Putting

irish bloke

Folks,

Just wanted to know your views or thoughts on getting the correct fundamentals for putting.

I practice a little bit (not enough) but I find I chop and change styles, stance, ball position etc from one hole to the next.

I average about 38 putts:eek: and would normally have at least three to four 3 putts a round. Even with this I still play to my handicap (16) and above regularly, therefore know I need to address this issue if im to move forward.

I use a standard Odyssey 2 ball putter, dont even know the length of it. Am 6ft 1" so just above average height, but how do I know if the putter is even the right length for me??

Started looking online about putting in general and saw this video which looks quite good and speaks about what I would deem to be fundamentals.

Would anyone agree/disagree or have any recommendation of where to begin?

Thanks,

J6P

Geoff Mangum is quite good too, he owns/runs puttingzone.com

http://www.puttingzone.com/MyTips/practice.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-anHCPCCIk

irish bloke

J6P wrote: »

Geoff Mangum is quite good too, he owns/runs puttingzone.com

http://www.puttingzone.com/MyTips/practice.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-anHCPCCIk

Will take a look at that later on. thanks

kagni

I had similar probelms with putting.
I got myself a cheap putting mat and I find it great - I can putt away for 30mins to an hour a few nights a week in front of the telly.
It makes it easy to experiment with different techniques to find a method that works well for you.
I've really cut down on the 3-putts since getting it and I'm way more confident over the 5-6 footers now.
Also like Geoff Mangum's site but it can be a bit of a pain to navigate it.

Keano

You say you normally have at least three to four 3 putts a round. On these holes are you leaving yourself a lot do to when you get on the green?

irish bloke

Keano A Legend wrote: »

You say you normally have at least three to four 3 putts a round. On these holes are you leaving yourself a lot do to when you get on the green?

Sometimes I do to be fair, but I can just as easily have 3 putts from 12 feet which is really frustrating when your on the green in reg..

Ild like to know my fundamentals are 100% as im just experimenting too much and practicing nothing really. I had a lesson on putting but didnt get too much from it to be honest.

Keano

irish bloke wrote: »

Sometimes I do to be fair, but I can just as easily have 3 putts from 12 feet which is really frustrating when your on the green in reg..

Ild like to know my fundamentals are 100% as im just experimenting too much and practicing nothing really. I had a lesson on putting but didnt get too much from it to be honest.

Is there really a right way to putt though? You just look at so many different styles and I think you just need to settle on one way and practice and stick to it. Some days the ball will fall and other's it wont.

stockdam

Putting is almost all about confidence........which can be gained through lots of practice.

Setup a practice area at home (you already have one if you have short-pile carpets and practice and practice the 6 to 12 foot putts until you feel that your swing is natural.

irish bloke

Keano A Legend wrote: »

Is there really a right way to putt though? You just look at so many different styles and I think you just need to settle on one way and practice and stick to it. Some days the ball will fall and other's it wont.

Ya, I hear what you are saying about different styles etc, but I dont seem to be getting any better at it, infact probably worse.

I was looking at that Shawn Clement video yesterday and he mentioned about that phenomenon where the putter goes back like a snake (wobbling everywhere). This happens to me alot and he mentioned its got to do with how your arms hang, balance etc.

Its things like that I'ld like to know before I go away and practice for months with the wrong fundamentals.

There is so much info on the swing out there and not a great deal on putting.

bustercherry

Forget about correct technique (obviously try to do something consistent), putter length, fundamentals etc.... If you are hitting that many putts, you have zero touch and distance control and no amount of fundamentals or technique changes will improve your putting until you sort that out. IMO that is what I think you should work on.

alxmorgan

bustercherry wrote: »

Forget about correct technique (obviously try to do something consistent), putter length, fundamentals etc.... If you are hitting that many putts, you have zero touch and distance control and no amount of fundamentals or technique changes will improve your putting until you sort that out. IMO that is what I think you should work on.

To help improve touch I read somewhere the putting with your eyes closed helps a lot. Or by putting medium length putts but not looking up.
So basically throw a coin on a carpet as your target and putt to it and then (either eyes closed or not looking up) call
a) Is the putt long, short or just right
b) Is the putt on target or left or right of it

Now look up and see how close you were to being right
Aim is not to "hole" the putt but to accurately make the call
Basically you start to improve feel by focusing on the stroke and club face rather than worrying about whether the ball is going in

In fact I think its time to practice what I preach cause I'd forgotten this drill but it sounds good :-)

irish bloke

bustercherry wrote: »

Forget about correct technique (obviously try to do something consistent), putter length, fundamentals etc.... If you are hitting that many putts, you have zero touch and distance control and no amount of fundamentals or technique changes will improve your putting until you sort that out. IMO that is what I think you should work on.

