Recently, a student brought another technology driven training aid to a golf lesson. This aid employers laser technology. The device is designed to help improve putting. She asked me what I thought of the device as a training aid. It wasn’t the first time I had seen or heard about it, but it started me thinking: How many laser-based devices are out there and can they really help cut your golf handicap?

Brief History of Lasers

The name LASER is an acronym for Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Albert Einstein first theorized about the process that makes lasers possible in 1917. In the ’50s, Charles Townsend and Arthur Schawlow invented the maser (microwave amplification by stimulated emission of radiation), a technology similar to the laser. Then in 1960, Theodore Maiman invented the ruby laser, considered to be the first successful optical or light laser. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Lasers capitalize on the way light interacts with electrons. Electrons exist at specific energy levels or states characteristic of that particular atom or molecule. When you bump electrons to a higher energy level by injecting energy, “excess” energy is given off as light. The wavelength or color of the emitted light is precisely related to the amount of energy released. Depending on the particular lasing material being used, specific wavelengths of light are absorbed and specific wavelengths emitted.

LASERS and Golf

Lasers are ideal for a wide variety of uses, including eye surgery and metal cutting. While they have numerous properties, the one most associated with LASERS is accuracy. Applications requiring pinpoint accuracy are well suited to this technology. So it would be only natural that this technology when applied to golf could help with one’s putting, where accuracy is in high demand. That’s exactly what we found. Here are three examples:

* One device simply affixes to the putter shaft and beams a straight line directly in front of and behind the ball. It’s adjustable, which helps golfers see either a perfectly square set-up or a red beam along the target line. This device helps with alignment.

* A second device embeds a laser cartridge in the face of a putter. The device features a single beam that emits a red light from the face’s center for perfect alignment practice. The best part of the device is that the laser cartridge can be swapped out and you have a perfectly functional putter.

* A third device, which also attaches to a putter’s face, uses a three-laser Argon system that illuminates the ball and both sides of it. The device teaches proper alignment and fixes lopsided putting strokes. The device also comes with an Argon dome, which attaches to the putter, for enhanced practice.

We also found two other laser devices designed to help perfect your address and your swing:

* This device beams a laser light at the inside heal of your forward foot. By using the attached measuring tool, golfers can practice their ball and address positions with ease.

* Another device uses high-powered green lasers at opposite ends of a stick-like shaft to get the job done. The lasers are so strong that this device can be used effectively outdoors also comes with a wrist bar. It teaches the three P’s—plane, power, and precision.

These laser devices all seem like great training aids. As with any training aid, golfers must use them to get the most out of them. In other words, golfers must put in the required practice time with the aids—whether its driving, chipping, or putting—if the want to lower their golf handicaps.

Training aids are only helpful if you put practice with them, no matter how high- or low-tech they are. If you’re going to buy a training aid to help your game, make sure you use it between golf lessons and rounds of golf. It’s the only way these devices will help you slash your golf handicap.

Practice Using Lasers? is a post from: Putting Tips Pro

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After all, if you know how to properly use a putter, then chances are that you are experienced at reading a green, as well as figuring out and controlling the speed and distance of your ball. You may even have the knowledge of how to create a pure roll with your golf ball; but this information is useless if you do not know how to use a putter. Knowing how to use a putter has many, many benefits.

No matter what, one highly important aspect of a putter is its alignment. Even if you read your green to the best of your ability and had a perfect speed and roll with your ball – if the putter was not lined up correctly to make the shot, chances are you won’t make it. Your putter’s alignment means everything in a game. Even if you think that you can read your green to the best of your ability, you may not be able to totally hit the ball with the best speed and roll. Playing this game over and over will show you how to line up the ball to make the shot. You may need to use line, circles, holes, dots, and other features to line yourself up for the shot – but no matter what, with the right putter, it will end up where you want.

What type of putter you choose is completely up to you. Putters are typically chosen based upon a personal preference. Remember that in golf, every person is different. You may choose a putter based on its style, its weight, its look, or its technology. The putter you choose is completely up to you and your personal style.

There are a variety of guidelines that can assist you in purchasing a putter. The basic types of putters are as follows:

Putter blades:
Putter blades are generally narrow and flat. On the market today, there are several putters that are widely popular among low-to-handicap players. This is due to the enhanced feel of the putters. The blade of every putter entered more in the middle compared to other types. A blade putter provides extra weight in the heel and toe of the putter to improve forgiveness on off center hits. Blade style putters give you a thin top line to look at while you are over the ball.

Perimeter weight:
A perimeter-weighted putter design is a forgiving design. The perimeter weightied design distributes the weight around the edges of the club-head, in turn creating a larger sweet spot that helps stabilize any slight mishaps.

