Chris Oleson, is the head golf pro at the University of Maryland Golf Course in College Park, MD. He contributes to a monthly column on TheLocalGolfer.com called Tips from the Pro.
Short putts are very important, get in the habit of making them. I watch many amateur golfers’ pickup short putts that are too long to be gimmies. I also watch good players miss 2 and 3 foot putts. Here are a couple of tips to make more short putts.
Remember to use an interim point that is closer to your ball as your target rather than the hole. Try to hit your target, the ball may or may not go in, your job is to hit the target you establish. Take a range ball and line the stripes up at your target. Practice getting that range ball to roll so it looks like it has one stripe when it is rolling. When you can do that, one stripe means the ball is rolling straight.
Distance (speed) control with putting is also critical. Remember that the hole is the biggest the slower the ball is rolling when it arrives at the hole. Mark O’Meara used to practice making short putts perfectly, so the ball would not touch the sides of the hole. Go roll 3-5 foot putts and try to get the ball to fall perfectly to the bottom of the cup. Combine these exercises of rolling the ball straight at your target with the correct speed and you will make more short putts.
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