I’m not having a go and your opinion is your opinion, but I don’t think you are correct in what you are saying.
There must be good sound basic fundamental in every discipline.
Ive heard many tips in my day, but which are the correct ones, I don’t know.

If im putting with one leg forward, head in the air, a bent elbow and my arms way out in front of me, than all the practice in the world will never make me a good putter.

irish bloke

stockdam wrote: »

Putting is almost all about confidence........which can be gained through lots of practice.

Setup a practice area at home (you already have one if you have short-pile carpets and practice and practice the 6 to 12 foot putts until you feel that your swing is natural.

Maybe you are right and a few have said it. Maybe I do just nead to practice and practice.

hades

I'd imagine i'm in the same boat as you. I'm a 19 handicapper and its drives me nuts to be almost always on the green in regulation and then 3 putt for my 2 point bogey. Now, it is playing to handicap, but i want to make the push forward.

What i've started doing is a number of things.

1, i'll echo the post above alxmorgan, keep the head down still on medium putts. This is one of the first thing the pro taught me. It freaks the hell out of you at the begining, but you get the hang of it and you get more consistant. The thing is to pick the line, eye the line back to your clubface, back and forth a few times, once your happy, keep the head very still and putt. Much like McDowells routine.

2, come to terms with the fact that you're not going to make every putt and learn how to lag putt. This comes from the Phil Michelson dvd, secrets of the short game. The theory is to try and get to the sweet circle of the 3ft radius around the hole. From there, practice 3 ft putts like a lunatic. Whenever i practice, i would generally do 40 - 50 3 foot putts, sounds and looks really silly, but i find it works for me. On the long putts, if i get in that sweet circle i know from my practice that i will make that putt 90% of the time.

3, if you're not happy, step off the putt and re-access it. Funny as it may sound, i was standing over a 10 - 13 ft putt over the weekend and i was petrified. I missed of course and i mentioned it to the lads that i had "the fear" standing over the putt and they mentioned they could see it in me. From then on over the round, if i got the hee-bee-gee-bees over a putt, i'd stand off, take a few seconds and try again.

I'm working on all these, and i've been finding good results so far. But i guess the most important thing is, in order to make putts, you have to put yourself in a position to have a fighting chance.

JD Dublin

hades wrote: »

I'd imagine i'm in the same boat as you. I'm a 19 handicapper and its drives me nuts to be almost always on the green in regulation and then 3 putt for my 2 point bogey. Now, it is playing to handicap, but i want to make the push forward.

What i've started doing is a number of things.

1, i'll echo the post above alxmorgan, keep the head down still on medium putts. This is one of the first thing the pro taught me. It freaks the hell out of you at the begining, but you get the hang of it and you get more consistant. The thing is to pick the line, eye the line back to your clubface, back and forth a few times, once your happy, keep the head very still and putt. Much like McDowells routine.

2, come to terms with the fact that you're not going to make every putt and learn how to lag putt. This comes from the Phil Michelson dvd, secrets of the short game. The theory is to try and get to the sweet circle of the 3ft radius around the hole. From there, practice 3 ft putts like a lunatic. Whenever i practice, i would generally do 40 - 50 3 foot putts, sounds and looks really silly, but i find it works for me. On the long putts, if i get in that sweet circle i know from my practice that i will make that putt 90% of the time.

3, if you're not happy, step off the putt and re-access it. Funny as it may sound, i was standing over a 10 - 13 ft putt over the weekend and i was petrified. I missed of course and i mentioned it to the lads that i had "the fear" standing over the putt and they mentioned they could see it in me. From then on over the round, if i got the hee-bee-gee-bees over a putt, i'd stand off, take a few seconds and try again.

I'm working on all these, and i've been finding good results so far. But i guess the most important thing is, in order to make putts, you have to put yourself in a position to have a fighting chance.

I have used a 21 shot routine - take 5 balls, putt from 3 feet and hole out. Do the same with 5 balls from 10 feet, then from 30 feet. You should aim for 21 shots - never got below 24 myself, but it has improved my putting immensely.

