Putting style conundrum.

Oilbeefhooked!

Can anyone help ,i spent an hour at Carton working on my putting this morning, and have got myself a bit confused.
I have an awful habit of my putts coming up short of the hole , so after working on lag putts ,and having a lot of success using a good bit of wrists in the stroke.
I began using the same wristy stroke on shorter putts and bingo there in or past the hole every time. (would rather be 6ft past than six inches short at this stage, as its so infuriating always coming up short).
So the question i ask is ,does everyone use a good bit of wrist action in there lag putting stroke and at what distance does this wristy stroke become a shoulders only pendulum stroke???
Is it a bad idea for accuracy on shorter putts to use the wrists??

newport2

Oilbeefhooked! wrote: »

Can anyone help ,i spent an hour at Carton working on my putting this morning, and have got myself a bit confused.
I have an awful habit of my putts coming up short of the hole , so after working on lag putts ,and having a lot of success using a good bit of wrists in the stroke.
I began using the same wristy stroke on shorter putts and bingo there in or past the hole every time. (would rather be 6ft past than six inches short at this stage, as its so infuriating always coming up short).
So the question i ask is ,does everyone use a good bit of wrist action in there lag putting stroke and at what distance does this wristy stroke become a shoulders only pendulum stroke???
Is it a bad idea for accuracy on shorter putts to use the wrists??

Definitely bad on shorter putts to get wrists involved.

Re: long lag ones, it obviously depends largely on the speed of the green and how hard you have to hit the putt, but I don't think anyone will be able to answer the question definitively. Your wrists kick in when the putt is long enough that they need to, you don't decide to use them.

BTW, this might be worth a look:

https://www.boardsdeals.ie/deal/29-instead-of-99-for-3-Half-Hour-Putting-Lessons-with-a-PGA-Teaching-Professional-at-The-Golf-Lab-Dublin-12/872/

AldilaMan

Using the wrists is not recommended for consistent distance putting. Rock the shoulders and keep the triangle formed between your hands and shoulders.

Oilbeefhooked!

Thanks fro the advice Newport2, might check out that clinic.
I'm actually quite a good short putter(just shoulders back and thorough no wrists) , but am just struggling with the mid/long rangers and trying to come up with a mindset/technique to help get the ball to the hole.
You dont really want to have 2 different putting strokes!Or do you?
Any good tips out there? and just hit it harder does not count

AldilaMan

Oilbeefhooked! wrote: »

Thanks fro the advice Newport2, might check out that clinic.
I'm actually quite a good short putter(just shoulders back and thorough no wrists) , but am just struggling with the mid/long rangers and trying to come up with a mindset/technique to help get the ball to the hole.
You dont really want to have 2 different putting strokes!Or do you?
Any good tips out there? and just hit it harder does not count

For longer putts I would have a longer follow through rather than a longer backstroke. But that's just my way.

Oilbeefhooked!

AldilaMan wrote: »

For longer putts I would have a longer follow through rather than a longer backstroke. But that's just my way.

So would your backstroke usually be same length, with just the through stroke varying??
Also on a scale of 1-10 how hard would you be gripping the putter?

newport2

Oilbeefhooked! wrote: »

Thanks fro the advice Newport2, might check out that clinic.
I'm actually quite a good short putter(just shoulders back and thorough no wrists) , but am just struggling with the mid/long rangers and trying to come up with a mindset/technique to help get the ball to the hole.
You dont really want to have 2 different putting strokes!Or do you?
Any good tips out there? and just hit it harder does not count

No I don't. My point was that at some point your wrists will kick in on your backstroke in order to be able to take the putter head back far enough. This is only for very long putts and might only start happening at 45 foot putts for example and is not done intentionally, most people are not aware they are doing it. I remember seeing a pro on TV getting quite irate when someone mentioned he was breaking his wrists on his backstroke for long putts, he was adament that he wasn't. They then showed the video playback proving he was.

Try imagining the hole is 18 inches past where it is and putt for that if you're consistantly leaving them short.

For the majority of putts, what Aldilaman says is true, preserve the triangle. But unlike him, I would have a longer backstroke (and hence followthrough) for longer putts. That helps me keep the same tempo for putts of all length. Try and see what works for you.

BigChap1759

Oilbeefhooked! wrote: »

So would your backstroke usually be same length, with just the through stroke varying??
Also on a scale of 1-10 how hard would you be gripping the putter?

Ideally you should be gripping the putter as lightly as you can without it falling out of your hands whilst still being able to maintain control. Interesting article here:

http://robertfagan.com/golf/golf/instruction/6416/lighten-your-grip-pressure-for-better-putting

WH BONNEY

A wrist action cannot come into a good consistent putting stroke. Your action for your long putts should be an extension of the stroke used for short putts.

For those strokes to be effective they must be based on a pendulum motion where the shoulders rock with no wrist breaking.

