Pulling short putts

Wombatman

Adam Scott pulled a four-foot birdie putt left of the cup at the par-5 16th at Bay Hill to write off his chances of winning at this week.

I pulled a 3 footer on the 18th on Sunday for par, and a valuable competition point, as I'm in contention. I miss these a lot this way. Dread them now.

Might it have something to do with the hole being in your field of vision, being so close, while stroking the ball.

Please help us!

dharn

I tighten up on short putts ,you expect to get them so you feel onder more pressure , so less pendulum effect and more pivot around the ankles, thats my theory anyway

C.O.Y.B.I.B

Wombatman wrote: »

Adam Scott pulled a four-foot birdie putt left of the cup at the par-5 16th at Bay Hill to write off his chances of winning at this week.

I pulled a 3 footer on the 18th on Sunday for par, and a valuable competition point, as I'm in contention. I miss these a lot this way. Dread them now.

Might it have something to do with the hole being in your field of vision, being so close, while stroking the ball.

Please help us!

3 footer ? i missed 5 within 2 foot yesterday , winner had 3 pts more than me :mad: Last couple of weeks , im rattled over short putts. Prefer to be standing over a 6ft putt than 2ft ! So when you figure it out , let me know or start a support group

moycullen14

C.O.Y.B.I.B wrote: »

3 footer ? i missed 5 within 2 foot yesterday , winner had 3 pts more than me :mad: Last couple of weeks , im rattled over short putts. Prefer to be standing over a 6ft putt than 2ft ! So when you figure it out , let me know or start a support group

Well if you're starting a group, can I join?

My head is fried from short putts. I'm terrified of over hitting them and try and baby them into the hole. The result? Horrible little dribblers that invariably miss short and left - the pull. I think I know what I am doing wrong - decelerating through the ball and closing the club face , but can I stop doing it? No chance.

The killing thing is that it is starting to affect me further and further back. Standing over a 20 foot putt, I'm worried about the one back. In the middle of the fairway I'm worried about leaving myself a long putt or a hard chip. Standing on the tee, I'm thinking that anything other than a missed short putt will be a 'result' on the hole.

I wouldn't mind but I used to be a very good putter and still am on longer putts. The short putts have got into my head now and are eating away at my confidence. Help!

dharn

Thats golf... I sometimes deliberately hit right a little on what I think is a straight putt and it works

dharn

Another thing, take a deep breath ,exhale drop your shoulders just before your practice putt

spacecoyote

dharn wrote: »

Another thing, take a deep breath ,exhale drop your shoulders just before your practice putt

I do this over pretty much every putt, a deep breath in & out focussing on my breath alone. Relaxes the body & clears the head.

Know your line & pace, take a breath in, breath out & pull the trigger.

Also, before every round I try to get to the practice green. After hitting some long warm up putts from one side of the green to the other to try get an idea on pace, I usually try to finish up hitting about 30 short putts in a row from about 18-24 inches out. It tends to mean I'm walking onto the course having only holed putts on the practice green (I don't practice my lag putting at a hole, rather at a distant target). It might look silly to some seeing a bloke tapping in a pile of putts that would probably be given in a match, but it does give me more confidence when I step up to a short one on the course.

I think you'll be surprised how quickly your confidence will grow if your only memory from the practice green is the sound of balls hitting the bottom of the cup.

mag

looking too early can cause missed short putts left

yettie1701

spacecoyote wrote: »

I do this over pretty much every putt, a deep breath in & out focussing on my breath alone. Relaxes the body & clears the head.

Know your line & pace, take a breath in, breath out & pull the trigger.

Also, before every round I try to get to the practice green. After hitting some long warm up putts from one side of the green to the other to try get an idea on pace, I usually try to finish up hitting about 30 short putts in a row from about 18-24 inches out. It tends to mean I'm walking onto the course having only holed putts on the practice green (I don't practice my lag putting at a hole, rather at a distant target). It might look silly to some seeing a bloke tapping in a pile of putts that would probably be given in a match, but it does give me more confidence when I step up to a short one on the course.

I think you'll be surprised how quickly your confidence will grow if your only memory from the practice green is the sound of balls hitting the bottom of the cup.

Very good advice. It's a simple drill but just standing on the putting green holing out short putts is what builds confidence. Missing the odd short putt erodes confidence and the best way to restore it is to spend time building it again.

newport2

I used to go through phases of short putt issues. Karl Morris' "Train your putting Brain" helped me a lot and pretty much sorted it out for me.