The idea is that you should get the 3 footers in one, and only take 6 or 7 on the 5 10 footer shots. Then you should get the majority of the 30 footers in 2, maybe even get lucky and sink the odd one in 1.

Now if I could only get the ball on to the green in less than 8 shots.....:):):)

kincsem

Only practice for distance. You will never be far out for direction. Stick a tee in the green, or place one on a threadbare carpet, and try to stop at the tee.

stockdam

irish bloke wrote: »

Maybe you are right and a few have said it. Maybe I do just nead to practice and practice.

You can over think and over analyse and get tied up in knots.

The putter stroke is quite simple and it's just a smooth back and smooth through stroke. Think of the stroke as a pendulum.......no rush nor effort.

Distance control is not easy to learn. You need to putt until your hands blister.......then you'll get it.

How tight do you grip? Your grip should be quite light.....just enough to hold on. Don't use your hands but think of the triangle formed by your arms going back and through. Your hands don't do anything except hold on. A light touch is much better than a death grip.

opinionated3

Excellent post there. The pendulum is the exact motion you are looking for. As regards your height, I am 5ft 8 and recently changed from 34'' odessey two ball to the newer version with heavier weights and crucially 2'' shorter. The difference is noticeable straight away. Defo keeping my putts on line, and seeing as tbh as never had a problem really judging distances I am happy out. I would definitely look at your putter first and seek independent advice. Are you certain it's the right one for you?

FixdePitchmark

opinionated3 wrote: »

Excellent post there. The pendulum is the exact motion you are looking for. As regards your height, I am 5ft 8 and recently changed from 34'' odessey two ball to the newer version with heavier weights and crucially 2'' shorter. The difference is noticeable straight away. Defo keeping my putts on line, and seeing as tbh as never had a problem really judging distances I am happy out. I would definitely look at your putter first and seek independent advice. Are you certain it's the right one for you?

I have the same putter (34") and have moved my hands down to near end of grip. I guess this would be not far off what you have done with new one ?

whizbang

Im jumping on the bandwagon here too, Opinion.. was there much effect in the shorter shaft rather than the weight.?
Im considering getting a shorter 2ball also, as i sometimes find it catches in my clothes, but don't want too much of a difference.

FixdePitchmark

whizbang wrote: »

Im jumping on the bandwagon here too, Opinion.. was there much effect in the shorter shaft rather than the weight.?
Im considering getting a shorter 2ball also, as i sometimes find it catches in my clothes, but don't want too much of a difference.

I'm thinking myself the 2 ball was never a great putter, I still have it.

Is a shorter 2 ball not just a shorter 2 ball - could you do it with a hacksaw ?

whizbang

terrified I'd bugger up the weight/balance etc.

A mate of mine uses a putter weighted at the top of the grip: altho i dont really like the feel, i'm thinking its there for a reason.

FixdePitchmark

whizbang wrote: »

terrified I'd bugger up the weight/balance etc.

A mate of mine uses a putter weighted at the top of the grip: altho i dont really like the feel, i'm thinking its there for a reason.

Terrified - sure I'm terrified of a 4 footer with a 2 ball - :mad::( lol.

bustercherry

irish bloke wrote: »

I’m not having a go and your opinion is your opinion, but I don’t think you are correct in what you are saying.
There must be good sound basic fundamental in every discipline.
Ive heard many tips in my day, but which are the correct ones, I don’t know.

If im putting with one leg forward, head in the air, a bent elbow and my arms way out in front of me, than all the practice in the world will never make me a good putter.

Why not? Just because you perceive this as being bad does not mean it won't work for someone else.

In all reality the example you gave is ridiculous. Imagine if you gave someone a putter and golf ball for the first time; and had never played or seen golf in their life. Then ask them to get the little ball in the hole or as close as possible. Clearly they would not putt like that or very quickly figure out what they are doing is inherently wrong. That person would not be worrying about have I the correct posture, grip alignment, putter type, shaft length etc.... Their focus would be simply to get the ball in the hole or near enough.

I believe lots of people get caught up in the fear of executing the fundementals incorrectly (especially in putting) and lose sight of the objective; in this case get the ball in the hole. You never see young kids putting; or Golf Pros teaching kids for that matter how to putt; with a load of crap in their head about fundamentals. They just step up and hit it at the hole. If it misses they try again and learn from experience without fear they are doing it wrong. It's how people develope feel and distance control; no amount of fundamentals can teach that experience.

