Putting grip and tick-tock
Ready when: nothing, this is the first card.
What you are learning
Putting: a light grip with both hands close together, eyes over the ball, and a smooth, even swing back and through like a clock's pendulum (tick-tock), never above knee height. Putting is half the strokes in a round of golf.
Words on this card Club, Putter, Grip, Stance, Hole, Stroke, Putt, Tick-tock, Backswing
- Club
- The stick used to hit the ball. A set has clubs of different lengths and angles.
- Putter
- The flat-faced club used on the green to roll the ball into the hole.
- Grip
- How the hands hold the club; also the rubber handle.
- Stance
- How the feet stand before the swing.
- Hole
- The hole in the green, with a flag standing in it.
- Stroke
- Each hit of the ball. Each one counts 1.
- Putt
- A gentle stroke that rolls the ball along the green.
- Tick-tock
- A putting stroke that swings back and through evenly, like a clock's pendulum.
- Backswing
- The club going back, the club swinging on past the ball, and the balanced pose at the end.
Set up
A putter or broom handle, a soft ball, a mug on its side as the hole, 2 m away.
Weather: any weather indoors
Show it first for the one teaching
- Hold the putter lightly with both hands close together, as if holding a bird.
- Stand with the feet hip-width apart, the ball in the middle, knees slightly bent, eyes over the ball.
- Swing the putter back to your back toe and through to your front toe, the same distance each way: tick, tock.
- Keep the head still until the ball has gone.
Your part while they practise
Show the putting grip: a light hold with both hands close together. Watch from behind.
Step by step
- Feet the same distance either side of the ball, about hip width.
- Knees slightly bent, eyes over the ball.
- A smooth tick-tock stroke.
- The club never above knee height.
How much: 10 putts, 3 rounds 8 min a session 4 days a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Round the clock
Hole a ball from four sides of the mug in a set order; count every putt.
Who plays: the child against you, or against their own best.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- Put four markers round the mug, each 1 m away: in front, left, behind and right
- Putt from the first marker until the ball goes in
- Then move to the next marker in order
- Count every putt until all four are holed
- Fair play
- A grown-up putts from 2 m markers.
- Points
- 1 point for each putt; the lowest total is best.
- Fouls
- Add 1 point
- The club goes above knee height
- Pushing or scooping the ball instead of a stroke
- Moving the ball before the putt
- Winning
- The lower total after all four markers.
- 12 points or fewer for 1 star
- 8 points or fewer for 2 stars
- 5 points or fewer for 3 stars
Easier or harder
A bigger target, closer.
Further, with a gentle slope.
What you will see, and what to say
- the club goes too high
Knee height only
Small and smooth. - the ball is hit too hard
Smaller swing for short putts
The swing size sets the distance.
Self-check
5 of 10 putts finish inside a 1 m circle round the hole from 2 m.
Fitness for this
Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.
This card trains grip, stance, distance feel.
awiseathlete.com/sports/golf/golf-b1