PUTTING: HOLD POSITION & PRESSURE PUTTING: POSTURE
PUTTING: HOLD POSITION & PRESSURE WHAT IS NEEDED? Golf balls: Either 10 modified golf balls or 10 real golf balls per golfer Clubs: Either a modified game putter or a real putter sized properly for each golfer Other: Marker cones for safety Alignment aids such as H cards, canes and straight edged timber pieces KEY TEACHING POINTS Butt end of Putter below hip Hold should be light and even Thumbs point down SESSION PLAN 1 Check all putters for suitable length (butt end of club below hip) 2 Demonstrate putting grip with palms facing each other; encourage golfers to copy and try for themselves 3 Using this grip, golfers go to putting stations (coach to set up prior to session) and putt a number of balls from 3 feet; ask golfers to think about how hard they are gripping the club. 4 Ask golfers to vary the pressure of their grip and play 10 putts (10 feet) with a very tight grip then 10 putts with a very loose grip 5 How successful were the putts? 6 Golfers to try 10 putts again with a medium grip 7 Introduce the idea of rating the pressure 1 to 10 (loose to tight) 8 Golfers to practice their putting and work out the best grip pressure for them (5 to 10 minutes practice) 86
PUTTING: HOLD POSITION & PRESSURE Thumbs point down Palms face each other Pressure light and even RULE & ETIQUETTE Rule: Putting green & wrong putting green Playing format: Stroke Play scoring 87
PUTTING: HOLD POSITION & PRESSURE 3 IN A ROW ACTIVITY Split the players into small teams. Place a hoop or target on the putting surface a set distance away from the first tee. Players attempt to putt the ball in the target from the nearest tee marker. If successful the next player in the team putts from the next tee marker. The winning team is the team who putts the ball in the hoop from the final tee marker first. SAFE ZONE 88
PUTTING: HOLD POSITION & PRESSURE 3 IN A ROW EQUIPMENT Marker cones Putters Balls Hoops SAFETY POINTS Ensure all players stay in safe area when it is not their turn Players should leave club in hitting area Ensure only putting stroke is used KEY TEACHING POINTS Butt end of putter below hip Hold should be light and even Thumbs point down EASIER Move the tee markers closer to the target Increase the size of the target HARDER Move the tee markers further from the target Decease the size of the target If a player fails to putt the ball in the target the whole team must go back to the start 89
PUTTING: POSTURE SESSION PLAN 1 Explain and demonstrate the correct body position (address or set-up) for putting (refer to What to coach ) use alignment aids 2 Golfers go to putting stations and practice their address using alignment aids (coach sets up stations prior to session) to ensure their aim is good; hit putts 3 Bring golfers back together and ask what they remember about the set-up position for the full swing. Reinforce tilt (the back), pop (the knees) and drop (the arms) relative to putting 4 Golfers return to putting stations and practice tilt, pop, drop for putting 5 Introduce the tip to check ball position (drop a tee from between the eyes, the tee should land on the ball) 6 In pairs; golfers to practice this drill to check good ball position continue to practice putts KEY TEACHING POINTS Tilt from the hips Pop the knees Drop the putter down 90
PUTTING: POSTURE Flex the knees Stand tall Bend from hips Tilt forward lowering the putter HOMEWORK What clubs can you use to chip? 91
PUTTING: POSTURE DOMINOES ACTIVITY Split the players into small teams. Players take alternate putts and attempt to hit the nearest cone (domino) in their line. Once a domino has been hit they remove it and the next player putts to the next domino in line. The first team to pick up all their dominoes is the winner. SAFE ZONE 92
PUTTING: POSTURE DOMINOES EQUIPMENT Marker cones Putters Balls SAFETY POINTS Ensure all players stay in safe area when it is not their turn Players should leave club in hitting area Ensure only putting stroke is used KEY TEACHING POINTS Tilt from the hips Pop the knees Drop the putter down EASIER Move the dominoes closer to the hitting station Use larger dominoes HARDER Move the dominoes further away from the hitting station Use smaller dominoes If a cone is missed a domino needs to be replaced and the line grows 93