDEO GOLF TIP: Consistent Setup for Putting

Here's a simple way to get in a consistent setup each and every time for your putting. Got questions or want more tips? Just ask! Email me at tyrus@hpgolfacademy.com

New Spring Training Program and Putting Boot Camp

Take advantage of these limited time offers to get your golf game tuned up and ready to go for summer 2017!

2017 SPRING TRAINING PACKAGE

Spring is here and now is the time to get your game in shape for the summer! This 5 session training package is design to cover all facets of the game to get you tuned up and ready for the prime playing months of 2017.

Session #1 - Full Swing for Irons and Approach Shots (45 minutes)

Session #2 - Full Swing for Driver (45 minutes)

Session #3 - Wedges and Short Game (45 minutes)

Session #4 - Putting (45 minutes)

Session #5 - On Course Playing Lesson (90 minutes)

Cost for all players is $390 and includes all 5 sessions.

Schedule you first session by clicking here and selecting "Spring Training" under the Lessons Tab.

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PUTTING BOOT CAMP

Are you sick and tired of being a bad or simply average putter? If so, Putting Boot Camp is designed for you to start making more putts than ever before. This 3 sessions in 3 weeks package is designed to utilize the latest technology and techniques available to quickly improve your putting.

Session #1 - Sam Putt Lab Stroke and Putter Evaluation

Session #2 - Sam Putt Lab Training and Drills

Sessions #3 - On Course and Green Reading

All sessions are 45 minutes and must be used within 3 weeks of your first session.

Cost is $190 and includes all sessions.

Schedule you first session by clicking here and selecting "Putting Boot Camp" under the Lessons Tab.

End of the Week Tip: Dealing with Fast Greens

Watching the best players in the world navigate their way around Augusta National during The Masters is one of my favorite times of year. I especially enjoy watching how they handle the famously firm and fast greens during the year's first major.

We may not experience greens as difficult as the ones during the Masters, but there are a few times a year where the greens you play can get firm and fast.  Check out these tips for the next time you are dealing with firm, fast greens.

·       Consider your options when approaching the green.  Creating spin depends more on your lie than anything else.  If playing from the rough where more grass can get between the clubface and the ball, you are less likely to create the necessary spin to hold the green.  In this case your best bet would be to find a landing area short and try getting your ball to roll up to the green.

·       Your grooves matter.  Old, worn out grooves will not help you create spin.  The function of grooves is to channel away any debris that can get between your ball and the clubface so that you get more friction.  New, clean grooves will help you create the most friction and the most spin.

·       Consider a heavier putter on faster greens.  Several putters on the market now have adjustable weight technology that allows you to add or take weight away from the putter head.  A heavier putter head will help you make slower swings which will be needed on fast greens.  Just make sure when you make the change that you spend a little extra time on the practice green getting the feel for your putter and the green.

End of the Week Tip: Drain Long Putts

For the average golfer the likelihood of making a putt outside 30 feet in length drops to about 1%.  There are however things that can be done to increase your chances to make, or get very close to making, longer putts. 

·      Make solid contact. This means contacting the sweet spot of the putter with the ball.  Off center hits will not only lack speed, but will most likely roll off your intended line making it nearly impossible to drain long putts.  Use the gate drill where you put two tees in the ground the width of your putter and practice making putting strokes through the tees without hitting them.

·      Control your tempo.  Not every golfer will have the same tempo in their swing, let alone their putting stroke.  For example you may prefer a longer, slower stroke while others prefer shorter and faster strokes.  Find a tempo that feels right to you and practice it with a metronome.  The metronome will help you maintain the same tempo while keeping your stroke in rhythm.

·      Pick a line and commit.  Green reading is an imperfect system, but most golfers are better at reading the greens than they think. Avoid second-guessing your line by changing it at the last second. Once you pick your line, set the putter on that line and go with it. Whether you prefer to putt to a spot or can visualize the curve of the ball to the hole doesn’t matter.  Just pick your line and go.