A Note from Karen: 

There are less than two weeks until the summer golf season begins.  If you practice some aspect of your game everyday until then, you’ll be ready to start the season out the right way. This time of year is hard to find time to practice- with kids getting out of school, graduations and vacations. So I have designed a mini-Cardiogolf Challenge to help you get some daily practice. 

Today’s Challenge-Reading Greens

Reading greens is a combination of judging the slope and pace of a putt.  It is a skill that you develop over a period of time, but you can accelerate the learning process by being consistent in your preparation and routine. Develop a consistent pre-putt routine that is easy to repeat and stick with it no matter what length putt you have.

During your pre-putt routine, visualize your line and distance.  Read the break from behind the ball so that you’ll know where to aim your putter. Double-check the line from the other side of the cup (but don’t take too long doing this and besides you should be doing this while others are putting).  You can even walk the length of your putt and count off your steps as a way to gauge the distance of the putt , (again, don’t take too long doing this), this will help you control the distance.

On-Course Exercise

Test your green-reading skills by finding a sloping putt and placing a tee at the apex where you believe tha ball will begin to break towards the hole. Hit several putts towards the tee, monitor your results and adjust your alignment at necessary.

Off-Course Exercise

Next time you watch a professional golf tournament on television, listen carefully to the announcers when the players on the greens and you will pick up a few green reading tips.

Here are a few drills to help with putting:

The Carpet/Cup Drill :You can do this at home on the carpet with a cup. Start with three balls about 2 feet from the cup and practice putting balls into the cup. Move back 5 feet each round until you’ve maxed the distance your room can accomodate. Take a rest and then repeat the drill only starting with the further distances first.

The Stop Putt: Take your normal putting swing. After you make contact with the ball immediately stop your swing. This is going to focus in on your aim and accuracy. After trying a bunch of putts this way, add back in your follow through and you should notice how your follow through really helps guide the clubface and ultimately the ball towards your target.

The Eyes Closed Test: Take 3 putts from the same location at the same target. Next try the putt three more times only with your eyes closed this time. Were the second three balls close to the first three? If so then you have good tempo, balance, and your backswing and follow through are coming through along the same line. If you are off on your second three, you may be naturally taking your backswing along an arced path instead of straight back.

Fringe Putting: I think one of the most over-looked putts is the fringe putt. Putting from the fringe or just outside the green is definitely different than putting on the actual green surface. More often than not putts are not hit with enough force and end up getting bogged down in the longer fringe grass. Practice putting from the fringe the next time you practice.

To learn how to do these and other golf-specific exercises click here…

COMING SOON-

“DISCOVER A UNIQUE AND SIMPLE PROGRAM TO IMPROVE YOUR SWING AND SHAPE UP YOUR BODY AND TRIM YOUR HANDICAP.”

Cardiogolf Online 30-Day Golf Fitness Challenge with Karen Palacios-Jansen

Get the physical edge to take your game to the next level.  Better golf requires getting physical and Cardiogolf provides the exercise tools for any golfer to improve his or her game. Cardiogolf, a comprehensive program that provides golf-specific exercises to improve strength, flexibility, endurance and your swing technique.

LPGA Teaching Professional and “Golf Digest” Top 50 Female Instructor Karen Palacios-Jansen is offering a unique golf-specific fitness 30-Day Challenge to jump-start your golf season. Email Karen at KPJ@swingbladegolf.com for more information.