TRS30

mag wrote: »

looking too early can cause missed short putts left

Most likely this.

mike12

Decelerating through the ball is the No.1 reason for pulling the putt. Shorter back swing will make u feel like you have to hit thtu the putt.

Quahog217

Try this go to putting green and hole 40 2 foot putts in a row.
Next day try moving to 3 foot putts. Just focus on keeping your head still, don't peak, you will hear the putt drop. Also as you build confidence you will start to hit them more firmly.
Then try from 4 feet. Keep at this and it will fix your short putting problems. Oh and stay patient and positive and you will turn short putts into a strength of your game. Try practice putting at least twice a week for 30 minutes each time and watch your scores get better and better. Hope this helps

BOB81

had a decent tip from a pro on this before - put a coin/ball marker down next to your ball and keep your eyes fixed on it as you putt until the ball is in the hole. Avoids you lifting your head and potentially opening your shoulders when putting which could cause a pull to the left.

GreeBo

BOB81 wrote: »

had a decent tip from a pro on this before - put a coin/ball marker down next to your ball and keep your eyes fixed on it as you putt until the ball is in the hole. Avoids you lifting your head and potentially opening your shoulders when putting which could cause a pull to the left.

Yep.
When I get a dose of these I focus on a blade of grass between the putter and the ball and watch that until I hear the ball pop in.

for me missing left is always due to a sneaky look at the hole

mjsc1970

Practice 2 foot putts on the putting green by aiming for a tee peg, keep hitting that or close enough and you will find the hole is as big as a bucket on the course.

Putting i don't have issues with, never have in 38 years...........but as regards pitching and chipping off less than favourable lies......now all hell breaks loose, and i know it's in my head, used to be bread and butter to me

FixdePitchmark

Space.

Seen you in action on 18 the other day.

Very good up and down. Great composure over putt - little head rise.

For comparison - from the same spot I had a 5. Not even a bad chip - just pure lack of confidence.


Lads - has anybody tried a fat putter grip for this and how did they find it ?

shaneon77

Listen for the music..... Don't look

Yourstruely

Hi there , putting isn't something that can be practiced like going to the range but if you can find a putting green,try work on hitting those 3 foot putts a small bit harder but follow the putter head to the hole , keep the head down and listen till to hear the ball hit the bottom of the hole , worked for me !!!

spacecoyote

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Space.

Seen you in action on 18 the other day.

Very good up and down. Great composure over putt - little head rise.

For comparison - from the same spot I had a 5. Not even a bad chip - just pure lack of confidence.


Lads - has anybody tried a fat putter grip for this and how did they find it ?

pressure was on, had to make it to keep ssbob honest on the last

I probably wouldn't recommend my putting style to anyone as it's a little unorthodox (feet any wider & I'd be doing the splits ) but I feel like I'm rolling the ball very well and making a solid connection on my putts these days

m r c

I heard Harrington talking about putting lately and how he'd been discussing the yips with Langer.
Langer had to allow himself permission to miss putts, then he could put his best roll in the ball. It drops or it doesn't.

I like this thought because I don't really buy into someone's mechanics causing them to miss 2 footers. It's more that they didn't put their best stroke on the ball.
Especially true for someone who is/was a decent putter.

On longer putts personally for me ATM I'm having a much better time lately with a center shafted bladed mallet. I still have tons of feel but I'm feeling very confident starting the ball on my intended line. That one is very subjective though and wouldn't suit everyone.

PARlance

This thread is being ignored.

I am a good putter.
I am a good putter.
I am a good putter.

(Had an 18inch putt today and I nearly crapped myself as I waited on others to putt out)

I am a good putter.
I am a good putter.
I am a good putter.

(It went in... Just about)

Danny dyers double

2 foot putts aren't a huge problem for me as I just get over them have a quick look and pull the trigger . A friend of mine spends an age over them and misses 30% of them .

My problem of late is my 1st putt, any thing over 12 feet and im thinking here is another 3 putt . I leave them very short

FixdePitchmark

Right to follow on from Parlance - I'm looking for other ideas,

a quick poem - very quick 5 mins.


Focal Dystonia

The Yips

Ohhh the dreaded yips, the yips, the yips
I’ve been told it is in the moving of the hips,
It has been explained, it is all in the head
I’m now thinking about my tight grip in bed

The fat putter and mallet and blade
The over reading, the 2 footer not made
The push, the pull, the yank
The lip out the 3 putt – un-sank

It could even be the bleeding drink
Will this white little ball, just ****ing sink
The first step in each problem in life
Is to admit it, or talk to your wife

Your golf partners look on in despair
Their friend is losing his mind and hair
The missed birdie and eagle and par
Back to the last resort, the jar.

