Bobby Eldridge Golf

Written By
Bobby Eldridge
Founder of Golf Swing Downloads

If I had an opportunity to to stand up in front of the entire golf world and I was only allowed to say one sentence, what would it be?  “EVERY PUTT IN GOLF IS A STRAIGHT PUTT”…Since I would only be allowed to say one sentence, maybe the powers to be would let me repeat myself, “EVERY PUTT IN GOLF IS A STRAIGHT PUTT”.

If there is one thing that I am 100% sure of it is this.  Most amateur golfers have acceptable putting strokes.  Keep in mind that there are two parts to our sport.  One part is in the air and the other is on the ground.  The one on the ground (putting) is so precise at times that it can drive you up a wall.  It is kind of line the Red Zone in football.  You go 85 yards in two plays and then it takes four plays to go one yard.  You hit a towering tee shot, followed up by the best 5 iron of your life, and then you 3 putt from 10 feet.

The reason I say acceptable putting strokes is because you don’t do this for a living and the putting strokes that most of you have is good enough for you to shoot lower scores.  The problem begins after you read a putt.  This article is all about matching your putting stroke up with reading the green correctly. 

No questions asked, the number one putting mistake that I see amateurs golfers make is they don’t aim the putter where they want the ball to start.  Most amateur golfers that struggle with their putting, aim the putter at the hole and then they either swing out-to-in (pull) or roll the face closed for putts that break right and in-to-out (push) or roll the face open for putts that break left. 

Therein lies my favorite quote in golf “EVERY PUTT IN GOLF IS A STRAIGHT PUTT”.  If you have a putt thay breaks 10 inches right to left, you have to aim the putter face 10 inches right of the hole and swing the putter straight back and straight through to that exact spot.  You have to start that putt STRAIGHT and allow the ground to curve the ball from left to right into the hole.  You can not start that putt at the hole and then swing the putter in-to out and push it on line. 

Of course this applies for putts that break left to right.  You have to aim the putter left of the hole, swing the putter straight back and straight through, allowing the ground to curve the ball, not your stroke or clubface. 

The next time your struggling with your putting, remember this mantra:  WHAT DOES YOUR PUTTING STROKE AND GREEN READING HAVE IN COMMON-EVERYTHING!!! 

Tags: Putting by admin
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This was an exciting weekend with the Pebble Beach Tournament, and I also wanted to give you a good tip on putting. Enjoy!

Tags: Putting, Videos by admin
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This is Thursday’s episode of Bobby Talks Golf. In this episode, Bobby gives a great putting tip and drill to make solid putts that go in more consistently. Tune in on Mondays and Thursday’s to hear Bobby talk about the tour, equipment, tips, lessons, drills and much more.

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Written By
Bobby Eldridge
Founder of Golf Video Fixes

Every time you walk onto the putting green there are four things you have to think of, one of them is to make sure your shoulders are square to the line you want the ball to start on.

The putter has to swing straight back and forth during the stroke.  If the shoulders are aimed left of the intended line at address you have to compensate during the stroke or you will pull your putts.  If your shoulders are aimed right at address you have to compensate during the stroke or you will push your putts.

As you address the golf ball, once you have soled the putter you have to make sure your shoulders are PARALLEL LEFT to the intended line you want the ball to travel on.  This is where it gets a little tricky.  Let’s use an uphill, straight 3-footer as an example.  As you address the golf ball the you have to aim the putter at the center of the hole.  Your feet, knees, hips and shoulders must be aimed PARALLEL LEFT of the hole.

The term PARALLEL LEFT of the hole means your feet, knees, hips and shoulders are on an invisible line that is running parallel to your target line BUT left of the target.  The reason this is so important is that the putter must swing straight back and straight through.  If the shoulders are aimed parallel left you can accomplish this without compensating.

Bobby’s bit of wisdom: Don’t forget to square those shoulders to stop your putting green woes.

GOLF RESOURCE - Pulling Your Putts

If you’re pulling all your short putts, and you can’t seem to fix it, I’ve put together a Pulling Your Putts golf video download fix you can get over at my golf putting section of iGolfFixes.com.

