Golf tip: Improve your putting

Putting is the key element to improved scores and provides the easiest way to save a few strokes each round. Your consistency on the greens can be improved very quickly with disciplined practice.

We tend to practice putting by dropping some balls on the green and seeing if we can hole the putt. This type of practice is not improving technique and does not help develop a consistent stroke.

An effective way to practice putting is to find a flat area on the green and place two tees in the ground about a foot apart. Swing the putter back and through using the tees in the ground to determine the fact that you are swinging the putter back and forth equal distance. Hit several putts using this formula and see that the ball is rolling a uniform distance.

If the results are inconsistent, the putting stroke has too much wrist motion, or you are making a conscious effort to hit the ball. The putting stroke should be a motion where the arms and shoulder move as one with no wrist break. There must be no effort to hit the ball, the ball is struck simply because it is in the way.

Practice like this on a regular basis, and your putting will improve.

- The Golf Learning Center is offering junior group lessons at Eagle Valley Golf Course. Drop in lessons are Wednesdays from 4:30-6 p.m. Cost is $7. Also offered are junior camps, the next camp is July 11-13. Instruction covers all aspects of the game. Cost per person is $55. Sign up by calling 885-8225.

- In an effort to promote junior golf, Eagle Valley Golf Course is offering Play With the Kids Night. On Tuesdays from 4 p.m., one child plays free with a paying adult. On Thursdays from 4 p.m., range balls are 2-for-1 when a child accompanies an adult.

(Terry Gingell is a PGA Class A Professional and is the owner and operator of The Golf Learning Center, an indoor golf school specializing in video golf lessons and professionally custom fit golf clubs. Send golf questions and comments to Terry at appeal@swiftnews.com.)