[Kim Haneul's FunFun Golf] "Putting is Money"

Hold the grip firmly, feet shoulder-width apart
Ball position slightly to the left, maintain wrist angle

"Putting is money," they say. Whether it's a long drive sending the ball 300 meters with a driver or a 1-meter putt, both count as a single stroke. Weekend golfers often head to the driving range to practice their shots when they have a field appointment, but it's rare to find those who practice putting, which can greatly influence round scores.

In winter, training outdoors is difficult. If you lay down a mat at home and practice putting strokes, you can unleash great power during the main golf season. Today, we will discuss indoor putting training methods. First, you need to hold the grip properly. If your grip is loose, your stroke will inevitably be unstable. Holding the grip firmly while putting is much more stable.

Your stance should be shoulder-width apart. Place the ball slightly to the left of center. When putting, the face becomes square at the lowest point, allowing for a stable stroke. The ball position may vary slightly for each golfer. The standard is the spot where the ball would drop vertically under your left eye.

You often hear advice not to use your wrists when putting because wrist involvement prevents accurate contact. There is a practice method to avoid using the wrists: hold the grip and place a ball between your wrists and the grip while training.

Aiming is crucial in putting. Your hips, feet, and shoulders should be perpendicular to the target line. When practicing putting at home, you can check if your stroke is straight by using alignment sticks. Place two sticks parallel in the space where the putter head can move and stroke along them.

Putting often involves psychological pressure, causing your stroke tempo to speed up unconsciously, leading to missed short putts. The tempo of putting directly affects good scores. You can use a device that helps with putting timing. There is a training putter with a flexible shaft; if your tempo is too fast or too slow, it prevents an accurate stroke.

Sportainer and former 14-time winner on the Korean-Japanese Tour