Tags: Putting by admin
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There is one thing about the game of golf: score cards don’t lie.  Ok I will agree with you on one point.  I have played a number of rounds in my life where I hit the ball very well, putted great and got nothing out of the round. 

On the other hand there have been many rounds where I couldn’t find the golf course.  I was lucky no one got hurt.  However at the end of the day when I added up the score card I was very pleased with the number. 

You have to keep in mind that golf is NOT one round.  It is a lifetime experience.  The only way you are going to improve is to continue to punch holes in your score card and find out what part of your game needs work.  That does not happen in one round of golf.

I know you are wondering where you should start.  There are a couple of stats that jump out at me.  Start with the driver.  You have to track every tee shot.  Keep a blank score card in your pocket and after every tee shot record whether you hit the fairway or missed to the left or right. 

The next statistic that will help you lower your score is did you short side your approach shot?  It doesn’t matter if it is the first, second, third or even fourth shot of the hole.  Did you short side yourself?  The definition of short siding is when you leave your approach shot in a position where you don’t have any green to work with. 

Everytime you prepare to approach a green you have to ask yourself the 10 million dollar question.  What side is the short side?  The safe side might leave you with a 30 yard pitch shot with nothing but a tiny fringe and then the putting green in front of you.  The short side might leave you with a 7 yard LOB shot over a bunker with a 12 foot lip and a slope running straight down hill to the hole.  You do the math.  It doesn’t take many of those a day to ruin a good round of golf.

Lastly, grade your attitude before you tee off, when you make the turn and when you walk off of the golf course.  It is a great stat to keep track of.  If you can maintain an upbeat and fun attitude your scores will reflect it.  I have gone on record for years as saying that I haven’t found a more enjoyable place to spend four hours than a golf course-when I am playing well and having fun.  On the other hand it is the most miserable place to be for four hours when you are struggling and not having fun.

Remember, if you use them correctly, score cards don’t lie.

Tags: Chipping, Driver, Fairway woods/Hybrids, Full Swing, Golf Instruction, Green Side Bunkers, LOB Wedge, Pitching, Putting, Short game, Solid Iron Shots, Trouble Shots by admin
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Every time I stand over a 3 foot putt I only have one thing on my mind, HIT THE BALL TO THE BACK OF THE CUP…I have to tell you where that thought comes from.  When I was growing up in Southwest Florida, my mother use to take a tee and stick it in the back of the hole.  She would just barely stick the tip of the tee into the back of the hole, (above the hole liner and below the surface, on an angle.

Then the work began, I would stand there from 3 feet and hit putt after putt until I buried the tee in the ground.  Then we would start again.

You do have to keep one thing in mind.  I hit most 3-footers firm, I dont jam them in the hole.  Of course on downhill and fast, hard breaking 3-footers, I am a bit more conservative.

If you develpe this style of putting for your 3-footers, you will gain some confidence on the short ones.  Dont forget that the firmer you play them the less break you have to figure in.

Bobby

IMPORTANT!

If you’re having trouble with pulling your putts, then I have a instantly downloadable video and ebook fix for you over at my new site IGolfFixes.com.

Tags: Putting by admin
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I know I have heard golfers say this at least 1000 times.  “My putter shakes, wobbles you name it, but it never goes straight back”.  Well quess what?   I have heard tour players talk about their wobble putting stroke.  You are not alone.

The key is to not worry about it.  You can still bring it back to the golf ball square and make solid contact.  I have a great drill that can take to the golf course with you that will help the putter head swing back straighter in the backswing.

DRILL

After you address the golf ball take a look down at the tips of both shoes.  Hopefully they are parallel to your target line.  All you have to do is swing the putter back PARALLEL to your toe line.  Some times that is easier said than done. 

What is really cool about this drill/exercise is that you can take it to the golf course and nobody knows what you are doing.  It might take 20-50 practice putts to get it down but it works.  And the other thing that is great about it is you don’t have to try and guide the putter back. 

#1. Line up your putt

#2. Address the golf ball

#3. Aim the putter

#4. Take a peak at your toe line

#5. Stoke the putt.

P.S.  if your feet are aimed to the left or right of the target it won’t take you long to start aming straight.