Mallets:
Mallets feature a large, round club-head. The weight of these mallet putters is usually balanced throughout the head for a more consistent putting stroke.

Insert:
An insert is designed with composite inserts. These insert putters offer a great feel on the putt, as well as a highly a smooth roll.

Golf Putters: What Type is Right for You? is a post from: Putting Tips Pro

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In fact, even many pros who have exceptionally consistent swings and are outstanding in every other part of their game, often have trouble with putting, sometimes even losing tournaments due to their putting woes. So if you are a newer or less experienced golfer be sure to pay attention to your putting game, and get a good putter that you can feel comfortable with.

Getting just the right putter for you can be a bit of a challenge though since there are so many types and styles of putters available today. In fact, at times it can even get a little overwhelming when you see all the different kinds of putters that are in use. How do you choose from among them all? How do you know which one is best for you?

Those are all very good questions, and the truth is that there is no standard answer that can be provided. Finding the perfect putter for your individual game is something that only you can do by trial and error. It may require using several different kinds of putters over a long period of time before you can decide on which one works best for you. But don’t just use a certain putter because someone else uses it, or you were told that it was the best one to use. Be sure to experiment on your own instead.

With all of that said, there are some basic things that you need to know about putters to be able to make the best choice. The first has to do with the kind of material that is used for the putter head. Since putting has more to do with feel than perhaps any other type of golf shot, the material that is used for the putter head will be very important. The confusing part is that putters are often made from all sorts of materials including stainless steel, aluminum, brass, and much more. So which is best for you?

Again, this is something that only you can decide by experimenting with different types of putters yourself. Many golf pro shops and golf equipment retail stores carry a wide variety of putters that you can try out in the store. It’s not a bad idea to take advantage of this opportunity to get familiar with the different types and styles of putters that are available.

Another consideration when selecting a putter is the putter head shape. Generally speaking, most putter head shapes fall into two basic categories, either blade or mallet. You’ll see golfers of all different kinds of skill levels using putters with either head shape. A blade putter sort of looks like a small hockey stick, and they can come in all kinds of designs including the solid flat blade and also cavity-back designs to help keep the putter head straight through impact.

The second putter head shape to consider is the mallet putter. These are easy to recognize because they usually have a head that is larger and more round. The weight is often distributed throughout the putter to help provide a more consistent putting stroke.

As you can see, there are plenty of choices to be made when selecting a golf putter. Hopefully this information will help you understand more about the choices that you have when choosing a putter, but only you can make the final decision by using it yourself.

Golf Equipment Tips – How To Choose A Putter is a post from: Putting Tips Pro

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So, is there any real difference between instructors, or will anyone do?

Hey look, there are $7 an hour fry cooks at McDonald’s and $100,000 per year chefs – both can teach you how to cook, but the results you’ll experience will be far different. While a higher price does not always mean higher quality, it is a good rule of thumb to go by when looking for the “Zen Master” instructor for your golf lessons.

How do I choose an instructor?

As with almost any decision we make, the budget is always a factor. How much money can you afford? Are these golf lessons to help you meet clients, or are you just looking to learn how to play the game? If you really don’t like golf but know it would be a great business asset, then you will want a better instructor. After all, the golf lessons then become a business investment, correct? You will generally find the more experienced and sought-after instructors giving golf lessons at the higher end clubs and resorts. A Las Vegas golf lesson at the Walter’s Golf Academy might be given by Chuck Matlack, Mike Davis, or Jimmie Pollard – all of whom are seasoned pro’s with great portfolios – and with great rates to match!

Do I have to have private golf lessons, or are there other options?

Now that is a very good question. You can either receive golf lessons from an instructor in a one-on-one setting, or attend a “Golf School” where lessons are given in groups. Clearly, you will get more personalized golf lessons with a personal instructor, but the process can take months, and progress may be slow. But if you want to save some money and need a crash course, then golf lessons from one of the many available schools is the route to take.

What else should I know?

You should definitely know your own commitment level. Look – golf lessons are not cheap. Whatever you learn – be it from Jimmie Pollard during a Las Vegas golf lesson or at Greg’s Golf Shack – you will need to reinforce what you learn with practice. Otherwise, you are just wasting your money. So be sure that you really want to play the game, be it for business or pleasure, before deciding to take golf lessons.

As with anything else, you’ll want your golf instructor or school to be the best investment of both time and money possible. Therefore, don’t be afraid to ask for references, or even to interview the potential instructors before making a decision. After factoring in budget, instruction style, and your own commitment level, select the best golf lessons option for you and your needs. You’ll be glad you did.

