Putting (Pelz)

FixdePitchmark

So went to the library, got Dave Pelz's Putting Bible - God it is a tome - excuse the pun.

But just starting it - he is sort of saying you can put anyway - he gives examples of all the stiles from wrist stroke , block stroke, push stroke, blend stroke.

I'm nearly going - do you know what , this could actually drive you nuts. Maybe putting is your stroke, what is the point of this.

The one guy I went to over putting was a fan of an arc stroke - I think I was more a In - Line stroke before - Pelz is coming down on the side of In Line. So the only experts I've ever come across on putting and they have different approaches.

Anyway - haven't got through it all - but nearly feeling it could make me worse this


So what stroke do you have - Pure-In-Line or an Arc ?
How did you decide on this ?
Did you ever change and go to a pro for your putting ?
Is it all a load of balls - just go to the putting green work it out yourself ?

mike12

Think it is a bad idea reading it as there are no 2 putting strokes exactly the same and 100's that work.
He has a great putting gizmo it has 2 ball bearings on a bit of plastic that get's you setting the putter up square and hitting the ball where u are aiming, after that its just getting the pace and line right, easy.

Mike

Ben1977

FixdePitchmark you are on long road to no where. I think that putting has to be comfortable to you. Its all about feel and letting the eyes do the work.

Was reading Darren Clarke's book, he said that Dr. Bob had him putting with toe of the putter and his SW before the 2011 Open. Clarke was too worried about putting and his technique. Dr. Bob should him just before the Open started that he had to let it come naturally.

1: Find a grip that feels comfortable
2: Don't say to yourself I'm a straight back and through putter, let your grip and posture look after your path. (I could tell you which way I putt)
3: You need to free the mind when putting
4: Let the eyes do the work - while over the ball, look at the hole then back to the ball. Look at the hole again and when you return your eyes to the ball start the stroke.

I've struggled with putting over the last 2 years. I found a couple of things that I was doing wrong.

A: Paying to much attendtion to the break and not the length.
B: Watching the putter go back to try and judge distance.
C: Worrying about leaving it short or too long.
Gripping it too lightly.
E: Standing over the ball too long.
F: Not trusting the first read.

FixdePitchmark

mike12 wrote: »

Think it is a bad idea reading it as there are no 2 putting strokes exactly the same and 100's that work.
He has a great putting gizmo it has 2 ball bearings on a bit of plastic that get's you setting the putter up square and hitting the ball where u are aiming, after that its just getting the pace and line right, easy.

Mike

That is what I'm sort of thinking - awful thing to get a book and not say - ok open mind read this - see what I think - but it just opens with a bamboozlement of information - I mean I have just read a book by Rottella and it is trying to remove too much information from the brain - it seems a contradictory action to study the mechanics of it all.

FixdePitchmark

fair play Ben - all that makes sense.

Yes - it is mad stuff.

The only thing I would look at is - I may go to a pro and , he will look and see some obvious technical flaw.

I have got into a doubt about what my putting stroke is - I've messed with it so much - perhaps somebody saying - ok, putt that way - there is no technical error in your stroke.

Just hearing that would be enough.

Milkers

If you want to copy something then try and find the things that 95% of good golfers do (maybe something like eyes directly over the ball, don't decelerate on the stroke, etc. I don't really know the specifics for sure). If it is an area where you see a wide variety of approaches amongst good golfers (arc of stroke, length of putter, shaft lean, posture etc.) then they are not fundamentals to be copied, experiment and find what works best for you.

I'd be a bit wary of anyone with the gall to put the name Bible in their book title, Pelz has some ego.

BigChap1759

Agree on the Pelz book - lots of analysis and facts etc.

A far better book IMO is putting out of your mind by Dr Bob - as above it's all about letting your unconscious brain do the work as opposed to thinking about your stroke when putting.

Tin_Cup

Ben1977 wrote: »

FixdePitchmark you are on long road to no where. I think that putting has to be comfortable to you. Its all about feel and letting the eyes do the work.