Tags: Perfect Golf Swing Drills, Putting by admin
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There are four reasons why you come up short on all of your putts.  Today I am going to tell you one of the reasons and the next time you head out to the golf course you will see a dramatic change in your putting. 

You not reading your putts correctly-or not at all.  You can not believe how many times I have seen amateurgolfers roll their 25 foot putt half up to the hole.  Of course when I turn to them and ask them if they mishit the putt or did they not know they were going straight up hill, they usually turn to me and say “I never even thought about that”. 

Whether you love putting or not, it is not going away.  The single best thing you can do is decide right now you are going to become a great putter.  Now I am going to share something with you about reading putts that is NOT rocket science. 

99% of all the putting greens in the world are built LOW in front and HIGH in the back.  There are a couple of reasons.  Drainage is one of them but the number one reason is THE GAME IS TOUGH ENOUGH WITHOUT THE GREEN GOING AWAY FROM YOU.  When the build the green they have to make it fair.  If all of the greens where built HIGH in the front and LOW in the back, most of us would probably quit. 

The next time you are walking up to the first green pay close attention to the design of the green.  It is probably lower in front and higher in the back.  With that being said, most putts from the front of the green to the back of the green are slower than putts from the back of the green to the front.  Start reading them correctly and you won’t leave them short.

Tags: Putting by admin
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DISTANCE CONTROL FROM THREE FEET IS ESENTIAL

The final two are dedicated to distance control.  A good putter does not mind having a 30-foot putt uphill on the first hole and then a 15-foot putt straight downhill on the second hole.  We can constantly make adjustments throughout the round for our distance control.  Let me share with you the two secrets why.  #1.  It does not matter whether we have a three foot putt or a 30 foot putt, our stroke is ALWAYS the same.  Our stroke is 1/3 back and 2/3 through.  Of course it is always relavent to the distance we have to roll the golf ball.  Shorter in the backswing and longer in the through swing.  The second reason is we make contact with the sweet spot of the putter.  The combination of a shorter backswing + longer follow through + solid impact=consistent distance control.

This is exactly where you begin to struggle.  Most amateur golfers have a longer backswing+shorter follow through+off center impact=inconsistent distance control.  I will take it a step further.  Great putters develop distance control in putting with a short backswing and a longer follow through.  The reason they do this is to maintain a smoother stroke through impact. 

If the putter head is moving faster in the downswing it is easier to control impact on the face of the putter.  On the other hand if the putter head is slowing down as it arrives at the golf ball there is potential for off center hits. There is yet another challenge with a putter head that is loosing speed at impact.  It is nearly impossible to develop consistent distance control when the putter is striking the golf ball as it is slowing down instead of speeding up.

The number one problem amateurs face with 3-foot putts is inconsistent impact.  Not all 3-foot putts are straight however you have to hit them with authority.  When you hit a short putt you have to be committed to the line and strike it with conviction.  If at any moment you slow the putter down the putt will not stay on line.  Lastly, it is nearly impossible to have consistent touch with a putter that is slowing down.  You will strike one putt to firm and the next one to soft. 

STRAIGHT BACK + STRAIGHT THROUGH + EXCELERATING CLUB HEAD + SOLID IMPACT=1 PUTT INSIDE 3 FEET…

Join me tomorrow for a lesson on how to stop hitting your chip shots thin-topped-and to the right.

Golfingly yours,

Bobby

Tags: Putting, Short game by admin
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STOP PUSHING THE SHORT ONES

Today we are going to have a lesson on how to stop pushing your putts.  The putter has to swing straight back and straight through during the stroke.  Many amateur golfers swing the putter back too much INSIDE the correct path in the backswing and then they swing the putter outside the correct path in the downswing.  When you return the putter face too much from the inside at impact the face is aiming to the right of your target.  When that happens you will push your puttts.  This is a very difficult mistake to correct because you can’t feel when you do it incorrectly.  On short putts there is no room for even the slightest mistake.  Correction: Stand next to a baseboard at home or in the office and check out your backswing.  You can also lay a club down on the ground on the putting green and see if your swinging the putter straight back and straight through.  No more pushing putts.

Join me tomorrow with the distance control part of making 3-footers.

Golfingly yours,

Bobby

Tags: Putting, Short game by admin
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