Golf Lessons From a Zen Master is a post from: Putting Tips Pro

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Those of you not familiar with the latest on golf lessons now have at least a basic understanding. But there’s more to come.

If you’ve been thinking about taking up golf, or if you’re a golfer in search of a better game, you may have considered golf lessons. But are golf lessons really beneficial? And how do you find a pro who will offer good advice?

There are some who swear that lessons are vital and others who say that practice is the only thing that will improve your golf game. The truth seems to lie somewhere in the middle. But before you drop your coach or sign up for lessons, consider what it is that you hope golf lessons will accomplish. Outlining your goals may help you decide whether you truly need lessons or simply more time on the course.

If you play with others who play exceptionally well, you may want to find someone to give you some help with your game. Whether that’s a paid coach or merely a friend who plays well is strictly a personal choice. Getting some pointers and tips may be a good way to ensure that you don’t totally embarrass yourself in front of other players.

If you’re serious about the game, you’ve probably been involved long enough that you don’t need advice on whether to get a coach. But if you’ve only recently discovered the joy of golfing, you may find yourself looking for a way to improve your game. Golf lessons could very well be the answer.

Some people say that lessons give them a set time to practice and an opportunity to completely focus on the game. You’ll typically be less interrupted than if you were playing on your own, stopping to chat with friends along the way. But others say the simple fact of having someone scrutinizing every move and offering constant advice is more distracting than helpful. Decide whether you’re one of those who accept direction and works well in that situation. That’s a major clue as to whether golf lessons are a good idea.

Remember that a golf coach’s job is to teach you to golf correctly. That means that there are some habits that he (or she) will be trying to ingrain and others they’ll be trying to break. While golfing correctly is a terrific goal, many golfers have some bad habits that they tout as benefiting their game. Changing your grip, adjusting your stance or even using different equipment may be among the “must do” list from your coach. You may resist those changes. You have two options. You can do your best to follow the instructions, or you can explain that you aren’t planning to change that particular habit. If you don’t plan to change, you may need to reexamine your decision to take lessons. Without following directions, lessons may become a waste of time and effort on both parts, and money on yours.

Golf lessons are great for some people. It’s a personal decision whether you are one of those who will benefit from a coach – formal or informal. But remember that the most important thing to improve your golf game is simply practice.

As your knowledge about golf lessons continues to grow, you will begin to see how golf lessons fits into the overall scheme of things. Knowing how something relates to the rest of the world is important too.

Golf Lessons, Advice, Tips and Pointers is a post from: Putting Tips Pro

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Finding the best website for online golf lessons is relatively simple. Perhaps you have already established a comfortable, user-friendly golf website and that site lends you access to online golf lessons. If not, there are many reputable websites from which to choose. Also there are varied means in which to utilize the lessons offered.

Online golf lessons can include tips on how to improve specific aspects of your golf game. Normally on most websites, an overall generalization is provided so that you can see the broad scope of golf. This occurs at first and as you gain more direct knowledge toward where your particular golf game suffers you can find information that will seem personalized.

There will also be valuable information about stance, follow through of an effective swing and the finer points of swing analysis. Online golf lessons can even include time and effort geared toward the mental aspect of the game. As we know golf is a competitive sport in which you are competing against other golfer, the course and most importantly yourself.

In most case online golf lessons are offered on a non-paying basis and are simply included in your favorite golf website. In some cases you may find golf lessons that are presented in acrobat reader formatting and are downloaded into your personal computer at a minimal cost to you. Payment is made in a secure fashion with a credit card. Shopping around to search for the most effective lessons for your level of interest in the sport of golf is of utmost importance. Searching for the perfect lessons for you will serve to keep costs down and also to provide optimal help in areas where you most need it.

Most scenarios where golf lessons are available for free or for a cost in a downloadable format you will be given ample information. This information will be provided to determine if your personal computer has the capacity to down load these various programs. And to assure you that your computer also possess the capabilities to present the lessons in the way they are meant to be viewed.

One benefit from utilizing online golf lessons to improve your golf skills is that you can experience the lessons at your leisure. You can study and practice at your leisure and then too have the lessons handy for reviewing when you forget exactly what was being taught. Once you have improved your golf game and see the results you were hoping to see it is possible you will search for a more specific online lesson for your needs. Knowing where to look and what to expect with effective results will make that search much more pleasant.