If the OP is averaging 38 putts per round and playing off 16, something is seriously wrong and unless he is a complete moron his fundamentals are probably good enough to be averaging better (especially as the rest of his game indicates he has the potential to hit a few greens in regulation; plus get up and down a few times). He should work on lagging the ball up to hole, close enough to sink the 2nd and hence work on touch/distance control.

irish bloke

bustercherry wrote: »

Why not? Just because you perceive this as being bad does not mean it won't work for someone else.

In all reality the example you gave is ridiculous. Imagine if you gave someone a putter and golf ball for the first time; and had never played or seen golf in their life. Then ask them to get the little ball in the hole or as close as possible. Clearly they would not putt like that or very quickly figure out what they are doing is inherently wrong. That person would not be worrying about have I the correct posture, grip alignment, putter type, shaft length etc.... Their focus would be simply to get the ball in the hole or near enough.

I believe lots of people get caught up in the fear of executing the fundementals incorrectly (especially in putting) and lose sight of the objective; in this case get the ball in the hole. You never see young kids putting; or Golf Pros teaching kids for that matter how to putt; with a load of crap in their head about fundamentals. They just step up and hit it at the hole. If it misses they try again and learn from experience without fear they are doing it wrong. It's how people develope feel and distance control; no amount of fundamentals can teach that experience.

If the OP is averaging 38 putts per round and playing off 16, something is seriously wrong and unless he is a complete moron his fundamentals are probably good enough to be averaging better (especially as the rest of his game indicates he has the potential to hit a few greens in regulation; plus get up and down a few times). He should work on lagging the ball up to hole, close enough to sink the 2nd and hence work on touch/distance control.

Dont agree with any of the s.hite TBH.
If you saying there are no fundamentals in a putting stroke then your talking through your arse as usual..

And another thing Buster, less of the name calling pal.........

opinionated3

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

I have the same putter (34") and have moved my hands down to near end of grip. I guess this would be not far off what you have done with new one ?

i suppose..... the difference now though is that the excess grip/shaft length is not in a position to annoy me as i am trying to keep my arms stiff and straight to enable the pendulum motion. i received a lesson in putting recently and while i agree everyone may use a particular style to suit themselves, i simply wanted a motion/stance that i could consistently repeat every round.....things have improved for me no end...no if i could just hit the green in less shots!!!!!

Keano

irish bloke wrote: »

Dont agree with any of the s.hite TBH.
If you saying there are no fundamentals in a putting stroke then your talking through your arse as usual..

And another thing Buster, less of the name calling pal.........

IMO the only fundamental is the pendulum action after that it's up to you. Why would they bring out 2 thumb grip if that's not the "right" way to hold the club, same goes with some teacher's say the club should go straight back and forward while other's say it should have a slight arc. Everyone has a different opinion.

Loire

irish bloke wrote: »

Folks,

I use a standard Odyssey 2 ball putter, dont even know the length of it. Am 6ft 1" so just above average height, but how do I know if the putter is even the right length for me??

Have you tried using a different putter? I had a 2 ball putter and whilst I found it good for short putts, I found the feedback very poor from it and my lag putting suffered big time.

Another I do on the occasion that my lag putting goes to the dogs:

On a flat putting green hit 3 putts with your feet close together...do not let the putter go back or through the outside of both feet. Measure distance in paces. Widen stance to normal and repeat. Widen your stance to "wide" and repeat. You now have 3 banker distance shots. If you know that the normal putt goes 8 paces on a flat surface you can adjust the distance for uphill/downhill. Once you have all this worked out and play a few times like this it will become 2nd nature and you won't have to keep this up.

kagni

bustercherry wrote: »

Why not? Just because you perceive this as being bad does not mean it won't work for someone else.

In all reality the example you gave is ridiculous. Imagine if you gave someone a putter and golf ball for the first time; and had never played or seen golf in their life. Then ask them to get the little ball in the hole or as close as possible. Clearly they would not putt like that or very quickly figure out what they are doing is inherently wrong. That person would not be worrying about have I the correct posture, grip alignment, putter type, shaft length etc.... Their focus would be simply to get the ball in the hole or near enough.

