PUTTING PUTTING IN PERSPECTIVE!

Having established himself as one of the most popular golf professionals in Finland, PGA pro Scott Goldie is now "wintering" in Chiangmai, holding clinics, individual and group lessons at a variety of local courses. Here he advises on a vital aspect of the game that can be mastered by any amateur.

Everyone can become very good at this part of the game. Some people tell me they are not interested in putting - it's boring. But how can 30 to 40% of your overall score be boring? To improve your handicap on the golf course it is essential to put successfully! This is easy to learn and you don't need to be physically on top form. Stand with your feet approximately shoulder-width apart and point your toes as if you were walking. This makes you comfortable - essential to make the swing work! Bend forward from the waist until you feel the weight distributed evenly between the feet, the arms hanging freely from the body. Ensure your arms and shoulders are completely relaxed. As an exercise, clasp your hands together and swing the arms backwards and forwards like a pendulum. This is how the basic putting stroke feels!

At this point, check to see that your putter head is lying flat on the ground. If it is, the angle of the putter suits you. If it is not, I seriously recommend you buy one that does! This is important to reduce twisting at impact, which reduces both accuracy and distance.

There are 2 basic grips and I recommend you try both. Everbody is different! What we call the 'reverse overlap' has your left forefinger over the right hand fingers. The 'crosshand' has your left hand below your right. Most putter grips have a flat top and this is where you should position your thumbs. This also reduces unwanted twisting of the club head as you strike the ball.

Position the ball more left-of-centre between your feet. This means you will strike it on the upswing - or just below the "equator" of the ball. This gives you a much better forward roll of the ball and stops it jumping upwards on impact.

The swing itself is easy. Practice the routine I've described (anywhere - you don't need the putter or the ball!) as much as possible. With the club, concentrate on swinging it low to the ground on the back swing and hitting "straight through" the ball on the through-swing. Same distances back and through (remember the pendulum?) and NO wrist action! Keep the head and body still and those shoulders relaxed.

This is the part of the game that everyone can master. Everyone has the ability to learn a putting stroke that is as good as a professional's or even better!

LET'S SPEAK THAI!

-No 1: At the hair dresser

Aj Wiyada Kantarod

Putting your golf in perspective

Scott Goldie

Nong Khai big weekend

Nong Khai big weekend did not quite go as planned!

Riverbank Stone

Chiangmai and the North

My Chiangmai

David Hardy

The Drinks Page

Night Fowl

Reasons to Relax

Ric Klein

Letters

Mountain People of Northern Thailand

THE PALONG

PALMED OFF?

If you see 3 Nissan pick-ups arrive here from Bangkok in a blaze of publicity, you'll know they are on the first leg of a 200,000km, 6 month journey to test the efficiency of diesel-with-palm-oil fuel (...).

Click here to subscribe to the printed edition!

Mar.2003 Feb.2003 Jan.2003 Dec.2002 Nov.2002 Oct.2002 Sep.2002 Aug.2002 Jul.2002 Jun.2002 May 2002 Apr.2002 Mar.2002 Feb.2002 Jan.2002 Dec.2001 Nov.2001 Oct.2001 Sep.2001 Aug.2001 Jul.2001 Jun.2001 May 2001 Apr.2001 Mar.2001 Feb.2001 Jan.2001 Dec.2000 Nov.2000 Oct.2000 Sep.2000 Aug.2000 Jul.2000 Jun.2000 May 2000 Apr.2000 Mar.2000 Feb.2000 Jan.2000