Finding Golf Lessons Online! is a post from: Putting Tips Pro

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What matters, as I’ve said before in my golf tips, is playing the game at your natural rhythm. Rest assured, everyone has his or her own natural rhythm. If you like to take your time with things, you probably like to play at a moderate pace. If you like to zip through things, you probably like to play at a faster pace. The key is not to let what’s happening on the course affect your natural rhythm. When that happens, you often lose both your rhythm and your timing. To trash scoring barriers, you should try to maintain your natural rhythm through the whole round

Find Your Rhythm Early

To squeeze the most out of your game on any given day, work on getting into a nice rhythm early. If you use a pre-round routine and stick with it throughout the season, it makes getting into a rhythm easier. Of course, following a pre-round routine every time is difficult. Players taking golf lessons often say they don’t have the time to go through a pre-round routine. But if you’re serious about lowering your golf handicap, you’ll make time for it. A pre-round routine prepares you mentally and physically for the challenges ahead.

In addition, a pre-round routine eliminates the nervousness or strangeness you sometimes feel before a round. It’s why the pros work hard to gain their rhythm before they tee off. It’s even more important for weekend golfers to work on their rhythm because they don’t play as often as the pros. Tiger Woods copied his pre-round routine from Jack Nicklaus. Tiger uses the same six clubs on the practice range, ending with the club he is going to use off the first tee. Tiger’s not working on his swing here. He’s working on his rhythm.

Play When Ready

In addition to a pre-round routine, always use a pre-shot routine. A good pre-shot routine is critical to playing with consistency. The tendency when your playing a match is to speed up mentally, especially when you’re under pressure. This tendency breaks your rhythm, throwing you off. It also creates tightness in your hands and arms. When you’re tight, it’s harder to fell your rhythm. You start making mistakes. A good pre-shot routine relaxes you, calms you down, and encourages rhythm. Never play a shot before you’re ready.

In addition, always walk to your next shot at a steady pace. Do the same between holes. The extra time gives you a chance to plan your next shot. And don’t get too pumped up after a good shot. Or, too down after a bad shot. Either can affect the next shot. Pace yourself and always try to play within yourself. Your natural rhythm will do the rest for you.

Use A Metronome For Putting

Another critical area is putting. It’s just as important to build rhythm for putting prior to a round as it is for making a full swing. Actually, it might be more important, since nearly 30 percent of your shots on any given day are putts. So in addition to taking swings at the practice range, hit the putting green. One way to build rhythm in your putting is to practice with a metronome—a device for keeping beats in music. Use this device to practice your putting stroke.

If you really want to refine your game, here’s a solid golf tip: Play at your natural rhythm. It improves your scores and your golf handicap.

Finding Your Rhythm Cuts Strokes is a post from: Putting Tips Pro

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It’s not just weekend golfers who wreak havoc on their putters, either. Professionals do it, too. Woody Austin, winner of the 2004 Buick Championship, got so frustrated with his game once that he bent the shaft of his putter on his head after missing a crucial putt. He’s not the only pro who’s done it, either. That raises the question: What do you do when you don’t have a putter to putt with?

The Rule

 The rule on clubs is straightforward. If a club is damaged during the course of play, you can replace it. For example, if something happens to a club during the course of normal play—the clubhead falls off, the shaft gets bent while hitting—you can replace the club. Tiger Woods sent a PGA official to the trunk of his Buick during the 2004 Deutsche Bank Tournament to get him another sand wedge after damaging his on some rocks while swinging.

However, if you damage your club through some action other than during the normal course of play, like smashing it on a rock or bending it over your knee, you’re stuck. You can’t replace it. You have to discontinue using it and play without a replacement. In other words, if you intentionally damage your putter, you have to pay the price. Now the question becomes: what do you putt with to finish the round?

You have several options when it comes to using another club. Let’s look at three of them:

A Wedge

One option is a wedge. The advantage to using a wedge is that the shaft lengths of a putter and a wedge are similar. The length allows you to not only take your normal putting stance, but also set up with your eyes directly over the ball. Setting up with your eyes directly over the ball, as I’ve mentioned in my golf tips, is essential to good putting.

The disadvantage with using a wedge is that your have to strike the middle of the ball with the thin leading edge of the blade. That’s not easy. It takes a great deal of precision and confidence to hit a golf ball with the leading edge of a club. It may not be something you want to try if you’re already angry or upset over your play. It might just make things worse instead of better, costing your strokes.

A Driver

Some players with low golf handicaps use a driver. The advantage of using a driver to putt with is that it is second only to the putter when it comes to having the least amount of loft. A driver has a face loft of 5 to 10.5 degrees, while the putter has a loft of about 1 degree. The large face also makes it easier to make good contact with the ball.