To me part of your problem is that visually and then mentally you are not getting a feel for the distance on your longer putts. You could have the best stroke in the world but if you don't develop a feel for distances etc it won't matter.

newport2

http://www.better-golf-by-putting-better.com/putting-basics.html

The links "Putting Stroke" and "Distance Control" on this page are worth a read.

Oilbeefhooked!

newport2 wrote: »

No I don't. My point was that at some point your wrists will kick in on your backstroke in order to be able to take the putter head back far enough. This is only for very long putts and might only start happening at 45 foot putts for example and is not done intentionally, most people are not aware they are doing it. I remember seeing a pro on TV getting quite irate when someone mentioned he was breaking his wrists on his backstroke for long putts, he was adament that he wasn't. They then showed the video playback proving he was.

Try imagining the hole is 18 inches past where it is and putt for that if you're consistantly leaving them short.

For the majority of putts, what Aldilaman says is true, preserve the triangle. But unlike him, I would have a longer backstroke (and hence followthrough) for longer putts. That helps me keep the same tempo for putts of all length. Try and see what works for you.

Thanks again,what you both say makes a lot of sense.
that the wrists should kick in naturally/subconciously when the distance merits the extra power.
Def goin to ditch my deliberate wristy stroke i was messing with today,
and work more on what you suggest.
Grip tension and decelleration is probably my main problem, rather than the mechanics of the stroke itself.
Its better to find out early that the road your considering goin down is nonesense, as it can save wasting valuable practice time !
Cheers Guys.

Oilbeefhooked!

To me part of your problem is that visually and then mentally you are not getting a feel for the distance on your longer putts. You could have the best stroke in the world but if you don't develop a feel for distances etc it won't matter.

Think youve hit the Nail on the head there mate!!

Oilbeefhooked!

Thanks for the links BigChap and Newport2, will check them out!!

golfnut1

Putting is such an individual thing you have to groove a stroke for yourself. Lots of different ways of putting and no one right way. So I would say to have confidence in the fact that what works the best for you is the best for you. I'm afraid practice is the only thing that can build confidence.
I think the one constant regardless of how you do it is the sound of the putt. If your not getting that "click" sound all the time distance control is going to be an issue as this relates to the quality of the stroke. If your hitting quality strokes all the time distance control gets a lot easier.
I personally do like to keep it short/compact on the way back and good acceleration on the way through. Kind of like 30/70 ratio but that's just me.

Check out this might give you a bit more confidence in your own stroke.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX6grxgk3Ps&feature=youtube_gdata_player

AldilaMan

golfnut1 wrote: »

Putting is such an individual thing you have to groove a stroke for yourself. Lots of different ways of putting and no one right way. So I would say to have confidence in the fact that what works the best for you is the best for you. I'm afraid practice is the only thing that can build confidence.
I think the one constant regardless of how you do it is the sound of the putt. If your not getting that "click" sound all the time distance control is going to be an issue as this relates to the quality of the stroke. If your hitting quality strokes all the time distance control gets a lot easier.
I personally do like to keep it short/compact on the way back and good acceleration on the way through. Kind of like 30/70 ratio but that's just me.

Check out this might give you a bit more confidence in your own stroke.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX6grxgk3Ps&feature=youtube_gdata_player

No. That's me too

stockdam

golfnut1 wrote: »

Putting is such an individual thing you have to groove a stroke for yourself. Lots of different ways of putting and no one right way.

Absolutely right. Too much advice here as if there is only one way of putting well. Each person needs to find out what works for them. One fundamental for me is remaining still and not looking up. You need concentration and to have confidence........a kind of cocky swagger.

One of the best putters was Isao Aoki.........he was called a Wizard for very good reasons. He "broke" all of the rules........the hands were low, the toe of the putter was raised and he used his hands much more than recommended.......his stroke was a wristy rap.

So before people try to tell you to keep your wrists out of the putt then remember Aoki.

http://www.articlecity.com/articles/recreation_and_sports/article_2932.shtml

Oilbeefhooked!

stockdam wrote: »

golfnut1 wrote: »

Putting is such an individual thing you have to groove a stroke for yourself. Lots of different ways of putting and no one right way.

Absolutely right. Too much advice here as if there is only one way of putting well. Each person needs to find out what works for them. One fundamental for me is remaining still and not looking up. You need concentration and to have confidence........a kind of cocky swagger.

One of the best putters was Isao Aoki.........he was called a Wizard for very good reasons. He "broke" all of the rules........the hands were low, the toe of the putter was raised and he used his hands much more than recommended.......his stroke was a wristy rap.

So before people try to tell you to keep your wrists out of the putt then remember Aoki.

http://www.articlecity.com/articles/recreation_and_sports/article_2932.shtml

Thanks for that Stockdam , interesting article. Each too their own I suppose , just look at Briney Baird!!
I need to decide on what's best style for me and stick to it , and work harder on feel and distance control .
Think seeing a second hole 12-18 inches past hole would be a good mindset.
Cheers for the input.