« How To Plan Your Strategy When Making A Pitch Shot | Home | Using The Wrong Clubs & Thinking Too Much Are Two Short Game Mistakes »
A Putting Mistake On The Green May Not Be Your Fault
By Foursome | March 21, 2008
Ken Venturi is a long-time golf analyst who has worked for the CBS in addition to winning the U.S. Open in 1964. He would often discuss how exciting it was to feel the thrill of the very last hole during a competition where his heart was literally beating out of his shirt knowing it was his last chance to win.
In your case, feeling this same excitement may not mean winning a world title but it very well may be during a game where you are hitting your best score ever, perhaps it’s your first opportunity to break the 90 mark, or you might be golfing with your boss where making a good impression on the course could make or break an important raise. Whatever the case may be, there will always be stress and nervousness that must be handled.
Keeping Your Cool During A Bad Putt
When it comes to putting, nothing can create more stress than worrying about missing the shot. But you have to realize that many factors are completely out of your control. There are variables that exist around the green which may cause you to put unnecessary blame on your performance. Keep this in mind whenever the ball misses a break and you start to become frustrated.
First and foremost, the green that you are walking on is literally a changing, living organism. Grass is constantly growing and the terrain is changing all of the time. And the green can change from one hole to another whenever a group plays through ahead of you. Just one group of four players can take as many as 200 steps on the green before they’re finished with that hole. That’s a lot of terrain changes!
If you are playing on a busy Saturday or Sunday and 10 or 11 foursomes have gone through the course ahead of you then we are talking about over 2000 steps! These steps could be in your line of travel when putting. Other golfers who drag their feet can scruff up the grass. Pitch marks are all over the place. And everyday wear and tear around the hole can all have a part in ruining your shot.
Your odds for making a mistake on the green during an important putt can also be affected by small rocks and pebbles, sand, fertilizer, grass clippings, mower lines, uneven grass, moisture, and of course old divot marks. All of these possibilities can contribute to a ball being knocked off-course and missing the hole.
Final Word
You have a very small margin of error when putting for the hole. Unfortunately, you cannot lose your cool and become frustrated when a mistake occurs. As you can tell by the variables discussed above, all you can do is assess the shot as carefully as possible, focus on a controlled and smooth stroke, and give it your best roll. If you miss, don’t stress! Sometimes it’s just not your fault.
Topics: Green, Tips & Practice |