I believe lots of people get caught up in the fear of executing the fundementals incorrectly (especially in putting) and lose sight of the objective; in this case get the ball in the hole. You never see young kids putting; or Golf Pros teaching kids for that matter how to putt; with a load of crap in their head about fundamentals. They just step up and hit it at the hole. If it misses they try again and learn from experience without fear they are doing it wrong. It's how people develope feel and distance control; no amount of fundamentals can teach that experience.

If the OP is averaging 38 putts per round and playing off 16, something is seriously wrong and unless he is a complete moron his fundamentals are probably good enough to be averaging better (especially as the rest of his game indicates he has the potential to hit a few greens in regulation; plus get up and down a few times). He should work on lagging the ball up to hole, close enough to sink the 2nd and hence work on touch/distance control.

I agree 100% with busters post (apart from the bit where he called the OP a moron)
When he's not being an arse he actually talks a bit of sense;)

With the variety of different putting styles around I don't think it's easy to come up with a set of fundementals that are applicable to everyone.
As long as the putter hits the ball with the correct speed and square to your target line then you have made a good putting stroke, there are any number of ways to get to that position. The problem is finding a way to get to that position that is easily repeatable for you - that takes practice.

irish bloke

Keano A Legend wrote: »

IMO the only fundamental is the pendulum action after that it's up to you. Why would they bring out 2 thumb grip if that's not the "right" way to hold the club, same goes with some teacher's say the club should go straight back and forward while other's say it should have a slight arc. Everyone has a different opinion.

It appears that is a big one alright.

Hands directly below your shoulders (prevents wobbling on the way back and giving good balance) was something I never knew and is what I would call a good fundamental.

There are other things like square shoulders and stance, following through (not hitting the ball and stopping), not breaking wrists, would also be good fundamental in any putting stroke I would imagine.

bustercherry

No one called anyone a moron.

Relax and read the post and the response it is in reference to. Irish Bloke picked that out of context and it was not a dig in the slightest. It was joke in reference to his post (I forgot Irish Bloke was the OP too) about putting one leg in the air, bent elbows etc....

"and unless he is a complete moron his fundamentals are probably good enough to be averaging better (especially as the rest of his game indicates he has the potential to hit a few greens in regulation; plus get up and down a few times)."

bustercherry

irish bloke wrote: »

Dont agree with any of the s.hite TBH.
If you saying there are no fundamentals in a putting stroke then your talking through your arse as usual..

And another thing Buster, less of the name calling pal.........

You may think that is talking out my arse but I'm not the person averaging 38 putts a round. You play off an above average handicap, so I'm assuming you can play the game a bit (probably better than a 16 handicapper too); certainly you should be more than capable of averaging 36 putts per round as you should be getting yourself in positions to 1 putt.

You see people on the golf course, all the time, setting up for putts and they have a list of checkpoints to get through before the even hit the ball. This is absolutely mental and no wonder they make nothing. All you have to do is pick a point, aim at it and try to get the ball as close as possible. I have yet to come across someone on a golf course who's putting stroke was so fundamentally wrong that they were incapable in getting a ball in the hole in 2 strokes, and certainly not a 16 handicapper such as yourself.

If you watch juniors being coached how to putt, a Pro will never spend time going through fundamentals in detail nor do they talk about putting routines. It's all about hitting putts to develop touch and distance control (usually using some sort of competitive game/routine). Also if you ask a child what is going through their head standing over a putt, they certainly will not come back with I gripped the club correctly, is my putting stroke straight back and through or any of the usual thoughts us adults have (I'm as guilty of this myself). Certainly they won't be thinking is the shaft of the putter too long :rolleyes:

I think amateur golfers are so much in fear of doing the wrong thing they forget the objective - "get the ball in the hole in as little amount of strokes possible". At some point people have to realise that spending (including practice drills) all this time on alignment, posture and what ever else they read about; is completely a waste of time if you can't get the ball close enough to the hole for your consistently make your 2nd putt. IMO and that of a few pro's I know; if you can't do the above consistently, then the margins for putter fitting, spending all your putting practice on fundamentals (I have a different view for the full swing) is waste of time for the small margins of improvements the practice may bring.

bustercherry

kagni wrote: »

I agree 100% with busters post (apart from the bit where he called the OP a moron)
When he's not being an arse he actually talks a bit of sense;)

With the variety of different putting styles around I don't think it's easy to come up with a set of fundementals that are applicable to everyone.
As long as the putter hits the ball with the correct speed and square to your target line then you have made a good putting stroke, there are any number of ways to get to that position. The problem is finding a way to get to that position that is easily repeatable for you - that takes practice.