Was reading Darren Clarke's book, he said that Dr. Bob had him putting with toe of the putter and his SW before the 2011 Open. Clarke was too worried about putting and his technique. Dr. Bob should him just before the Open started that he had to let it come naturally.

1: Find a grip that feels comfortable
2: Don't say to yourself I'm a straight back and through putter, let your grip and posture look after your path. (I could tell you which way I putt)
3: You need to free the mind when putting
4: Let the eyes do the work - while over the ball, look at the hole then back to the ball. Look at the hole again and when you return your eyes to the ball start the stroke.

I've struggled with putting over the last 2 years. I found a couple of things that I was doing wrong.

A: Paying to much attendtion to the break and not the length.
B: Watching the putter go back to try and judge distance.
C: Worrying about leaving it short or too long.
Gripping it too lightly.
E: Standing over the ball too long.
F: Not trusting the first read.

Great reply! Class

realgolfgeek

Ah putting, I genuinly love it.
Anway,
I went for a putting lesson about 2 years ago. I went with a specific reason, in that maybe 70% of the putts I was pulling left. Really bugged the sh1t out of me, especially with a two foot putt.

I had an interlocking grip with the putter, just as I did with the rest of my clubs. He changed it to overlapping, which made it alot more difficult for my wrist to break early.

To this day I still thank him, and it's by far the best part of my game.

alxmorgan

Don't do it FDP....you're the ultimate "feel" man what with judging distance by walking the fairways in your bare feet and watching bird movements etc

But seriously try the anti-Pelz first....

http://www.golfchannel.com/media/12-nights-academy-dave-stockton/

FixdePitchmark

realgolfgeek wrote: »

Ah putting, I genuinly love it.
Anway,
I went for a putting lesson about 2 years ago. I went with a specific reason, in that maybe 70% of the putts I was pulling left. Really bugged the sh1t out of me, especially with a two foot putt.

I had an interlocking grip with the putter, just as I did with the rest of my clubs. He changed it to overlapping, which made it alot more difficult for my wrist to break early.

To this day I still thank him, and it's by far the best part of my game.

That is what i need - keep it Real.

When I'm practising my long stuff is good - just started missing 5 foot and less way too much , even 2 foot - pulling left.

So may (will) go to a pro on a green. A bit of a chat or even kick in the hole.

I'll leave pelz telling me how Chi Chi Rodriguez got on. A bit much. I'll drop it back for War and Peace.

realgolfgeek

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

That is what i need - keep it Real.

When I'm practising my long stuff is good - just started missing 5 foot and less way too much , even 2 foot - pulling left.

So may (will) go to a pro on a green. A bit of a chat or even kick in the hole.

I'll leave pelz telling me how Chi Chi Rodriguez got on. A bit much. I'll drop it back for War and Peace.

You're dead right, get a lesson and tell him exactly where you're going wrong, and low and behold, I'd say he'll give you a quick fix, or something very obvious you're doing wrong.

BTW, do libraries still exist ? I don't think I've entered one of them in about 25 years

BigChap1759

Have you considered......

FixdePitchmark

realgolfgeek wrote: »

You're dead right, get a lesson and tell him exactly where you're going wrong, and low and behold, I'd say he'll give you a quick fix, or something very obvious you're doing wrong.

BTW, do libraries still exist ? I don't think I've entered one of them in about 25 years

First time in one in 3 or 4 years , before that 10 years.

They are cool. Kids - change you.

FixdePitchmark

Big - Chap

Have , but don't know what it does even - so a bit illogical.

But won't rule anything out. I've 4 months or so to sort it.

realgolfgeek

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Big - Chap

Have , but don't know what it does even - so a bit illogical.

But won't rule anything out. I've 4 months or so to sort it.

do you have big hands ? Make sure the grip is the correct size, that's crucial.

FixdePitchmark

realgolfgeek wrote: »

do you have big hands ? Make sure the grip is the correct size, that's crucial.

;););););););)

Normal.

realgolfgeek

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

;););););););)

Normal.

lol. you go drink your brunello you posh git and let us know how you get on with the putting lesson.

FixdePitchmark

realgolfgeek wrote: »

lol. you go drink your brunello you posh git and let us know how you get on with the putting lesson.

