Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
WHEN I watch most amateur players putt they invariably misread the break on a putt and miss it on the low side of the hole.
The putt never has a chance of going in because it is impossible for the ball to travel uphill against the slope, unless Newton got his laws of gravity wrong!
Most players would hole more putts if, when reading the break, whatever you think it is – double it. This gives you more chance of the putt going in and if you do miss high, the ball will be travelling towards the hole still, not away from it.
You have to start the ball on the correct line – when visualising a putt, make sure you pick a spot on the line close to you that you want to send the ball over. Ensure this point encompasses the high line you have identified.
Once you have finished your preparation for the stroke and know how hard you are going to strike the putt, concentrate on starting the ball over the point that you have picked.
Putting practice, like any other form of practice is only useful if it has a purpose, otherwise you are just hitting balls and graining in faults.
Make sure next time you visit the putting green pick something specific to work on, and reading the putt correctly is key to holing more putts and reducing your scores.
