When you are playing the great game of golf, your golf scores become both your best friends as well as your worst enemies. Many players live by their golf scores and judge their progress according to what the score card says. While you might think that your golf scores are the best gauge of how you are coming along as a golfer, that isn't necessarily the case.
The way golf scores are tallied can mean so many things. Just because you shoot an 8 on a par 4 doesn't necessarily mean you are a bad golfer. It might mean that you had a bad drive and a mis-aimed chip - but it doesn't make you a bad golfer. So don't put too much stock into what the scorecard says. Judge your golf game by how you play rather than what your scores are.
Golf scores are only meant to help you keep track of the strokes you take to get from tee box to the hole. They don't ever take into consideration things like hazards, weather conditions, or anxiety. Sure, you can't keep track of how you are doing without paying attention to your golf scores, but you still need to keep in mind that there are a million variables that can make your score fluctuate.
Of course, if you're a golfer, you know all the terminology - birdie, eagle, bogey, double eagle (if you're really lucky) - but the real story in golf scores lies in how you played the course and navigated the hole. Instead of keeping track of scores, why don't you keep track of where you were for a particular shot and how that shot came out?
Let's say, you make a horrible drive on a par 4 and only end up 100 yards off the tee box. Let's hope it's past the women's tee - if you know what I mean! So now you are faced with a long fairway shot. You pick up your favorite club and smack a beautiful flyer right on the green. Who's going to say that wasn't a good golf shot? You end up with a par on the hole, but your score doesn't really reflect that amazing shot now does it?
The point is, don't put too much emphasis on the amount of strokes on your scorecard. Think about your golf score as a reflection of the amazing shots you've made as well as the flubbers you've had to live through as well. Then you can find out what kind of a golfer you are and not have to live by the golf score alone.
Good putting starts with your grip. You need to pick a grip that is comfortable for you and allows you to easily control your putter. The reverse overlapping grip is the most widely used.
The index finger on your left hand overlaps the little finger of your right hand. Many golfers prefer the index finger to overlap more than one finger.
The thumbs are straight down the front of the shaft. Your hands should be at the top of the club, or close to it. Gripping too low on the shaft is not recommended because of the longer distance the club would have to be swung for the longer putts.
Your feet should be about shoulder width apart. Stand close to the ball with your arms close to your body and your eyes directly above the ball. Bend your knees slightly and bend your elbows.
The swing should be a relaxed swing. Your arms and your hands move together through the ball in a perpendicular motion. You want to stroke the ball with the middle of the putter head. Keep your eyes on the ball at all times and you should see the putter hit the ball. Do not look up to follow the flight until you have completed your swing.
Adjust the length of the swing according to the distance of the putt. The swing mechanics remain the same for short putts and for long putts. The length of the swing is all that changes.
When lining up the putt, the putter head should be square to the target. If you anticipate a break to the right, for instance, your intended target will be above the hole. How far above the hole you aim depends on the break of the green. Your putter head will not be square to the hole but will be square to the point above the hole where you expect the break to occur.
You want to practice putting before you start your round. Too many golfers hit the practice green and begin trying to drop long putts. It will be to your advantage to start your practice putts close to the hole. Get this stroke down until you are comfortable and the ball is dropping consistently.
Now begin to move away from the hole and continue putting. As you get more comfortable, begin to move farther away. For most weekend golfers, the objective is to get long putts as close as possible to the hole to make the putt more manageable. If you can consistently make putts from a short to midrange distance, you will easily lower your golf scores.
Both Jeff Seward & Pius Victor Ephenus are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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