Hitting long, straight drives and lofting delicate, precise approach shots are two of the most rewarding feelings in golf. However, it’s what you do on the green that really counts and fast greens can cause many problems.
When the playing conditions are warm, dry and with little wind, you do not need to be striking the ball brilliantly to find the fairway. Therefore, every player in your group will be in the same position so the most important aspect of the round is going to come on the green.
The problem for beginner golfers when faced with a fast green is the rarity it will happen. The average local club course will not have quick greens but if you travel to play with friends elsewhere or have a special trip planned to a famous golf course, the greens could be very fast in comparison.
So, what can you do to ensure you give yourself the best chance of making putts on fast greens?
Firstly, you can get into the groove of how it feels to putt on quick greens by practicing at home. Do you have a hard floor on which the golf ball will roll quickly? If so, make some practice strokes and loosen your grip, with your hands positioned so the bottom hand is near the end of the grip.
Having practiced at home using this grip, try and arrive at the golf course as early as possible. This will give you time to find a green to practice on, which is vital. Find a flat area and hit a 12-foot putt exactly as you would at your home club. The ball will roll much further. Now try adjusting your grip as described above and try again. Change the tempo of the shot until you are hitting the ball the correct distance.
Having got the tempo of a flat putt, now find an area which has a break. Try practicing your 12-foot putting from different angles, giving you chance to try the break from various positions. The key here is to not to worry so much about making the putt first time but try and make sure you leave yourself an easy second putt.
Some beginner golfers will try and hit the ball as hard as possible on a fast, breaking putt to avoid the break having an impact on the line of the ball. This is a mistake because you must only misjudge the putt slightly, to see the ball travel a huge distance beyond the hole. You will then be left with another putt, the same as the first and if you attempt the same stroke, you will be in for a very long day.
So, try and get to the golf course early and practice your putting. Not only will you have a feel for the increased speed of the greens, you will have greater confidence in your putting stroke. Judge your first putt nicely on a fast green and you will be flying.
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