Now that the golf season is grinding to a sudden halt it’s almost time to put the clubs away for the year, but what do you do with them in the winter? Most of us leave them in the garage and let the spiders enjoy a home, but why not take out the putter and take it inside with you?

Trying to swing an actual club in the house is a recipe for disaster, especially near the china cabinet or fish tank, but you can use your putter practically anywhere. Most of us won’t do it, “No way am I going to spend any time putting around the house trying to shave strokes off my game!” Right!? And then we fast forward to spring and you’re ready to go for round # 1 of the 2008 golf season. Well that is entirely up to you, but how many times did you 3 putt this year? If you were anything like me wayyyyy to many, but I am actually three putting fewer times than I ever have and it all started with a tip a pro gave me.
A few weeks back I was golfing with a buddy of mine and we were commenting on each other’s putting strokes and he mentioned how well I was “rolling the rock” and he said to me “You have a little arch in your putting stroke; you don’t bring it back dead straight”. I asked him if he thought that is what I needed to do, “Bring the putter back dead straight as if I were to follow a tape measure?” He said yes. I went on to tell him that I was of the understanding that there should be a small arch to the putting stroke, and I didn’t need to change my game or do anything special to do it, it just happened. All I was trying to do was feel the weight of the putter head as I swing the club. However far I bring it back on the backswing, I do the same on the follow through. Nice loose hands on the grip really helped me feel the golf ball and certainly understand what tempo means. I’m not a pro or a teacher nor do I claim to be one, but when you get advice from a real “pro”, you should take it.
My putter is coming in the house with me this winter and the tape measure is staying in the toolbox. A few golf balls and my wife’s finest crystal as a cup and I’m ready to keep the dream alive!
BTW – This will be the last blog about golf (I promise)
Next time NFL Football talk and lots of it, there are so many great stories developing right now in the NFL and I’ll sink my teeth into some of the good stuff next time.

I’m Out