The driver’s disadvantage is the length of its shaft. It’s hard setting up directly over the ball with a club that has such a long shaft. To get comfortable, you’ll need to stand farther away from the ball. Your eyes won’t be directly over the ball. Also, the ball tends to pop of the driver’s face because of the mass of the clubface.

Using A Hybrid

A third option is a hybrid. It doesn’t quite have the driver’s low degree of loft, but the shaft is a much shorter. That enables you to get a little closer to the target line with your eyes. But the ball pops off a hybrid’s clubface just like it does with the driver. So you need to be careful when using this club. Some players use a hybrid to hit shots just off the green. Why not try it as a putter, if your putter becomes incapacitated?

Any of these three clubs can work. You might want to spend some time practicing with them though. That way you’ll at least have some feel for the clubs as a putter should you ever need to use them. However, if you’re really serious about lowering your golf handicap, you’ll work on keeping your frustrations in check and saving your putter. It’s the best way to improve.

Putting Without A Putter is a post from: Putting Tips Pro

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But to dramatically improve your putting, you need the right putter. Whether it’s a traditional or an untraditional putter, you won’t improve much if you don’t have the right stick. That’s why it’s critical to find the right stick. Since that can be daunting, given all the putters now available, we’ve provided some golf tips below on choosing the right putter.

Find A Real Grass Putting Surface

Some people choose a putter based on hype. Others choose one based on cost. Or, they choose one because Tiger Woods recommends it. Those aren’t the best ways of choosing a putter. Ultimately, selecting a putter comes down to a combination of physical and psychological factors. It also comes down to how the putter feels and how you feel about it. If a putter doesn’t feel right, you won’t improve much.

What you want is to find a putter that instills confidence—confidence in yourself as a golfer and in the club itself. So compare types and models. Many sporting goods stores or golf warehouses have putting surfaces you can test putters on. These in-door surfaces are good and they can help. They give you get a feel for a putter. But they’re not the best way of testing putters.

The best way of testing putters is on real grass. We can’t emphasize that enough. If you’re looking for a new putter, find a store or a local club with a real grass putting green and spend the afternoon testing putters. If you can’t find a location with a real grass putting green, see if the store will let you test it out on the course. Testing a putter on grass gives you the best chance of determining how a putter will perform over the long haul.

Factors To Consider In A Putter

Ideally, you want to choose your putter systematically. Here’s a five-step method for doing so:

1. Take the look-see test. Review all the putters available. Examine the different types and models. Then, based on the “feel good-play good” theory, select a few to test. One factor to consider is heft. Another is alignment method. A third is putterhead type. Make sure your comfortable with all three. When you find one you’re comfortable with, put it aside

2. Try each putter out. Take the putters you set aside and make a series of long and short putts of similar length with each putter.

3. Select two or three putters. Choose two or three you like the best and test those out extensively. Don’t judge them just by how many putts you sink. Instead, judge them based on how the putter feels and how the ball rolls off the putter.

4. Make putts with your eyes closed. Hit a few putts with your eyes closed. This gives you a feel for the putter’s weight and how it feels when it contacts the ball. Try narrowing it down to two putters.

5. Choose the best putter. Make the decision. Again, don’t base your choice on cost or which player on the pro tour uses it. Base it on how the putter feels, how comfortable it is, and if it instills confidence.

Don’t Look Back

After you’re made your decision, don’t look back. You’ve chosen a putter. That’s it. You’re done. Buyer’s remorse never helped anyone. Instead, practice with the new putter as much as possible. Practice helps you get comfortable with it and develop confidence in the putter and yourself.

If you’ve chosen an untraditional putter, like a belly putter or a long putter, schedule some golf lessons with a local pro. He or she has a wealth of golf tips on grip and stroke. These will increase putter comfort and putting accuracy.

Improving putting reduces golf handicaps. Sometimes it improves a handicap dramatically. So take some golf lessons on putting, even if you have a traditional putter. But first, make sure you have the right putter. If you’re looking for a new one, follow our five-step method above and take your time selecting one. It will pay off in the long run.

Using The Right Putter Sheds Strokes is a post from: Putting Tips Pro

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One good way to learn to hit a par saving shot is to watch the pros in action. By studying how they do it, you can learn golf tips that can help you get up and down more often. Previously, watching golf tournaments on television was the only way to see the pros in action. But thanks to the Internet, gleaning golf tips from pro golfers is easier than ever. When it comes to saving par, keep an eye on Luke Donald, Ben Crane, Jose Marie Olazabal, and Tiger Woods. They provide great golf instruction sessions.