A solution at last has been found
Think back to that favourite sound
That time it was easy young lad
A cup on the carpet, with dad

Fix

PARlance

Nice one Fix.

Not sure about your "tight grip in bed" though...

ForeRight

I sliced a 3 foot putt on Saturday. A proper slice that slid across the hole and ended up 2 foot to the right of the hole.

It was a dead straight putt too.
All I could do was laugh it was so pathetic

TRS30

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Lads - has anybody tried a fat putter grip for this and how did they find it ?

I tried one last year. Is great for taking the wrists out of putting however I did find it harder to gauge distance on longer putts. I read into it and is something to do with the handle end being heavier so the putter head is lighter.

In the end went back to a normal size grip and will distance control has been much better.

Loire

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

A solution at last has been found
Think back to that favourite sound
That time it was easy young lad
A cup on the carpet, with dad

Fix

Ahh this brings me back! One night when my parents were out and my older cousin (who was, and still is to be fair, a complete gobsh!te) got into pitch & putt and spent the whole evening putting in our sitting room. At about 12 o'clock when I was fast asleep he wakes me and tells me he'll give me 2 pounds if I'd beat him in a putting competition, (I wouldn't have to give him anything if he'd won). Considering it was 1982 when 2 pounds would set me up for a few weeks, I jumped out of the bed and hammered him He was a right sulk blaming this and that. I went back to bed and slept like a baby

Loire.

Norfolk Enchants_

Wombatman wrote: »

Adam Scott pulled a four-foot birdie putt left of the cup at the par-5 16th at Bay Hill to write off his chances of winning at this week.

I pulled a 3 footer on the 18th on Sunday for par, and a valuable competition point, as I'm in contention. I miss these a lot this way. Dread them now.

Might it have something to do with the hole being in your field of vision, being so close, while stroking the ball.

Please help us!

Comparing yourself to Adam Scott.

GreeBo

ForeRight wrote: »

I sliced a 3 foot putt on Saturday. A proper slice that slid across the hole and ended up 2 foot to the right of the hole.

It was a dead straight putt too.
All I could do was laugh it was so pathetic

You cant physically slice or hook a putt. The ball is rolling so there is no spin to cause it to veer off. You either push or pull it based on the clubface angle. (see the new ball flight rules)

That said, it can certainly be pathetic when you miss a short putt

Wombatman

Wombatman wrote: »

Adam Scott pulled a four-foot birdie putt left of the cup at the par-5 16th at Bay Hill to write off his chances of winning at this week.

I pulled a 3 footer on the 18th on Sunday for par, and a valuable competition point, as I'm in contention. I miss these a lot this way. Dread them now.

Might it have something to do with the hole being in your field of vision, being so close, while stroking the ball.

Please help us!

@~&& me!

ForeRight

GreeBo wrote: »

You cant physically slice or hook a putt. The ball is rolling so there is no spin to cause it to veer off. You either push or pull it based on the clubface angle. (see the new ball flight rules)

That said, it can certainly be pathetic when you miss a short putt

No way greebo. I sliced the arse off it.

Rikand

GreeBo wrote: »

You cant physically slice or hook a putt. The ball is rolling so there is no spin to cause it to veer off. You either push or pull it based on the clubface angle. (see the new ball flight rules)

That said, it can certainly be pathetic when you miss a short putt

I carry my putts a good 10 inches in the air, there's definitely enough time to impart slice or hook spin on the ball in that time its in the air

stockdam

Note to self.

Unless you have the yips then there's no hope for you.

For short putts make sure you follow your routine and don't just amble up. Don't aim outside the hole unless there's a huge break. Align yourself and the club face. Take a practice stroke, step up, relax and repeat your practice stroke. If you make a good stroke then the ball will drop. Don't steer it in but stroke it in smoothly.

moycullen14

Slice, fade, draw, hook, chip, sh**k. There's nothing I can't do to with a putt. Except maybe roll it into the hole.

Redzah

GreeBo wrote: »

You cant physically slice or hook a putt. The ball is rolling so there is no spin to cause it to veer off. You either push or pull it based on the clubface angle. (see the new ball flight rules)

That said, it can certainly be pathetic when you miss a short putt

Not sure i agree with this Greebo, if you cannot impart spin on the ball then why do so many pro's and golf columnists advocate hitting a putt on the upward strike to put topspin on the ball. Also. a slow motion of a putted ball shows that it moves in tiny bounces on a green so it is my opinion that a sliced strike can do enough to effect and cause a putt to miss. Aside from the above, I agree that the clubface angle is the dominant factor.

