What putting teaches us about all golf shots, including the full swing
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Select target, which is rarely the hole. Putting target is almost always uphill of the hole.
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Approach ball from behind to find target line, keeping ball between self and target.
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Stand parallel to the target line—toes, hips, shoulders, all parallel. (usually true).
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Start from standard athletic posture, then raise hips higher. For putting, only, stand with eyes directly over ball.
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Let arms hang below shoulders.
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After aligning to target, step back away from ball, taking club with you, then take practice swings while looking at target to choose swing length (for all golf shots when less than full swing needed; but good idea to make rehearsal swing for all shots).
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Move as few body parts as possible.
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Swing with large muscles.
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Start swing by turning center of chest to move club head away from ball along target line.
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Don’t “strike” ball; swing club face “through” ball toward target.
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Swing so that club head faces target as long as possible.
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Follow through to make forward swing at least as long as back swing.
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On forward swing, lower back shoulder, rather than hinge wrists.
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Keep head down much longer than would like (even on full swings, head should not move before hands are hip high).
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Hold finishing position while watching ball approach target. In less than full golf swings like putts, turn head on count of “four” (“1” is back swing, “2” is forward swing, “3” is hold of finishing position, and “4” is a look toward target by swiveling head without raising spine.)
Some ways that all other golf shots differ from putting
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