Make More Sand Saves

Luke Donald is among the best young players on the Tour. He’s also among the best at sand saves—with a save percentage of nearly 80 percent. That’s impressive. Obviously, he has sand saves down to a science. For him, the key to making sand saves is adjusting his technique to his lie. He’s learned to hit all kinds of shots from a bunker, like the “fried egg.” To hit a high soft shot with this lie, he stands square to the target line, places more weight on his front foot, and opens up the clubface. These adjustments create a higher, softer shot that rolls toward the hole when it lands.

Sink More Putt

Ben Crane is always among the Tour’s putting leaders. He averages about 27 putts per 18 holes. His edge lies in his solid fundamentals. A strong point is his ability to keep his putter underneath his eye line during the stroke. This symmetry—eyes over the line and putter under the eyes—is critical to sinking putts. It promotes consistency because your eyes help determine how your muscles move. In other words, you putt where you look. And where you look affects perception. Maintaining the eyes over the target line keeps the club moving along the line and directing the ball along this path.

Chip Like A Pro

Jose Maria Olazabal is among the premier short game players in the world. He’s always among the Tour leaders in Scrambling—saving par after missing a green in regulation—with a 69 percent average. Like Ben Crane whose putting technique is solid, Olazabal features a flawless chipping technique. Normally, he uses a piston like pitching approach. In it, the right elbow straightens as it applies force at impact. This increases accuracy because it produces an accelerated stroke and keeps the clubface on line—two keys to great chipping.

Escaping From The Rough

When we think of Tiger Woods, we often think of his booming drives or his deadly approach shots. But Tiger also has an uncanny ability to escape from the heavy rough. It requires both strength and technique—and Tiger has both. You can learn a lot from watching Tiger play shots in the heavy rough. For him the key to clearing heavy rough is rotating his chest and hips, preventing the grass from grabbing the club’s hosel and closing the face. In addition, he holds the clubface open by preventing his forearms from rotating.

If your golf handicap never seems to drop no matter how much you visit the range, focus on learning to save par. Do whatever it takes. Read golf tips on how to chip and putt. Take golf lessons on putting and tackling the rough. And watch how the pros do it. You’ll be surprised just how much you can reduce your golf handicap just by learning to save par.

Saving Par Cuts Golf Handicaps is a post from: Putting Tips Pro

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But while studying professional golfers often produces valuable golf tips, the modern style of putting may not yield the best results for weekend golfers—at least that’s the opinion of the PGA’s Tom Kite. He thinks weekend golfers shouldn’t putt like the pros at all. Instead, he advocates adopting a different technique—one that h believes can lower your golf handicap dramatically.

More Like Jones Than Woods

Here’s Kite’s theory: Over the years putting has evolved. It’s gone from the wristy stroke of Bobby Jones to the arm-and-shoulder stroke of Tiger Woods. The arm-and-shoulder stroke is fine for professionals, who play on fast, smooth greens and under great pressure. The arm-and-shoulder stroke is highly effective here. It provides control over the putt and also eliminates the influence of the wrists’ smaller muscles. These can twitch when under pressure, causing mistakes.

But the modern stroke may not be right for weekend golfers, who play on slower, bumpier greens and under less pressure. That’s because of two reasons: First, since the modern stroke is longer, it’s also slower. The longer and slower the stroke, the easier it is for the putterhead to go off line. You can’t sink a putt if your putterhead is off line—even if the putt’s speed and roll is perfect.

Second, since the greens weekend players play on aren’t as glass-like as those of the pros, making solid contact is imperative. Slower, bumpier greens require a firmer putt to keep the ball on line—one that can be delivered by using the wrists. A wristy stroke down plays the arms and shoulders. Also, since weekend golfers play under less pressure, they don’t have to worry about twitching.

Support From Jack Nicklaus

Support for Kite’s theory comes from one of the game’s greatest players. If you watch old footage of Jack Nicklaus, you’ll notice a big difference between his approach to putting and Tiger Woods’. Like Woods, Jack is methodical in his basic approach. He carefully studies each putt. And like Woods, he carefully goes through his pre-shot routine. But when it comes to putting the ball, Jack uses more of his wrists than Woods does.

Watching Jack, it almost seems like he “pops” the ball as opposed to stroking it—a good image to keep in your mind, if you adopt this putting style. Also, Jack makes a much shorter stroke than Woods, picking the putterhead up more abruptly and then placing it down on the ball. In fact, Jack’s stroke looks more like a jab than a stroke, with little movement of the arms and shoulders.