In relation to tips to help alleviate pulling putts i.e the yips, grip pressure often can be a cause, golfers tend to grip the putter tighter when pressure is felt over a short putt. Make a concentrated effort to grip the putter lighter than you believe you normally would as the lighter you grip the club the less chance that tension can effect the stroke.

rollotomasi

Putting while looking at the hole and not the ball can take all the mechanics out the stroke and good to do in practice. Good for judging long putts too....

Russman

Redzah wrote: »

Not sure i agree with this Greebo, if you cannot impart spin on the ball then why do so many pro's and golf columnists advocate hitting a putt on the upward strike to put topspin on the ball. Also. a slow motion of a putted ball shows that it moves in tiny bounces on a green so it is my opinion that a sliced strike can do enough to effect and cause a putt to miss. Aside from the above, I agree that the clubface angle is the dominant factor.

I think any slice/hook "spin" is effectively gone though after the first couple of feet when the ball starts to actually roll. The clubface angle at impact obviously has sent it off on a slightly incorrect path, but once it starts rolling, I think the momentum of it is dominant over any other factor. The ball, unless it has outrageous spin, always rolls "end over end", although it might not be on the line intended............I think

agusta

rollotomasi wrote: »

Putting while looking at the hole and not the ball can take all the mechanics out the stroke and good to do in practice. Good for judging long putts too....

This is excellent.I have done this many times when i felt i was getting mechanical.I bet you dont miss many short putts

GreeBo

Redzah wrote: »

Not sure i agree with this Greebo, if you cannot impart spin on the ball then why do so many pro's and golf columnists advocate hitting a putt on the upward strike to put topspin on the ball. Also. a slow motion of a putted ball shows that it moves in tiny bounces on a green so it is my opinion that a sliced strike can do enough to effect and cause a putt to miss. Aside from the above, I agree that the clubface angle is the dominant factor.

Putts arent hit hard enough to generate any spin that can survive the contact with the ground. Any tiny bit of spin will be gone after the first bounce, on a 3 foot putt there is zero spin.

The whole topspin thing is a myth, again you dont hit the ball hard enough with a putt to spin it and even if you did the spin fades quickly due to the contact with the grass.

Try to spin a golf ball on a green with your hand the same way you would spin a snooker/pool ball on the table. It just doesnt work on the rough grassy surface due to the amount of friction. It grabs and the spin is gone.

Think of a full pitch into a green, loaded with backspin, as soon as the ball lands the spin grabs the green and the ball rolls back, its not spinning back, you never see a ball spinning on the spot. Thats with a full wedge, impossible with a putter hitting the ball along the ground.

m r c

I have seen a ball spin on the spot greebo.
It was a shot Phil Mickelson played in the last 6 months. I'll link of I can find it on you tube.

I also think there was a golfer from years gone by. I'm open to correction on his name whom was known for hooking his putts, Bobby Grace afaik he was famous for his ability on the greens and apparently hooked his putts as I said.

m r c

It's not Bobby Grace I'm thinking of he makes putters. I'll post his name when it comes back to me.

m r c

Bobby Locke.

alxmorgan

m r c wrote: »

It's not Bobby Grace I'm thinking of he makes putters. I'll post his name when it comes back to me.

Bobby Locke is who you are thinking about

FixdePitchmark

I think it is crazy to suggest that you can not impart side spin on a putt.
In fact, it is not crazy - it just defies basic Newtonian laws.

If no friction existed - and it was a perfect collision in a vacuum the argument being made would be valid. But a golf ball is not a perfect sphere - it is designed to have friction. In fact , in his maddest moment - a certain Peltz was suggesting that people need to place a ball in such a way that a dimple would not impact on putter head.

When an open face meets a golf ball - a force will be exerted on the ball along the face angle resulting in spin if friction exists. Any force applied by the grass has a directional influence on the ball. The suggestion that one force overwhelms another is just bad science - sorry, but X-x is not equal to X.

If people are trying to prioritise forces, that is fair enough. I'd rather see Force values. But there is no doubt that friction has resulted in a change in direction.

Rikand

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

I think it is crazy to suggest that you can not impart side spin on a putt.
In fact, it is not crazy - it just defies basic Newtonian laws.

