|
  |
|
|
Use your feet to feel slopes on greens and fairways
By Glen Osborne
Use Your Feet To Feel Subtle Slopes On A Golf Green When I putt I waste little time in my phases of playing the putting stroke. I feel that the longer I dwell on the putt the more likely my apprehension and, therefore, my tension will increase. Result? Bad putt. As I approach the green I am already scanning the surface for slopes that will affect the rolling of my ball to the hole. I will deliberately walk toward the middle of the green and then angle towards the next tee. (I want to put my golf bag close to where I will walk off the green to that tee.) As I move to the spot where I will leave my bag my eyes are scanning the area of the green where my ball will travel to the hole. This sideways movement will show the ball-to-hole line from the changing view I get as I walk partially around the green. Various little slopes show themselves in this action. I do not dwell on them. But, they are filed in my thoughts about the coming putt. Side note: You may have heard the expression, "A putt will always role towards the water." Logically, all land slopes towards the nearest body of water or stream. As I walk down the fairway towards the green I am looking for prevailing slopes in the land around the green. Surrounding slopes can be deceiving. This prevailing slope guides me in determining tricky slopes on the green. Feeling The Green Firstly, you cannot feel the green with your hands.
Secondly, barefoot golf is not wise (chemicals, etc.) But, if you become aware of the sensations of pressure in your feet and ankles you can get a better feel of slopes. Remember, when you are on the green, slopes you saw while off the green seem to disappear from view. You can train yourself to feel your natural foot and ankle pressures while walking on the floor of your home. This will be the "square one" sensation you use for feeling the green with your feet. Next, you should train yourself to feel the slopes in the land around your home. We all correct our stance as we walk along hilly ground. Usually, this is done at our ankles, knees, and hips depending how steep the slope. Feel the adjusted position of your feet at the ankles especially. What part of your feet are feeling increased pressure from holding more of your body weight. The more you become aware of these sensations the more adept you will become at feeling the slightest changes in slope. This awareness of foot pressure is what you tune into when on a golf green (or playing a full swing on the fairway.) When you prepare to putt you can check your putting line for ball marks to repair or debris to remove. As you move near this putting line be more conscious of your foot pressures. You will sense a slope that you may have seen while on the fairway but which you cannot see at your ball. Again, do not dwell on these discoveries. Overall, you want to train yourself to go with your initial views and sensations that you have built up throughout your preparation to putt. Gradually, you will do the viewing and feeling of slopes automatically. Try this unusual method. You will be more aware of your golf surroundings. This method will work very well with another tip for reading the golf greens that I will divulge in a future Intel. (Hint: A strange way of using your eyes to see slopes.)
|
Contributor's Note
I will try to write other intels once every two weeks (or sooner). I am still struggling with minor disruptions as I near the end of a 3 year health issue. Please visit my site and blogs and leave comments.
|
|
Phases of Your Putt or Golf Shot
Fairway view of green
PLEASE VISIT THE CONTRIBUTOR'S WEBSITE
No reactions yet.
Please login or sign up to rate this intel.
Please login or sign up to add a comment.
The copyright for this content entitled "Use your feet to feel slopes on greens and fairways" has been specified by the contributor as:
All Rights Reserved
This content may not be copied, distributed or adapted by anyone under any circumstances.
|
 |
May, 2012
2008
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2009
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2010
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2011
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2012
January, February, March, April, May
|
|
Not a member yet?
Qondio is a powerful network for making it online. If you have a website to
promote, we can help.
Sign up and get in on the action.
|
|
Welcome to Qondio! Discover the awesome power this network can deliver by going to our About page. Or you could skip straight to the Sign Up form.
|
|
