How to improve your putting at home

There’s no excuse for poor performance when putting on the course – putting is one of the shots that is easiest to practice at home. So if you want to get better at putting for your next time out on the green, here are some things that you can do to improve at home.

Utilise the Arc to Arc 5

The Arc to Arc 5 Motion Putting Board is a training aid that makes it easy for you to develop a more consistent putting stroke. Following the line of the board, practicing using the Arc to Arc 5 ensures that you gain a more symmetrical motion as you follow the guide from your backswing to the finish. This allows you to get a feel for how your putting motion should be, stressing the importance of focussing your movements before and after the shot.

Put in the time practicing with the Arc to Arc 5 and you will be amazed at the difference it makes to your putting on the course. Purely through changing the mechanics of your shot, you can be far more effective.

Learn to better judge the distance of the putt

When people come to work on their putting game they typically spend hours practicing shots to get a better feel. There’s no doubt that this is a very useful thing to do, but it’s worth pointing out that there is something else you need to consider first. You might not realise, but one of the most common mistakes made when putting happens before you actually take the shot.

The fact is that we tend to trust our eyes even though they often deceive us somewhat. It’s usually the case that our depth perception isn’t as brilliant as we assume, so we misjudge the distance of the putt. Whether we under- or over-estimate the distance it can completely ruin a shot.

To correct the problem there are a few things you can do. The first is to establish whether you typically imagine a putt is shorter or longer than it really is. Practice simple putts and keep track of whether you tend to over and under hit the shots. This will help you establish your natural tendency and put you in a position to correct it. Additionally, it can be useful instead of simply looking at the shot, to walk the distance to give yourself a proper understanding.

Welling Putt Mat

If you are serious about improving your putting at home, it’s definitely worth investing in a Welling putting mat. These intelligently designed mats give you the chance to train and develop your putting skills with a great visual representation of what you need to do. Working on a Welling mat can improve everything from your alignment and touch to speed and consistency on your shots.

Visualise a clock on the hole

Another tip that can make a difference to your putting is that of visualising. What you are looking for from your putting is accuracy, and the kind of accuracy that goes a step further than simply potting the ball. To understand your improvements you need to ensure that your shots are entering the hole exactly where they should.

Learn to visualise a clock face over the top of the hole. Now think about exactly where the ball is going to enter the hole if you perform the shot perfectly. When you hit the shot you can see whether the ball does what you want it to. Then even if you get the ball in the hole, you’ll know whether your putting is getting better.