Golf Talk With Greg Holman – #12

Click play to listen to Greg’s Podcast, or read below.

I’ve been practicing indoor on the carpet with my new PING Putter I received for Christmas. I seem to make a lot more puts in the comfort of my living room floor than I do on the golf course.

The purpose of putting indoors is to develop a consistent stroke, think of it as a pendulum, back and forth. Same tempo every time. Only the length of the stroke will differ depending on the length of the putt.

Last week we talked about the closest to the hole game, and I promised you a different game to try. This one incorporates a little pressure, and will require patience and time, so before you attempt this game make sure you don’t have any deadlines.

It’s the make, and move on putting game. This time you don’t have an appointment, it’s just you vs the putting green, and the putting green is going to win more times than not. You can start with any amount of golf balls and by the way, always use new golf balls. Creases, paint chips, excessive use, and even grass stains can keep a ball from rolling true, you don’t want any excuses. I like to use the same brand too especially in this game, so that you get the maximum consistency on each putt. Three golf balls will comfortably fit in the cup at the same time so that’s a good number to start with.

Begin at 3 feet, and putt from the same spot until you make all three balls. Then move back to 4 feet, then 5. When you can sink three putts in a row from 10 feet, you can go home. It’s harder than you think, the accomplished golfer can really add pressure to the game by playing that if you miss any putt you have to start back at 3 feet. Once you tire at this game try the same thing at a longer distance say 40 feet, this time you have to two putt each ball. When you master that game, have a little fun and design an 18 hole on the putting green. Make your own par, for instance, on a 10 foot putt, making two out of three might be a par, that’s four putts total, a par 4. A 60 foot putt might be a par 6.

Next week we’ll talk about chipping. A friend of mine who is a beginning golfer asked me the difference between a chip and a pitch, and we’ll talk about that and why the percentages are with you when you chip rather than pitch your ball. Until then, if you’re lucky enough to get out on the course in January, enjoy these putting games, and enjoy shaving three or four strokes off your score by becoming better with the flat stick!