“Putting is pace”

The hole is the biggest the slower the ball is rolling when it reaches the hole.

Read:  The ball can roll left or right and it can be uphill or downhill to the hole.   Decide how far left or right and how steep the uphill or downhill break is then find a spot on the green to roll your ball to that incorporates your read.  For example an uphill putt breaking left to right will have a spot left of the hole and past the hole.  A downhill putt will have a spot short of the hole.   It is important to acknowledge the speed of the putt will have on the amount of break.  Generally an uphill putt will break less than a downhill putt.

Aim: Set your putter face perpendicular to your target line.  Always set your body to your putter after you have aimed the putter.  Don’t stand behind your putter to aim it, you look silly and the putter will move by the time you setup.  Find something (blade of grass, ball mark) along your target line to use a reference when you aim the putter.

Roll: Roll the ball straight off your putter face.  Don’t try to make it, try to roll it somewhere, you will make more putts.  It is helpful to strike the ball below the equator of the ball to roll it straight.  Your stroke is like your fingerprint, it is most important the putter returns to the ball square to the target.

Drill- To practice rolling it straight use a striped range ball.  Aim the stripe at a target and practice seeing one stripe while the ball is rolling.

Chris can be reached at Paint Branch and The University of Maryland  Chris@golfclubmd.com

Chris Oleson,PGA
Teaching Professional
University of Maryland
Paint Branch Golf Complex
Golfclubmd.com