Method: Ten golf elective courses in Northern Taiwan Institute of Science and Technology including 462 students were randomly assigned into 6-week experimental (N=235) or control groups (N=227). Over 95% of the students were first time golfer and never received any putting instruction. Experimental group received basic putting skill instruction and 5-step putting routine development while control group only received the putting skill instruction. The 5-setp putting routine includes read the green, set intended line, check stance, practice strokes, and gaze on contact point. All participants needed to take pre-test and post-test of putting accuracy evaluation which includes 10 putts from 3 meters, 5 meters, and 7 meters.
Analysis/Results: Data were analyzed by SPSS 17.0 using independent-samples t test, paired-samples t test, and Pearson's correlation. Results showed both groups improved their putting scores significantly from all distances (Experimental: M= 30.65, SD = 9.83, t = 18.18, p <.001; Control: M= 13.29, SD = 6.49, t = 11.94, p <.001). Experimental group scored significantly higher than control group in post-test (t =5.09, p <.001). No significant differences showed among 3 different putting distance in pre-test and post-test. No gender difference showed in the pre-test; however, female students performed significantly better than male students in post-test. Experimental group did not obtain significantly different score among each putt in post-test while control group obtained significantly different score in both tests. Scores from both group in 3 distances indicated high correlations.
Conclusions: Putting pre-shot routine helps beginners improving their putting accuracy and consistency. Developing pre-shot routine can be a great asset for golf beginners.
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