There is one skill that every player has in their bag that needs more attention. Regardless of your skill level, it is important to understand that to lower our golf score, we need to focus on the one skill that always needs attention. It is the one area of your game where you expend at least 40% of your strokes. If you had not already guessed, putting is the golden ticket to lower golf scores.

I would suggest that whether I am playing with my modern clubs or hitting the hickories, putting will have the greatest influence on my score. The least amount of putts, the lower my score. This might sound like a no brainer, but it you think about it you could consistently lower you score by 3 to 5 strokes a round.

Yes, there are some subcomponents to putting well and that is where practice is important. The Venn diagram to the left shows a few very important topics to great putting. Learning each of those skills will go a long way to lowering your golf score.

I carry about a 3 to 5 handicap through the golf year. To maintain this lower score I do have to hit a consistent golf ball and understand the benefits of course management. There are many things that go into playing great golf and knowing how to putt is the key foundational skill needed. Anytime I break par (which I accomplished twice this year) putting was the key. I sank several long putts and did not miss anything inside 6 feet. Overall, my low golf scores are directly tied to how well I putt. Hence, I think my experience suggests that it works for me, it should work for others.

I always practice my putting and try to figure out the best method to sink more putts. I have tried many different styles, grips and swing paths. Each time I practice I ensure that I work my fundamentals and keep an open mind to how to improve my putting. It is a process and one that I must continue to hone in order to use my putter the least amount of times during each round. You have seen this before, but this is my favourite putting drill:

Putting will lower your golf score. I know from many years of honing to improve my putting. It is the one skill that will lower your golf scores if you dedicate the time to master this fundamental skill of golf.

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!