Teaching Sport Skills - Special Olympics

Teaching Golf Skills
Putting
Putting
36
a. Athlete uses a putter.
b. Putter is placed in the palms with the palms
facing each other; thumbs are placed on top of
the shaft.
c. Stance is taken with feet close together.
d. Eyes are over target line.
e. The putter is swung on a path toward the target.
Coaching Suggestions
Have the athletes roll a ball with an underhand
toss. It will help them relate the amount of arm
swing and speed to distance.
Have athletes roll ball with a putter different
distances. Make sure that the club accelerates in
the stroke.
Have athletes roll the ball at a target. Start at a
distance of 3 feet and work back at 1-foot
intervals. This will point out the importance of
swinging in the direction of the target with the
clubface square at impact.
Try the following 3 steps to learn how to putt. If a
golf green is unavailable, you can perform these skills
on any short-pile carpet.
Roll the Ball Series
1. Learn to roll the ball with an underhand toss.
You will soon relate the amount of arm swing
and speed to distance. Try it with a putter and
see if ball rolls.
2. Roll the ball with a putter different
distances. Always make sure the club
accelerates in the stroke. To practice - place a
marking tee equal distance on each side of the
ball - swing back to one tee and forward to the
corresponding tee.
3. Roll the ball to a target. Start at a distance of 3
feet and work back at 1-foot intervals to 10 feet
when you are able to hit the target consistently.
This will point out the importance of swinging
in the direction of the target with the clubface
square at impact.
Special Olympics Golf Coaching Guide
Created: August 2003