To improve your putting stroke and lower your scores this summer, it's important to focus on developing a connected and consistent stroke. Here are some tips to help you achieve this:

  1. Proper Setup: Begin by setting up to the ball correctly. Align your feet, hips, and shoulders parallel to your target line. Position the ball slightly forward in your stance, and ensure your eyes are directly over or slightly inside the ball.
  2. Light Grip Pressure: Maintain a light grip on the putter to promote a smooth and fluid stroke. Excessive tension can lead to jerky movements and inconsistent contact. Find a grip pressure that allows you to control the putter without gripping it tightly.
  3. Body Alignment and Stability: Keep your body still during the stroke. Minimize unnecessary movements, particularly with your head and lower body. This stability will help you maintain a consistent path and strike the ball more accurately.
  4. Pendulum Motion: Develop a pendulum-like stroke where your arms, shoulders, and putter move as one unit. Let the motion come from your shoulders, with minimal movement in your wrists and hands. This will help you achieve a more consistent and repeatable stroke.
  5. Smooth Tempo: Focus on maintaining a smooth and rhythmic tempo throughout your putting stroke. Avoid jerky or quick movements that can disrupt your rhythm. Practice swinging the putter back and through with a consistent pace, allowing the ball to be a result of a smooth motion.
  6. Eye on the Target: Keep your eyes focused on the target or the spot where you want the ball to roll. Maintain this focus throughout the stroke and follow through. A clear target helps improve your aim and distance control.
  7. Practice Distance Control: Spend time practicing your distance control on the putting green. Work on developing a feel for different lengths of putts by focusing on the length of your backswing and the acceleration through the ball. This will help you become more confident in gauging the appropriate speed for various putts.
  8. Visualization: Visualize the ball rolling along your intended line and dropping into the hole. Develop a positive and confident mindset before each putt. Visualization can help improve your focus and increase your chances of making more putts.
  9. Consistent Routine: Establish a consistent pre-shot routine for your putting. This routine should include alignment, practice strokes, and a consistent setup routine. A consistent routine helps you build confidence and ensures that you approach each putt in a systematic manner.
  10. Practice and Repetition: The key to improving your putting stroke is regular practice and repetition. Dedicate time to practice your putting technique and drills on a consistent basis. The more you practice, the more comfortable and connected your putting stroke will become.

Remember, improving your putting stroke takes time and patience. Focus on the fundamentals, practice with purpose, and maintain a positive mindset. By developing a connected and consistent putting stroke, you can increase your chances of sinking more putts and lowering your scores this summer.