Keys To A Wristier Stroke

If you’re committed to changing putting styles, adopting Kite’s approach is worth considering. But you must hold two keys firmly in mind if use his approach. First, keep the blade square to the ball. In the modern stroke, the blade has a tendency to open and close in the course of the stroke. But with Kite’s approach the blade doesn’t have time to open much. In fact, keep the idea of squaring the blade to the ball as your primary swing thought.

Second, make the putter head finish on the ground. In the modern stroke the putterhead keeps moving toward the target after the ball is struck. It’s known as follow-through. It results in hitting up on the putt, causing topped or cut putts. But Kite’s approach eliminates this fault, since there’s no follow-through. Since there’s no follow-through, try hitting the bottom of the ball, not the upper half.

Kite’s idea of using a wristy putting stroke has merit. If you’re looking to improve your putting, consider it. Keep in mind that putting is the most individual of all golfing skills. So the wristier stroke may be better for you than the arm-and-shoulder stroke. But whatever you do, don’t stop taking golf lessons, reading golf tips, or practicing putting. It’s the best way to improve your putting and the quickest way to lower your golf handicap.

Tom Kite’s Controversial Advice is a post from: Putting Tips Pro

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But sinking more short putts improves your golf handicap, since we usually have many more short putts than long ones during a round. So if you’re really serious about lowering your golf handicap, work on sinking more short putts.

One area of short putting to focus on is alignment. Poor alignment causes more missed short putts than almost anything else. The tips below on help improve alignment.

Correct Shoulder Misalignment

Pulled putts hurts many a weekend golfer. Among the biggest causes of pulled putts is shoulder misalignment. Players with low golf handicaps tend to blame pulled putts on a breakdown of the wrists. But that’s not always the case. If your shoulders are misaligned, you’ll pull putts.

Next time you’re on the practice green, try this simple test: Go through your pre-shot routine. Take your address. Now, bend down and place your club’s shaft lengthwise along your feet so that it’s touching your toes. If the shaft is not running parallel to the target line, you may have discovered why you’re pulling your short putts.

How can you fix this? First, push your hands as close together as possible. The closer your hands, the less likely you are to dip your back shoulder toward the ball, caused by how you grip the club. Second, think of the line of your shoulders as you address the ball. If you’re fighting a pull, make sure your shoulders are parallel to the target line. That way when you swing, it will be along the line of the putt, not out to in.

Aligning The Putterface

 In addition to aligning your shoulders properly, your must also align your putterface correctly. The putter’s sweet spot must be perpendicular to the target for the ball to be online and stay that way during the putt. If you’re missing short putts, you could be taking this fundamental for granted—a common error among players with high golf handicaps.

Practicing the credit card drill helps eliminate this problem:

Find a straight 8-foot putt on the practice green and drop a ball down. Go through your normal pre-shot routine, and then take your address. Once you’re set, have a friend switch the ball for a credit card, placing it square to the ball with the long sides pointing toward the hole. Now rise up, stand back, and look along the card’s long edges. These lines should bracket the hole.

If you’re off, repeat the drill, but align the credit card first. Then place the ball on top of it. Now set your putterface square to the edges of the credit card. This allows you to see what straight looks like. After a few practice sessions, you’ll get an idea of what straight really is.

Line-up The Lettering

Another method of improving alignment is perhaps the simplest of all. Find a green where you have a straight putt about 10 to 12 feet. Now drop a ball down and take your address. Align yourself as you normally would. Make sure the clubface is at right angles to the ball. Now, holding the putter tightly, kneel down behind the putter and look over the putterhead to see if you had the putter aligned correctly. If not, keep working on this until you do.

In addition, you can reduce alignment problems when playing by using an old trick that many pros use. Before putting, place a marker behind your ball. Now bend down and align the ball’s lettering so that it’s aiming directly at the hole. Go through your pre-shot routine and take your address. Make sure the putter’s sweet spot is perpendicular to the lettering on the ball before putting. If it is, you’re aligned properly.

Tiger Woods spends about 45 percent of his time on the practice green hitting short putts. That tells you how important sinking those 10 and 12 footers really is. To sink more short putts, take proper alignment seriously. Make sure you are correctly aligned on every putt, even the short ones. Sinking more short putts chop strokes off golf handicaps.

Sinking Short Putts Cuts Golf Handicap is a post from: Putting Tips Pro

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Golf has emerged as one of the favorite hobbies of men all around the world. People from all walks of life enjoy playing the game and are constantly looking for ways to improve their skills. Golf instruction video program offers lessons and training to those who aspire to hone their skills and become better golfers.

