Feeding Your Golf Addiction in Winter, Pt. 6 – Putting work into place

Putting is one of the few golf activities I can do year-round at GolfBlogger’s global headquarters in Michigan. When the snow falls, the wind blows and the temperatures drop, I can still set up a putting mat in my sunroom and get some quality time with the flat stick.

That’s a good thing, because putting is half the game of golf. Two of the stokes on each par are reserved for putts, so on a par 72 there are 36 for putts. The math here is simple. To score well, you have to putt well. Education professionals have long insisted that the easiest way to improve your scores is to improve your short game. I’ll go one step further. Just work on improving your putting.

I have long thought that the putting stroke is one of the easier parts of the game. I don’t read the green, you know. The stroke itself. Compared to a full swing (or, God forbid, one of those dreaded Dave Pelz three-quarter clock swings), the putting stroke is simple, slow and controllable. When a ball goes offline during a drive, it’s often difficult to tell which of dozens of things actually went wrong. When a ball falls short, rolls long or goes offline on a putt, the cause is usually more obvious.

Given the central importance of putting, I’ve always found it strange that players who regularly three-jack on the greens will spend so much time concentrating on the full swing. There’s absolutely no point in regulation trying to reach the green if you’re going to three- or even four-putt once you get there.

So feed your golf addiction this winter by practicing putting.

I use a PuttOUT putting trainer (pictured above) with a smart ball-sized target and a sloping back end that helps you judge the correct speed. You can read my PuttOUT review via the link. I also use the PuttOUT mirror system. Read another review of the PuttOUT mirror system via the link.

You could also set up one of those mechanical ball return targets in a room with a short carpet and make a few dozen putts a day with it. I see these devices regularly at local thrift stores. That tells me that there are a significant number of people who intend to practice their putting, but then give up.

Focus on tempo and a smooth stroke first. Work on your putting distance control. You might even consider purchasing one of those aircraft systems which are designed to align your eyes, shoulders, face and pad for a clean shot.

Another fun thing to do is go to the local, well-stocked pro shop or big-box golf store and hang out for an hour or so on their large professional greens. Usually my conscience bothers me after such a free session, so I buy a box of balls.

No one needs to build up bad golf karma during the off-season.