Why cant some players not be good putter?

The_Kew_Tour

OK I remeber when I was young all I ever taught was the longer you hit it the better you will get, but some words of wisdom and some harsh lessons proved that putting and short game is where the scores are made.

So after much practise after a year or two my putting became the best part my game getting me down from 16 to 7 handicap.

Now after watching the US Open and seeing players like Sergio why cant these players not just get better at it? Its not like you need be strong or anything. Is it mental thing do you think? Now I cant strike the ball anywhere near Segio who I am big fan of, but some players even likes of Langer etc just could not have confidence with puts and try all types grips etc. Would a great coach help?

I be interested to know your taughts.

Opics

Do you know anything at all about golf? :pac:


I'm sure Sergio would be a better putter if he could. It's not like he's made the choice to be a dodgy putter.


And strength is probably the least important aspect of golf (just look at the current world #1)

fullstop

If Sergio was playing on greens like those in most of the clubs in this country (i.e. pretty flat) he'd probably be classed as a great putter. The pros play on very undulating and fast greens and there is rarely a straight put so that magnifies any weakness.

stockdam

I'd suggest that if the vast majority of us putted on the greens that Sergio putts on every week then we would probably realise that he is a very good putter. He has got all the money and time in the world to get better and he would if he could. It could be mental or physical.

Why can't you or I hit wedges like the pros or chip like them.......after all there's no strength needed? Basically Sergio is extremely gifted but compared to the other pros his putting looks weak.

Jul3s

The_Kew_Tour wrote: »

OK I remeber when I was young all I ever taught was the longer you hit it the better you will get, but some words of wisdom and some harsh lessons proved that putting and short game is where the scores are made.

So after much practise after a year or two my putting became the best part my game getting me down from 16 to 7 handicap.

Now after watching the US Open and seeing players like Sergio why cant these players not just get better at it? Its not like you need be strong or anything. Is it mental thing do you think? Now I cant strike the ball anywhere near Segio who I am big fan of, but some players even likes of Langer etc just could not have confidence with puts and try all types grips etc. Would a great coach help?

I be interested to know your taughts.

Whe you uncover/discover the answer, bottle it and you'll be a billionaire.

Waesfjord

The_Kew_Tour wrote: »

So after much practise after a year or two my putting became the best part my game getting me down from 16 to 7 handicap.

.

can you give a quick summary of where/how you started etc, s I'm starting a similar journey (hopefully)

technodub

The_Kew_Tour wrote: »

OK I remeber when I was young all I ever taught was the longer you hit it the better you will get, but some words of wisdom and some harsh lessons proved that putting and short game is where the scores are made.

So after much practise after a year or two my putting became the best part my game getting me down from 16 to 7 handicap.

Now after watching the US Open and seeing players like Sergio why cant these players not just get better at it? Its not like you need be strong or anything. Is it mental thing do you think? Now I cant strike the ball anywhere near Segio who I am big fan of, but some players even likes of Langer etc just could not have confidence with puts and try all types grips etc. Would a great coach help?

I be interested to know your taughts.

Id also like to know ur secret i used to play off ten when i was 15 and putting was the weakest part of my game. I stopped playing started back last year (ten years later) and have got myself back down to 11 but i reckon if i could put i would be a very low handicapper as i can hit the ball a mile

Irishvillian

technodub wrote: »

Id also like to know ur secret i used to play off ten when i was 15 and putting was the weakest part of my game. I stopped playing started back last year (ten years later) and have got myself back down to 11 but i reckon if i could put i would be a very low handicapper as i can hit the ball a mile

If you can hit the ball a mile you should be entering long drive competions:D;)

Hunter21

Putting is a game within a already complicated game. It takes imagination and feel and the bit of luck. An ok putter can become a good one, all it take is more practice and loads more concentration. Then to become a great putter you either are one or your not!

The_Kew_Tour

I think few people maybe mistaken (prob should have been clearer) what I was trying to get across.

I know players whos weakness is their putting are still fantatsic players what I was trying to get across is why for something where you do not need to be strong or need any great skill and something that you can practise at home is still so many players weakness.

I know I probably be 4-5 putting the greeens they were playing in US Open but these same players play on them much more. Just look at Sergio who I feel is excellent long putter but its short 10 feet in where he struggles I just think with maybe a good putting coach he could get in the same league as say Donald or Harrington. As someone said if they playued at their local club they be considered the best putters by far but thats kind missing the point in that its proffessional we are talking about and it's their job and have much more time.

O and for people who wanted to know how got handicap down;)
Now I dont play as much Golf as used to but I really just practised really hard trying getting putter hit sweet spot all time trying get consistent roll etc. Also practice putting a hundred balls from 3 feet with two clubs either side so I putted straight back and through and if miseed one I had start again. Maybe start off with 25 and work yourt way up. I also did a lot at home had few mats placed them together and putted lag putting you could do this on coursde by practising putts from 25 feet to a fringe of a green getting as close as you can without touching the green.

Martin567

The_Kew_Tour wrote: »

I know I probably be 4-5 putting the greeens they were playing in US Open but these same players play on them much more. Just look at Sergio who I feel is excellent long putter but its short 10 feet in where he struggles I just think with maybe a good putting coach he could get in the same league as say Donald or Harrington. As someone said if they playued at their local club they be considered the best putters by far but thats kind missing the point in that its proffessional we are talking about and it's their job and have much more time.

If Sergio is reading this, he'll probably take your advice because, you know what, I'll bet he's never thought of doing this before.

PhilipMarlowe

As Seán might say, Mental Scar Tissue might be getting in the way...

Opics

The_Kew_Tour wrote: »

I know players whos weakness is their putting are still fantatsic players what I was trying to get across is why for something where you do not need to be strong or need any great skill and something that you can practise at home is still so many players weakness.

Don't need any great skill in putting? :rolleyes:

And why are you so fixed on strength? Like I said before, it's the least important thing in golf.

pauldoo

I wonder if sergio is doing anything about, he could be too proud or stubborn to go and see someone, its a pity, they way he played the weekend, he should have been contending with rory. unreal player, that shot from under the trees that hit the pin, nearly wet myself!

Looks like its a mental issue, his long putting seems very good, from inside 6 feet he runs into problems

The_Kew_Tour

Opics wrote: »

Don't need any great skill in putting? :rolleyes:

And why are you so fixed on strength? Like I said before, it's the least important thing in golf.

Of course you need skill to be good putter but you dont need any type of required skill before you practice putting before you even pick up a club.

In fact putting is an art in itself but its somebody at any gender or age level should be able in improve on that's what I am getting at.

Christ take the chill pill if you read the whole post you understand I am just wondering why some players putting has always been their weakness.

Villain

Dr Bob reckons putting is 95% mental and I tend to agree!

pauldoo

id agree with Dr Bob, reading 'golf is not a game of perfect' when i started helped me no end

Anyone seen dave stocktons putting dvd

Myksyk

Obviously as you get nearer the hole your margin for error decreases and the affect of stress/anxiety/mental issues increases dramatically. Putting relies more on touch and feel than any other part of the game and you are punished most severely if your stress compromises this finesse part of the game. If you are prone to anxiety you will pay a price physically and psychologically through tightening of muscles, impaired concentration, unwanted muscular twitches, reduced fluidity of motor movement etc etc. While these will affect driving and irons to some degree they will have a far greater impact on the delicate motor movements involved in putting.