Alabama’s Beaches are home to some of the country's most picturesque and challenging golf courses. Whether you are teeing off at Kiva Dunes or experiencing the 27-hole complex at Peninsula, mastering your putting is essential to lowering your score and thoroughly enjoying your golfing experience. The philosophy that “practice makes perfect” is certainly true when it comes to putting, but here are five ways to improve your performance on the greens, not only along the courses in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach but anywhere you choose to play.
Importance of Distance Control
Courses along the Alabama Gulf Coast feature prominent, undulating greens, especially at the iconic courses like Peninsula Golf and Racquet Club. This makes distance control one of the most important skills you can master. Spend time practicing longer putts to understand how much force is needed for various distances.
Unlike smaller, flatter greens, where you can focus on ensuring you pick the correct line and accuracy, large greens require a sharp sense of touch. The undulations create various tricky situations, where a putt just a little too hard or soft can leave you with a tough follow-up and introduce the possibility of a dreaded three-putt.
A visit to any of the courses in the region will provide you with the opportunity to refine your lag-putting skills by heading over to the practice green and working on your speed and distance control.
Pro Tip Drill: An excellent drill to try is lag putting from different spots on the green, aiming to get your ball within a few feet of the hole rather than sinking it. Try to hit putts from 30+ feet and focus on getting within a three or 4-feet circle around the hole. Consistent practice on Gulf greens w
Focus on Your Posture and Alignment
Proper posture and alignment are critical to consistent putting, no matter where you are playing. While practicing, pay extra attention to your stance. Keep your feet shoulder-width apart, with your eyes directly over the ball. Align your shoulders parallel to your target line. With the frequent breezes near the coast, a solid and stable stance helps you avoid unnecessary movement that could throw off your stroke.
Position your eyes directly over the ball or just inside the ball, as this helps with aiming and seeing the line of the putt more clearly. Having your eyes in the right position makes you more likely to strike the ball from the center of the putter's face.
Leaning too far forward or standing too upright can throw off your balance and affect the smoothness of your stroke. Try to have a slight forward bend to help you maintain good contact with the ball while allowing for a free-flowing motion through the putting stroke.
Choose Your Preferred Grip
While there are various ways to grip the putter, based on personal preference and what feels most comfortable, establishing a solid and repeatable setup is crucial for accuracy. There are several popular grip styles, including the traditional grip, the claw grip, and the cross-handed grip (also known as the left-hand-low grip). The key is to find the grip that feels most natural and comfortable for you, allowing for smooth motion and control.
Traditional Grip: This is the most common grip and allows for natural hand positioning and wrist control. It’s a great choice for players who feel confident in their wrist stability during the putting stroke.
Claw Grip: This grip reduces wrist movement and is popular among golfers who struggle with controlling their hands during the stroke. It helps eliminate tension and keeps the stroke smooth.
Cross-Handed (Left-Hand-Low) Grip: This grip places the left hand below the right (for right-handed golfers), which can help level out shoulder alignment and reduce excess wrist action during the putt.
Regardless of your grip style, the key to success is pairing it with the proper posture and alignment to create a repeatable and confident stroke.
No matter how you grip the putter, grip pressure is essential. Avoid gripping the putter too tightly, as this can cause tension in your hands and arms, making your stroke inconsistent. A relaxed grip promotes a smooth, flowing stroke, which is critical on longer putts and when putting in windy conditions common along the coast.
Understand the Grain of the Greens
Along the Gulf Coast, many golf courses feature Bermuda grass greens, which can be tricky to read if you are unfamiliar with them. Bermuda grass tends to have a grain that affects the direction and speed of putts, particularly on downhill or uphill slopes.
Grain grows toward the setting sun, and slightly darker patches show its direction. To improve your putting, learn how to read the grain and adjust your aim accordingly. The grain can slow down or speed up your putts depending on its direction relative to the hole.
Pro Tip Drill: Reading the grain of Bermuda grass greens takes practice, but one tip can help you quickly assess the direction in which the grass is growing. A simple trick to reading the grain is to observe the color of the grass. Grass that appears shiny or lighter is growing away from you (down grain), meaning your putt will roll faster. Grass that appears darker is growing toward you (into the grain), which will slow down your putt.
Drills to Improve Your Putting
Improving your putting is all about practice and developing consistency in your stroke, speed control, and accuracy. Here are three quick putting drills you can incorporate into your practice sessions to help sharpen your skills on the greens. The Orange Beach Golf Center is a great place to work on your putting skills before heading to the range and short-game practice areas.
The Clock Drill
This drill is designed to improve short putt accuracy and help build confidence in holing out from various angles around the cup. This drill also sharpens your ability to read short putts from different positions, which can vary in break, speed, and slope. Place 6 to 12 golf balls in a circle around the hole, resembling the numbers on a clock. Start with balls about 3 feet away from the cup and work around. If you miss a putt, restart the drill from the beginning, reinforcing the importance of concentration on each stroke. You can always increase the difficulty by adding distance to each putt from the hole.
The Gate Drill
Set two tees in the ground just wide enough to fit your putter between them. Place these 2-3 inches in front of the ball. Focus on stroking the ball through the gate without hitting either tee to help create a straight, consistent stroke.
One-Handed Putting Drill
This drill is designed to improve your feel and control by isolating your dominant hand, helping you develop a smoother, more consistent stroke. Start with a few short putts, gripping the putter with your dominant hand (for right-handed golfers, this would be your right hand). Focus on maintaining a smooth pendulum motion and controlling the path and speed with just one hand. After practicing this with several putts, switch hands and repeat the drill.