Thanks I think In fairness I didn't call anyone a moron, so I wasn't being an arse

irish bloke

bustercherry wrote: »

You may think that is talking out my arse but I'm not the person averaging 38 putts a round. You play off an above average handicap, so I'm assuming you can play the game a bit (probably better than a 16 handicapper too); certainly you should be more than capable of averaging 36 putts per round as you should be getting yourself in positions to 1 putt.

You see people on the golf course, all the time, setting up for putts and they have a list of checkpoints to get through before the even hit the ball. This is absolutely mental and no wonder they make nothing. All you have to do is pick a point, aim at it and try to get the ball as close as possible. I have yet to come across someone on a golf course who's putting stroke was so fundamentally wrong that they were incapable in getting a ball in the hole in 2 strokes, and certainly not a 16 handicapper such as yourself.

If you watch juniors being coached how to putt, a Pro will never spend time going through fundamentals in detail nor do they talk about putting routines. It's all about hitting putts to develop touch and distance control (usually using some sort of competitive game/routine). Also if you ask a child what is going through their head standing over a putt, they certainly will not come back with I gripped the club correctly, is my putting stroke straight back and through or any of the usual thoughts us adults have (I'm as guilty of this myself). Certainly they won't be thinking is the shaft of the putter too long :rolleyes:

I think amateur golfers are so much in fear of doing the wrong thing they forget the objective - "get the ball in the hole in as little amount of strokes possible". At some point people have to realise that spending (including practice drills) all this time on alignment, posture and what ever else they read about; is completely a waste of time if you can't get the ball close enough to the hole for your consistently make your 2nd putt. IMO and that of a few pro's I know; if you can't do the above consistently, then the margins for putter fitting, spending all your putting practice on fundamentals (I have a different view for the full swing) is waste of time for the small margins of improvements the practice may bring.

To be honest Buster, I switched off after the first paragraph.
I dont agree with you and have already got alot from other poster on this thread.

So if your finished, so am I....

newport2

irish bloke wrote: »

Folks,

Just wanted to know your views or thoughts on getting the correct fundamentals for putting.

I practice a little bit (not enough) but I find I chop and change styles, stance, ball position etc from one hole to the next.

I average about 38 putts:eek: and would normally have at least three to four 3 putts a round. Even with this I still play to my handicap (16) and above regularly, therefore know I need to address this issue if im to move forward.

I use a standard Odyssey 2 ball putter, dont even know the length of it. Am 6ft 1" so just above average height, but how do I know if the putter is even the right length for me??

Started looking online about putting in general and saw this video which looks quite good and speaks about what I would deem to be fundamentals.

Would anyone agree/disagree or have any recommendation of where to begin?

Thanks,

Haven't read the whole thread, but are you missing putts through bad contact/pace or through misreading greens?

A couple of years ago, I thought I was poor at putting, couple of 3 putts a round and missing just too many chances of birdies and par saves when they arose within a holeable distance. I played with one of my friends at a competition in his club one weekend, and I holed everything. The difference? I was getting told the line and pace to hit by the locals who knew the greens. As we walked off the course, I was told something along the lines of "You're actually a very good putter, you're just sh1te at reading greens mate." After this, I focused a bit more on reading the greens, observing carefully the ball of those who putted before me, what my missed putt did after it passed the hole, etc and my number of putts started to tumble.

Might be a totally different scenario you're in, but when I had similar stats to you, I assumed it was my stroke when it wasn't.

If you don't think it's related to this, the just find a stance, grip and putter that you're comfortable with and stick with it. Don't change again if it doesn't work after a week. Give it a month or two to show results. And if it doesn't, then try something else!

Also, putts per round is misleading in telling you how well you're putting. At least in combination with that, add up the length of the 18 putts you hole in the round. That'll give you a better idea of how many decent putts you're holing. The pros aim for about 100 feet using this. Harrington had over 190 in his 61 last week!

Good luck

stockdam

As a young lad I spent many hours on the putting green trying out different things (elbows out, arms straight, open stance, closed stance, stroke, rap, toe up, hands low etc.). I also went into the pro shop and borrowed lots of different putters. I found that I didn't like blade or bulls-eye ones......mallets weren't great for me either. I liked Ping Ansers as they made me put my hands forward and I could look down the line easier. I also played lots of competitions with other juniors and I became an excellent putter (that's all gone now). Most of the good putters I knew also had their hands well forward in their stance and played the ball off their left toes or just back from them.

