The best way to lower your average score is putting – it’s just repetition.
One of the WORST ways is trying to throw 500-plus feet …
Care to guess which one is a widespread obsession?
Clearly, when you’re not out on the course, grab a fat stack of putters and head for the backyard practice basket – it’s smart. But if you’re tired of C1X work and want to focus on something less obvious, yet highly effective, give your jump-putt approach some attention – nobody does this.
The good, old-fashioned jump putt is a putt outside of circle one. Though not required, golfers can fall or jump forward – the idea is to get closer to the basket. To do so legally, however, the disc can’t leave the hand with both feet off the ground. Also, the disc must have exited the hand before the golfer touches down in front of his mini marker. Don’t screw this up, either …
The foot-fault Gestapo are brutal.
The jump-putt approach is to do the EXACT same thing …
Only, instead of trying to smash chains from 75 feet like the second-coming of Kevin Jones, the goal is to get as close as possible to the basket for a tap-in birdie, par, bogey, etc. The jump-putt approach is a conservative play, but undoubtedly a smart one – especially in amateur divisions.
And it’s ultra-effective:
- Reason No. 1 – The legs do most of the work.
- Reason No. 2 – You never take your eyes off the basket.
- Reason No. 3 – Griplocking your approach is highly unlikely.
The best part of all, though?
It’s NOT hard to get good at jump-putt approaches …
Like, at all.
For starters, mediocre accuracy will suffice – that’s kind of the point.
To make the jump-putt approach happen, start (for now) with a straddled stance — it’s easier. Next, bend the waist and knees to load up energy. From there, using your legs, explode forward. Energy is immediately transferred from the legs to your arm and into the disc – let her fly …
No walk-up. No wind-up. No problem.
* Note #1: This can be done from a staggered stance, but you’ll push off on one foot.
* Note #2: Based on the way your disc lands, consider the curl – it’ll get you closer.
Real quick …
Want to know a secret about actual putting – NOT jump-putting?
The best way to get good at it is to simply not have to do it – therein lies the beauty of the jump-putt approach. Sixty-five to 85-foot “putts” are a tall task. Lucky for you, the five- to 10-foot tap-in on the backend of a jump-putt approach isn’t. When in doubt, play it safe …
Let everyone else look stoopid.
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