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Putting from the Fringe

It’s tough enough to have long putts that you have to judge to perfection, but when you have a long putt and it is sitting on the fringe, a lot more can go wrong than you might expect.

The first thing that could go wrong is that the ball can go bouncing into a different starting direction and you could miss the line completely.

Secondly is that the fringe could be a lot longer and much slower than the greens, making it difficult to judge the correct speed coming onto the green.

How to make it easier to judge the distance and speed is to start in your normal putting posture. Now, set your feet wider than your shoulders, getting as much balance as you can. Then make a good, wide, smooth flowing putting stroke and make sure that you follow through. A lot of people tend to leave it short when they stab or jab at the ball and have an abbreviated follow through.

Very important is to have your eyes locked on the same spot where the ball was even after you have stroked the ball. Looking up too early in the stroke may cause your shoulders to open up, which will result in putts being pulled left. Keeping your eyes focused on the same spot throughout your stroke will insure that your shoulders stay square and you will start more putts online.

So, feet wider than normal, make good, wide smooth flowing stroke. And keep those eyes on the same spot till after your stroke is completed.

Article Contributed by PGA Pro, Christo Pistorius

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