Golf instruction video offers visual learning. When a person engages his sense of sight and sound they have a tendency to learn quickly and retain information for a longer period of time. People understand and learn things better when the techniques of the game are demonstrated instead of simply reading the instructional text. They are extremely popular due to their affordable price and the flexibility to go back and review the lessons at any point of time convenient to you without loosening the string of your purse to pay for a brush-up lesson.

The advanced technology enables you to pause, rewind and stop the golf instructional at any point of time and learn the techniques at your own convenience which is not at all possible in the presence of a live instruction or through golf books. A live instructor usually teaches the methods to a group of learners and is unable to devote sufficient time to solve the problems and difficulties of an individual. When you take golf lessons through videos and watch important tournaments you can learn and improve your skills in a much better way than any other medium of instruction. Furthermore you can rewind any lesson and retain the methods and techniques through repetition of the action.

With the advent of the state-of-the-art technology and special effects golf instructional video programs are available with inserts, split screens, close up views, 3D and computer generated graphics. These advanced methods of instruction enhance explanation and present the information more effectively.

About the Author:

Online is the best place to buy golf instructional video. Browse through the website view the sample lessons and choose the one that best fits your requirement.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Golf Instruction Video Program Offers Lessons to Those Who Aspire to Become Better Golfers

Golf Instruction Video Programs – Help you Become a Better Golfer is a post from: Putting Tips Pro

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Have you ever taken a golf lesson? Surely you have gotten a golf tip. What do you remember of that lesson or that tip? Golf is a funny game; you can hear a great tip and put it to work for a few days, or even a few weeks, but then it is gone. It is gone and you are back to floundering all over again. I have learned not to pay too much attention to golf tips, but I got some very good golf advice once and I would like to share it with you.

I have had a lot of golf instruction in my life and most of it is of minimal efficacy. What I am about to say is going to sound radical, but I think that golf pros spend too much time on golf technique and not enough on golf art! Who teaches the art of golf anymore? Have you been to an instructor today? They put sensors all over your body and film you from two sides and then measure angles such as degree of hip turn, shoulder turn, knee flex, and on and on. I know that teaching the swing has value, but come on; the golf swing is not that hard. No one ever taught me to swing a baseball bat (well I was shown a few times), and yet I had a stellar high school career. No, today more than ever we need to learn the art of the game. We need to learn how to play golf not what to do. Just like baseball they taught us how to cover your position and how to run the bases, we in golf need to learn how to play the course.

I used to play regularly with a fellow who always shot 80 or 81. His best rounds were 77 or 78, but his bad rounds were never higher than 84 or 85. If you bet his score before the round, you would do best to guess 80 or 81. This guy was Mr. Steady; his scores did not deviate much at all. What was this all about, I wondered; how is he so consistent and the rest of us so up and down? Some of you might think that of course he is consistent, he shoots 80! Well, 80 isn’t that hot, I mean it is good, but lots of players are better than that, but few more consistent. So I analyzed his game and something stuck out to me, like a sore thumb.

This guy, let’s call him Rodney (since that is his name), was a most consistent player, because he intimately knew his limitations. Early on when I was playing with him, I always thought it odd that every time he hit it in the trees; he would chip it back to the fairway. Don’t get me wrong, I am not talking deep in the woods, I am talking in the trees, with a shot you could easily hook or fade out of and gain substantial yardage. He was a pretty straight hitter, so he never got too deeply into trouble, but when he was there, he took the absolutely safest route out. I mean come on, this was a good player a guy that shot many rounds in the 70’s, he knew how to fade and hook the ball. But that is not how he played, he knew he was a good enough player he could chip out, hit the next shot on the green and make a par or bogey. On par threes he would always take plenty of club, rarely missing the green short. Off the tee he would hit the fairway, using an iron if need be. He was a great chipper, because he played safe chips, not too many flops or risky stuff, chip and run if at all possible. A boring, boring player, but a partner you could count on not to take a big number.

I think that whether you are a 25 or a 5 handicapper, you need to learn to play golf. Rodney has fun playing boring golf and you will too. Low scores and winning never get old; instead lower scores make the game so much more enjoyable. Have you been there in the grill room, when one of the guys says, “you won’t believe the shot I hit from the woods on 13 today” and the first remark is “yeah, but what did you shoot?” Learn to play golf; it is an art not a science.

About the Author:

D. Morgan is a frustrated golfer. While Mr. Morgan actually carries a very low handicap, he has never been impressed by most golf instruction. Morgan writes articles about golf and the golfing gene. Mr. Morgan’s finest instruction article “The Secret Of Golf” can be found, free of charge, at http://www.yourgolfgps.com, a GPS/laser rangefinder site.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – The Art Of Golf Instruction

The Art Of Golf Instruction is a post from: Putting Tips Pro

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