| One of the most important things to do is to make | | | | putt at the cup. You never want to see the ball miss |
| sure that you enjoy your golf game by warming up. | | | | the hole, so just use a tee or coin. In addition, if you roll |
| Begin warming up on the putting green. Putting is | | | | putts at a small target like a tee or coin, the hole will |
| forty-three percent of golf and the putting stroke is the | | | | seem huge and, therefore, your confidence level will be |
| slowest and smoothest of all strokes in golf. By | | | | high. Confidence is vital to good putting. Proper warm |
| spending time warming up on the green first, you will | | | | up is essential for peak performance in any sport. If |
| not only be prepared for the speed of the greens but | | | | you attend any professional sporting event you |
| you will also be starting the day with smooth, deliberate | | | | always see athletes going through a pre-game warm |
| tempo. | | | | up, and pro golfers are no different. Most amateurs |
| It makes no sense to visit the range first and get | | | | get warmed up by dashing from their cars to the pro |
| stretched out and limbered up for the opening drive, | | | | shop to check in, then running to the first tee, all within |
| then stand for fifteen minutes nearly motionless on the | | | | five minutes or so. Usually this is followed by unsteady |
| putting green. Spend the first five minutes putting to a | | | | play for the first five holes and ends up with another |
| tee or a coin from twenty, thirty and forty feet and | | | | disappointing round. In my opinion, with this style of |
| from a variety of angles. Watch the ball and pay | | | | warm up, golfers are making bogies before they ever |
| attention to how much the ball rolls. Speed control is | | | | step on the course. |
| critical in putting and time spent judging pace will pay | | | | Also, make sure that you do not feel rushed, so allow |
| off on the course. Many students often complain that | | | | time to complete this entire warm up period at a |
| the greens on the course are not the same as the | | | | leisurely pace. Remember, your warm up routine sets |
| practice greens. The only difference between the two | | | | the tempo for the day, so move slowly and relax. I |
| is the pressure to perform. The practice green is cut | | | | recommend that you arrive at the course a minimum |
| at the same height with the same mower and is | | | | of one hour before your tee time. You can also spend |
| usually constructed in the same manner as the greens | | | | a few minutes hitting twenty-five six-inch putts that run |
| on the course. | | | | straight up hill. You will make all twenty-five in a row |
| Then you can spend another five minutes rolling putts | | | | and this will set you up with the perfect image: the ball |
| to a tee or coin from ten feet in to three feet. Do not | | | | rolling in the hole every time. |