If no friction existed - and it was a perfect collision in a vacuum the argument being made would be valid. But a golf ball is not a perfect sphere - it is designed to have friction. In fact , in his maddest moment - a certain Peltz was suggesting that people need to place a ball in such a way that a dimple would not impact on putter head.

When an open face meets a golf ball - a force will be exerted on the ball along the face angle resulting in spin if friction exists. Any force applied by the grass has a directional influence on the ball. The suggestion that one force overwhelms another is just bad science - sorry, but X-x is not equal to X.

If people are trying to prioritise forces, that is fair enough. I'd rather see Force values. But there is no doubt that friction has resulted in a change in direction.

so all that copy from Wikipedia is saying, yes you can impart spin ?

FixdePitchmark

Rikand wrote: »

so all that copy from Wikipedia is saying, yes you can impart spin ?

I wish - too many years in a lab.

There is no need in this life to understand the coefficient of restitution -

Russman

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

I think it is crazy to suggest that you can not impart side spin on a putt.
In fact, it is not crazy - it just defies basic Newtonian laws.

If no friction existed - and it was a perfect collision in a vacuum the argument being made would be valid. But a golf ball is not a perfect sphere - it is designed to have friction. In fact , in his maddest moment - a certain Peltz was suggesting that people need to place a ball in such a way that a dimple would not impact on putter head.

When an open face meets a golf ball - a force will be exerted on the ball along the face angle resulting in spin if friction exists. Any force applied by the grass has a directional influence on the ball. The suggestion that one force overwhelms another is just bad science - sorry, but X-x is not equal to X.

If people are trying to prioritise forces, that is fair enough. I'd rather see Force values. But there is no doubt that friction has resulted in a change in direction.

Absolutely agree there's a change in direction, but once the ball is rolling rather than skidding/bouncing, IMO there's no "spin" on it at that point, it continues to roll in a straight line on the line that the open or closed clubface has sent it.

Anyway, people are waaay overthinking putting, there's the ball, there's the hole, hit the ball into the hole. Topspin, overspin, underspin, sidespin, backspin, doesn't matter a damn once the ball goes in.

shaneon77

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

I think it is crazy to suggest that you can not impart side spin on a putt.
In fact, it is not crazy - it just defies basic Newtonian laws.

If no friction existed - and it was a perfect collision in a vacuum the argument being made would be valid. But a golf ball is not a perfect sphere - it is designed to have friction. In fact , in his maddest moment - a certain Peltz was suggesting that people need to place a ball in such a way that a dimple would not impact on putter head.

When an open face meets a golf ball - a force will be exerted on the ball along the face angle resulting in spin if friction exists. Any force applied by the grass has a directional influence on the ball. The suggestion that one force overwhelms another is just bad science - sorry, but X-x is not equal to X.

If people are trying to prioritise forces, that is fair enough. I'd rather see Force values. But there is no doubt that friction has resulted in a change in direction.

I'm with GREEBO on this one.
there is no such thing as actual "side spin" ,
A curved ball on a full shot is casused by backspin with axis tilt.
This is not possible on putts. at least not with a conventional putting stroke.
The "spin" imparted by a mis-hit can be enough to send the ball on the wrong initial path- couple this with a natural gradient on the green and it is very easy to percive this as side spin...... but its just a crap putt.

shaneon77

bad putt.jpg

GreeBo

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

I think it is crazy to suggest that you can not impart side spin on a putt.
In fact, it is not crazy - it just defies basic Newtonian laws.

If no friction existed - and it was a perfect collision in a vacuum the argument being made would be valid. But a golf ball is not a perfect sphere - it is designed to have friction. In fact , in his maddest moment - a certain Peltz was suggesting that people need to place a ball in such a way that a dimple would not impact on putter head.

When an open face meets a golf ball - a force will be exerted on the ball along the face angle resulting in spin if friction exists. Any force applied by the grass has a directional influence on the ball. The suggestion that one force overwhelms another is just bad science - sorry, but X-x is not equal to X.

If people are trying to prioritise forces, that is fair enough. I'd rather see Force values. But there is no doubt that friction has resulted in a change in direction.

The argument is that DUE to friction you cant have spin. The friction causes the ball to grip the grass and thus the spin is lost. You get spin when you dont have friction, not when you do.

Put another way, where is there more friction, between ball and putter face or ball and grass?
To get spin you would need the friction between ball and putter face to impart so much spin that it survives the friction between the ball and the grass. I put it to you that this is impossible.