At no stage did I think too much but experimented until I developed a feel for the putts. It certainly wasn't an over-night process. When I was putting well, I just picked a spot to aim at and then made a smooth stroke; there were no other thoughts than that.

BoardsMember

Loire wrote: »

Another I do on the occasion that my lag putting goes to the dogs:

On a flat putting green hit 3 putts with your feet close together...do not let the putter go back or through the outside of both feet. Measure distance in paces. Widen stance to normal and repeat. Widen your stance to "wide" and repeat. You now have 3 banker distance shots. If you know that the normal putt goes 8 paces on a flat surface you can adjust the distance for uphill/downhill. Once you have all this worked out and play a few times like this it will become 2nd nature and you won't have to keep this up.

Golly, talk about getting mechanical on something that hsould be feel-based

Best advice on lagging is relax, make sure your arms and hands arent rigid, and pendulum back and through in your practise strokes while looking at the target. Your body will learn to feel the distances.

newport2

BoardsMember wrote: »

Best advice on lagging is relax, make sure your arms and hands arent rigid, and pendulum back and through in your practise strokes while looking at the target. Your body will learn to feel the distances.

+1

OP, I'd also recommend reading Bob Rotella's "Putting Out of your Mind". Very easy read and I know a few people it's transformed!

Loire

BoardsMember wrote: »

Golly, talk about getting mechanical on something that hsould be feel-based

Best advice on lagging is relax, make sure your arms and hands arent rigid, and pendulum back and through in your practise strokes while looking at the target. Your body will learn to feel the distances.

I only use this method if my lag putting goes to the dogs as I underlined. In this situation, I don't find it particularly easy to relax! It's sort my take on the wedge measuing method outlined David Pelz but for putting. It's surprisingly easy and quick to do and unlike iron play etc it's dead easy to reproduce. Granted, you very rarely hole any long putts this way, but I find it a good way to eliminate 3 putts. Once my feel comes back then I revert to my normal routine then though.

stockdam

BoardsMember wrote: »

Your body will learn to feel the distances.

The scary thing is how does it do this and what happens if it doesn't. There's no way that I know of teaching anyone to learn distance control apart from doing it and practicing. It's like riding a bike........it just comes to you.

newport2

stockdam wrote: »

The scary thing is how does it do this and what happens if it doesn't. There's no way that I know of teaching anyone to learn distance control apart from doing it and practicing. It's like riding a bike........it just comes to you.

Absolutely. The worst thing you can do is try to quantify how "hard" you should hit a putt in your head. You can't! You just have to look and hit

BoardsMember

Loire wrote: »

I only use this method if my lag putting goes to the dogs as I underlined. In this situation, I don't find it particularly easy to relax! It's sort my take on the wedge measuing method outlined David Pelz but for putting. It's surprisingly easy and quick to do and unlike iron play etc it's dead easy to reproduce. Granted, you very rarely hole any long putts this way, but I find it a good way to eliminate 3 putts. Once my feel comes back then I revert to my normal routine then though.

Fair enough, whatever works for you I suppose

Loire

BoardsMember wrote: »

Fair enough, whatever works for you I suppose

I'll give you a personalised, signed copy when the book's out

matt-dublin

Practise putting with your eyes closed, before you open them guess where the ball will be by the feel of your putt.

this will give you great touch and teach you how to judge pace and direction.

i found doing this nocked about 5 shots off my game and brought my 3 puts down to two putts and gave me great confidence in anythign inside 10 feet.

my goal on the first putt outside 10 feet is to leave it withing inches of the hole so i don't have difficulty knocking the second putt down.

BoardsMember

Loire wrote: »

I'll give you a personalised, signed copy when the book's out

I'm already considering legal action against you for (potential) damages caused by your suggestions regarding the three stances & swing lengths. Mods - where are you when we need you :D

stockdam

BoardsMember wrote: »

I'm already considering legal action against you for (potential) damages caused by your suggestions regarding the three stances & swing lengths. Mods - where are you when we need you :D

Yes and combined with the 4 different hand positions that fine tune the distance.......my head's exploding. If it works then great but it's not for me.