Will do lads thanks.

Sure there will be something else next.

In the deep and almost method acting like pursuit of my hero Padraig.

Posh - the irony.

denishurley

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

First time in one in 3 or 4 years , before that 10 years.

They are cool. Kids - change you.

Not to get all detective-y, but I thought about two years ago you mentioned getting Seve's book from the library

mafc

Putting is all about confidence, you have to see the ball going in the hole. I look at the putt pick my line and hit it.
I just checked my stats for the last ten rounds & I have three 3 putts.

FixdePitchmark

denishurley wrote: »

Not to get all detective-y, but I thought about two years ago you mentioned getting Seve's book from the library

I did - looked it up was 2 years ago - Amazing how you remembered that :eek:

Yes was in to get the young lad a book and went in to have a look - they are very good - have come a long way from my childhood.

denishurley

I do feel a bit autistic for remembering it Take it as a compliment that I enjoyed the breaking 80 thread!

FixdePitchmark

alxmorgan wrote: »

Don't do it FDP....you're the ultimate "feel" man what with judging distance by walking the fairways in your bare feet and watching bird movements etc

But seriously try the anti-Pelz first....

http://www.golfchannel.com/media/12-nights-academy-dave-stockton/

Thanks for that alex.

Looks very good - in fact i was trying a forward press today before i seen that - I was only doing that to distract me from the swing path - sort of a new thing in head. Was thinking line, putter path release, mad stuff. This is also trying to deal with pace and break - ideas like I'm a bad putter were coming into me head.



but will look at that closely again - I did notice that - I need a new distraction to overcome my putter path obsession. So will need to just treat it like playing pool - have one point of focus - good enough at pool. Was very fast at pool too.

Spent 2 hours putting indoor there.

scubapro

Fix it's the putter man, try adverts:)

Seriously, I find when I'm anxious or having a bad day on the greens my head will follow the ball causing me to pull it, try to keep looking at the spot where the ball was and listening to it drop, a simple drill is place a coin below the ball and focus on that after the stroke. Probably not your issue....but definately a putting fundamental to focus on.

TrapperChamonix

My pro gave me a putting lesson and here are the 3 top things I took away from it:
1. Use a putting grip as opposed to a swing grip. Essentially it was moving the club out of the fingers and more into the palm of the hand. Also moved the interlocking finger on the left hand to an overlap position.
2. Worry more about hitting the ball square that about the stroke itself. He was very keen on the Peltz putting tool but for me he used tees in the grass instead of the ball bearings.
3. While practicing / setting up for a putt most people spend 80% of the time looking at the ball and practicing for the putt and only 20% looking at the target. He had me reverse this. For short putts it helps the visualisation of the ball going in the hole. For long/ lag putts it helps to get the distance correct. One exercise (practice green only) he had me do was to look at the hole (and not at the ball) when putting long distances. You will mi**** a few but the ones you hit properly show a marked improvement in the distance control.

It had a significant positive improvement on my putting this year.

An interesting stat would be the number of times people have putting lessons v's swing lessons. This was my only one and it only took place because I was on the practice green waiting for him to finish with his previous student.

spacecoyote

When I went for a lesson previously I was given a little sticky gizmo to stick to the putter face. Basically if you hit out of the centre putt would travel straight, but if you were off centre it would hit of the attached bit & bounce miles off target.

Saw something online recently for a cheap alternative.

Get a little bit of double sided tape & stick a 5 cent coin to the centre of the putter. If you hit the ball out of the centre of the face the coin should have no impact, but anywhere off centre & it'll fly off line.

For me, I have 2 things really that have improved my putting this year:

1 - Someone on here (possibly Greebo) once said that every putt is a straight putt, which is true. So I tell myself this. Helps my putting stroke to stay straighter, as opposed to having a fairly in-to-out arc in the past.
2 - I set my stance wider. I stumbled across this by accident when I was trying to set myself up and avoid standing on someones line. Was a fluke, but I just felt much more stable and able to deliver the club back & through on a much straighter line. Works for me anyway. Have been getting a lot of compliments on the "great roll" on my putts recently