The Value of Maintaining a Steady Pace When Attempting to
One of the most critical components of making a putt is keeping your balance and not swaying during the stroke. We saw how vital this putting element is at this year’s Accenture World Match Play Championships.
Paul Casey and Camillo Villegas faced off against one another in the semi-finals. The competition was so intense and close all day that it had to be continued past the 18th hole. Camillo jumped out to an early lead and was two up after three holes. Paul rallied on the back nine to take a one-shot lead, but he lost the 18th to Camillo, and they headed to the 19th hole tied at even.
If you’ve ever played golf in Arizona after sunset, you know how quickly it turns dark. The daylight gradually diminished as the match progressed, and they played each hole.
When Should One Maintain Stability?
Positioning your eyes above the ball and square to the line during your setup is an essential first step toward making a putt. Still, many other elements also contribute to a solid putting stroke.
You may help achieve two essential goals by keeping your balance throughout the putting stroke. The first benefit is that it increases the likelihood that your putts will land in the sweet spot. The difference between sinking and missing a putt is sometimes only a fraction of an inch, but many golfers are unaware of this.
Keeping your balance also aids in maintaining a constant spine angle, which in turn aids in maintaining a continuous putter path through contact. You will likely miss the putt if you have a consistent putting stroke but alter your spine’s position or the putter’s course through impact.
The Effects of Weather on Golf’s Putting
The pre-shot ritual and putting are the two most accurate components of golf. Wind, cold, and rain can all make it harder to maintain equilibrium.
Conditions on Championship Saturday were challenging. The weather that day was chilly, windy, and wet for the players. Keeping calm during the day got increasingly difficult. The temperature and the duration of a 24-hole match guaranteed an exciting finish to the day’s play.
Do Not Achieve Your Peak
Play resumed on the front nine after tying the match on the 18th hole. On holes 19, 20, and 21, both golfers shot par. On the 22nd hole, both players made birdies despite the apparent signs of tiredness.
After more than six hours of play, the weather became increasingly challenging. Tournament officials decided that if the conclusion of the 24th hole did not determine a winner, the space would be delayed due to darkness and resume in the morning.
Camillo had a regulation putt on the fifth hole, a long and challenging par 5. The best Paul could do was a bogie 5. Camillo’s opening putt was lengthy, with a lot of undulation and a break of about 15 feet. Camillo carefully analyzed the putt and decided to take a line 15 feet to the right of the flag, letting the ball travel down the fall line of the green and into the hole.
He made the putt by hitting it at the right speed and was only two and a half feet away from the hole. If he sinks the short putt, he will have scored four points and won the game. Camillo took his place over the hole. Camillo’s missed putt sent the game into the morning. Paul won the 25th hole and advanced to the championship.
Camillo “peaked” at impact, causing the ball to miss the right edge of the cup, as evidenced by replays of his short putt. This unfortunate incident was made worse by the weather and the lack of sunlight, which are within our control to improve upon.
Trying to watch the ball enter the hole on a short putt is one of the most homicidal urges to control in golf. Golfers place a premium on making short putts, yet few players are comfortable with them. We anticipate sinking those easy putts. We’re aiming for close putts. Missing a short putt might set an ominous tone for the rest of the round.
Inadequate illumination might further complicate matters by reducing visibility. Your subconscious mind is trying to assist you in overcoming your fear by making you focus on the expected outcome when you have a short putt. Most of us find it easier to hit full shots when there is less available light because we know we won’t be able to see the ball after it has traveled halfway to the hole. We decide on our strategy, align ourselves with the ball, and trust that our muscle memory will produce the desired swing. This is how putts ought to work.
Camillo’s final match and possible victory were within two and a half feet of that spot. The bright lighting amplified the natural tendency to peak. Camillo made many crucial early-match short putts, demonstrating his excellent putting throughout the day. Even the best athletes sometimes struggle to fight the urge to peak too early.
Hear the Cup Out
If you want to stay calm and make more putts, the most excellent advice is to “Listen to the Cup” after you sink a short one. The goal is to maintain complete stability during the stroke and keep your gaze on where the ball was before it started its ascent into the cup. Since you are so close to the cup, you may use your ears to verify that the ball reached the bottom of the container.
All of your putts should be taken using the same method. Longer putts give you more time to gaze up after the ball has moved substantially closer to the hole.
If you’re having trouble keeping your mind off the ball, try picking out a specific blade of grass to concentrate on. Think about the blade of grass under your ball as you set it down on the green to putt. Find the blade of grass the ball hit and maintain attention until you hear the ball drop into the cup.
Putting green is the finest spot to hone your skills in this area. Make sure you spend time on this method during every practice session. Before heading to the first tee, make sure you have practiced this method. Consider this in your pre-shot routine for the first few easy putts if you didn’t get a chance to practice before the game.
Stephen Simmons created, edited, and distributed the StrategicGolfer Course Guides. Visit [http://www.strategicgolfer.com] for more information and resources from StrategicGolfer. Feel free to leave comments or questions on the Contact Us page at [http://www.strategicgolfer.com/contact-us] or email [mailto:[email protected]].
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