Valleys
Practice putting through valleys
• Valleys are an excellent and valuable addition to a putting surface. They increase the green beauty and practice challenge.
• Valleys in rough areas can get as large as a grass bunker, or just run through an area and add to the natural contours. Valleys in rough areas add to the short game challenge and allow practice up, down and on side hill lies.
• Use the set-up and game for “tiers” (Elements of Practice #5) and apply it to Humps and Valleys for a local feature. Humps and Valleys should often be extended out past the edge of the green (running well through and onto the lawn beyond the green surface).
Aids that compliment synthetic putting practice:
• Pelz Phony Holes — Phony Holes should be used (putted to) by the green installers and the homeowner before the cups are permanently placed and cut – to make sure the exact locations for final cup placement are optimized. Use the Pelz Phony Holes to create imaginary cup positions. The Phony Holes should also be left with the homeowner to allow additional cup positions to be used around their greens. This will help them experience a variety of different putting challenges and drills, in addition to those permanently placed in their greens.
• Pelz Putting Clips — Used to enhance putting sweet-spot impact consistency. Good to practice with — particularly on the shorter putts.
• Pelz Putting Tutor — Endorsed by PGA Tour Pro Phil Mickelson — Work on all the right fundamentals of putting with the Putting Tutor. Works great with synthetic greens and helps with your green reading and stroke mechanics.
• Putting Impact Tape — See the width of your putting impact pattern — and then focus on improving (shrinking) it’s the key to better putting. Impact tape compliments practicing with Pelz Putting Clips.
Video Instruction by Dave Pelz: