Putting pre-shot routine...yay or nay?

Keano

Read an article today about how Dave Stockton told Rory to forget about his routine that he'd used for a long time and just simply putt the ball.

Got me thinking about my own routine. I have one, but don't always stick to it!

What do ye folks do? Grip and let it roll?!

charlieIRL

away from the ball - i take 2 practice swings to the strength i think i need to hit the ball to get it to the hole. Sometimes i'm right, sometimes i'm miles off!!!

Mr. Larson

Get the line.
Stand over the ball.
Look at the hole.
Take two or three practice putts looking at the hole all the time.
Address the ball.
Take the putt.

link_2007

Jabberwocky wrote: »

Get the line.
Stand over the ball.
Look at the hole.
Take two or three practice putts looking at the hole all the time.
Address the ball.
Take the putt.

Pretty much this for me as well;

Stand over the ball.
Look at the hole.
Take two or three practice putts looking at the hole all the time.
Address the ball.
Take the putt
Miss
Swear

Tin_Cup

Defo for me

Stand behind ball looking straight down line.
2/3 practice strokes looking at hole
Wipe putter face with left hand while walking to ball
Putter head down with right hand on grip then left
One last look at hole
Forward press - then roll

(seems long winded when I write it down but not in practice)

Tox56

I did notice McIlroy does have a few practice strokes while looking at the hole for longer putts to gauge the pace, but I like the idea of no practice strokes for shorter ones.

Russman

Even having no routine is a routine if its consistent.

I think the point being made was not to have a routine for the sake of a routine, but to just be ready to hit the putt.

redhill

Keano A Legend wrote: »

Read an article today about how Dave Stockton told Rory to forget about his routine that he'd used for a long time and just simply putt the ball.

Got me thinking about my own routine. I have one, but don't always stick to it!

What do ye folks do? Grip and let it roll?!

Rory has changed his routine, he till has one though, it just doesn't involve a practice stroke, Stockton places emphasis on the line and speed and just stepping up and letting it roll....
A colleague went to one of his golf schools in States and his putting has improved immeasurably, he has come down from 12 to 9. He was an abymasal putter for a 12 hcap though, the result of the school has really cleared all the clutter from his brain IMHO, which was holding his putting back

stockdam

I don't think I'd have the confidence to drop a routine. I take a couple of practice swings just to relax, loosen up and feel a nice smooth swing and then I just duplicate that for the real putt.

charlieIRL

actually now that i think of it - on Golfing World today Simon Homes had a great pre shot set up routine. He went thru all the correct body position / grip etc. Must see is there a you tube clip.

dvemail

stockdam wrote: »

I don't think I'd have the confidence to drop a routine. I take a couple of practice swings just to relax, loosen up and feel a nice smooth swing and then I just duplicate that for the real putt.

Agree with this. For myself i take several several practice strokes before i stand over my putt so i know how hard i want to hit it. It just sets my mind at ease before each putt.

nocal

I used to take practise strokes but moved away from it in the last few months. I find it is much better for keeping a clear mind - all I am thinking about is "that is where the hole is".
I also find that when I practise putting that I was not taking practise strokes and thus had one routine when practising and another when playing.

I do take practise strokes on very long putts as my pace on those was very bad. My putting is definitely more consistent now but then I am also better from 6 feet and in.

Whyner

Keano A Legend wrote: »

I have one, but don't always stick to it!

Then you don't have one.

I think they're vital. They can differ slightly, especially if you have a tricky putt, you may need extra time to read the break but the last 30 seconds should be consistent i.e the way you place your hands on the grip, your practice stroke if any, your looks along the line etc...

This is something you can groove in your gaf every night so no excuses. It can be soooo boring but low handicappers didn't get there without a lot of hard work

Tell her you're putting out the recycling then slip into the back room for 50 in a row.

golfwallah

Personally, I have found that a routine becomes almost automatic and helps with concentration.

But, whatever helps – use it. If it stops working for me, I'll have to think again.

The more successful Rugby & Gaelic Football place kickers use a routine, so why not golfers?

PhilipMarlowe

01. Wait until it's my turn to putt.
02. Then start to read the putt from behind the ball.
03. Do a 360 around the hole, reading the putt from all angles....
04. Back behind the ball and have a good long look at the line again.
05. Start to repair old pitch marks 'near' my line now (never mind mine, someone else has to putt over that, not my problem)...
06. Line up the stripe on my ball with the line.
07. This is kinda tricky so I might be a while...
08. Happy now, I step back just to be sure.
09. No, not quite...
10. I have to tweak it a bit.
11. Step back and check... now I'm happy.
12. 8 practice swings is the magic number...
13. Miss.
14. 'Decide' to stick with it because mine is the most important putt on the green.
15. I'm not walking on anyones line "much"...
16. Line up the stripe yada yada................

Russman

PhilipMarlowe wrote: »

01. Wait until it's my turn to putt.
02. Then start to read the putt from behind the ball.
03. Do a 360 around the hole, reading the putt from all angles....
04. Back behind the ball and have a good long look at the line again.
05. Start to repair old pitch marks 'near' my line now (never mind mine, someone else has to putt over that, not my problem)...
06. Line up the stripe on my ball with the line.
07. This is kinda tricky so I might be a while...
08. Happy now, I step back just to be sure.
09. No, not quite...
10. I have to tweak it a bit.
11. Step back and check... now I'm happy.
12. 8 practice swings is the magic number...
13. Miss.
14. 'Decide' to stick with it because mine is the most important putt on the green.
15. I'm not walking on anyones line "much"...
16. Line up the stripe yada yada................

Are you Keegan Bradley ?? :D

GreeBo

Russman wrote: »

Are you Keegan Bradley ?? :D

Nah then it would be
1a- spit
2a- spit
3a -spit

etc etc

dvemail

Anybody remember Jim Furyks old putting routine?
Where he would do the usual checking the line from all angles, take some practice strokes then stand up to the ball for a second or two then back of and repeat.
Was the most infuriating thing to watch on TV. Sky would be loosing the rag over it as ever time they cut to Jim about to take which they thought was his putt he would back off from it.
Compare that then to somebody like Aaron Baddely who just steps up and hits it and is considered one of the best putter in the world. The less muck going on in your head the better imo.

Mr. Larson

PhilipMarlowe wrote: »

01. Wait until it's my turn to putt.
02. Then start to read the putt from behind the ball.
03. Do a 360 around the hole, reading the putt from all angles....
04. Back behind the ball and have a good long look at the line again.
05. Start to repair old pitch marks 'near' my line now (never mind mine, someone else has to putt over that, not my problem)...
06. Line up the stripe on my ball with the line.
07. This is kinda tricky so I might be a while...
08. Happy now, I step back just to be sure.
09. No, not quite...
10. I have to tweak it a bit.
11. Step back and check... now I'm happy.
12. 8 practice swings is the magic number...
13. Miss.
14. 'Decide' to stick with it because mine is the most important putt on the green.
15. I'm not walking on anyones line "much"...
16. Line up the stripe yada yada................

Q: "Sorry would you mind moving, your shadow is on my line"
A: "Well it wasn't near your *effin line when you started!"

Rabidlamb

I used to play the putt going into the hole in my mind then reverse the tape at the same speed.
Once I'm back in the starting position I begin my backswing.

Can't beat a good 22 waggles like Garcia.

Whyner

GreeBo wrote: »

Nah then it would be
1a- spit
2a- spit
3a -spit

etc etc

Think he's completely stopped the spitting

slave1

Whyner wrote: »

Think he's completely stopped the spitting

He has actually, never noticed it last week now that I think about it

Goldenjohn

slave1 wrote: »

He has actually, never noticed it last week now that I think about it

More importantly I think he has quickened his pre shot routine.He is definately making an effort to anyway. Fair play to him pity more didn't follow his example.