Rory's Putting Routine at The Open

NFH · 22-07-2014 05:18PM #1

Did anyone else notice that Rory didn't really take any pre-putt strokes to gauge distance. Most of the time, especially on the last day, I noticed he would spend a lot of time working out the line, place the putter behind ball, align body to this without moving putter, and then hit his putt.

I've always done the more common (Tiger putting routine), find the line, align body and putter to line, take two practice stokes to gauge distance, slide putter up to ball, then feet, take a few looks and hit.

Any opinions on not taking practice stokes and just focusing on line?

First Up · 22-07-2014 05:25PM

NFH wrote: »

Did anyone else notice that Rory didn't really take any pre-putt strokes to gauge distance. Most of the time, especially on the last day, I noticed he would spend a lot of time working out the line, place the putter behind ball, align body to this without moving putter, and then hit his putt.

I've always done the more common (Tiger putting routine), find the line, align body and putter to line, take two practice stokes to gauge distance, slide putter up to ball, then feet, take a few looks and hit.

Any opinions on not taking practice stokes and just focusing on line?

I haven't checked the stats but his putting at Hoylake was the best I've seen from him for a long time, so maybe the routine worked. He has always had more trouble with line than pace so maybe concentrating on that was a help. It may also be that he has a good feel for links greens anyway, so didn't need to worry too much about it.

Not sure if that translates into a guide for the rest of us. Pro's play fast greens all the time, whereas the variation in pace between the courses we play on is huge so we need to work on it - possibly even more than line. We don't encounter greens as tricky as they do very often.

Innish_Rebel · 22-07-2014 05:35PM

NFH wrote: »

Did anyone else notice that Rory didn't really take any pre-putt strokes to gauge distance. Most of the time, especially on the last day, I noticed he would spend a lot of time working out the line, place the putter behind ball, align body to this without moving putter, and then hit his putt.

I've always done the more common (Tiger putting routine), find the line, align body and putter to line, take two practice stokes to gauge distance, slide putter up to ball, then feet, take a few looks and hit.

Any opinions on not taking practice stokes and just focusing on line?

To the best of my knowledge - Rory has been doing this with quite a while... I can remember seeing this a while back.

It all comes down to personal preferences, there are so many different routines & types of putting strokes...

Golfnut77 · 22-07-2014 05:42PM

That's down to Dave Stockton, I think Rory started working with him after his Masters blow up and the first time I saw him do the no practice putt routine was at Congressional when he walked the US Open.

Stockton prefers players to focus on the hole, I believe that he himself takes a practice stroke while looking at the hole but with Rory they have gone this way, maybe he was thinking too much when doing the practice stroke. Whatever the reason his putting has improved a lot since making the change.

First Up · 22-07-2014 05:48PM

Golfnut77 wrote: »

That's down to Dave Stockton, I think Rory started working with him after his Masters blow up and the first time I saw him do the no practice putt routine was at Congressional when he walked the US Open.

Stockton prefers players to focus on the hole, I believe that he himself takes a practice stroke while looking at the hole but with Rory they have gone this way, maybe he was thinking too much when doing the practice stroke. Whatever the reason his putting has improved a lot since making the change.

He got help from Stockton a good while back but his putting remained probably the weakest part of his game. The two big wins since May suggest he has worked on something else more recently.

snaphook · 22-07-2014 06:00PM

Used an Eyeline mirror aid according to today's Examiner. First time I've seen him use it.

Said that one of his trigger words was SPOT during the final round.

Picked a spot on the green on his intended line and focused on making sure that ball rolled over that spot. If it went in it was a bonus.

GreeBo · 22-07-2014 06:30PM

I dont use a practice swing for any shots at all.

For putting and chipping I find its more of a distraction...what if I make a bad stroke etc?

I have never taken a practice swing when throwing someone a ball or firing something into the bin, dont see golf as any different, especially for feel shots.

WHIP IT! · 22-07-2014 06:43PM

GreeBo wrote: »

I dont use a practice swing for any shots at all.

For putting and chipping I find its more of a distraction...what if I make a bad stroke etc?

I have never taken a practice swing when throwing someone a ball or firing something into the bin, dont see golf as any different, especially for feel shots.

I'd actually be kinda the opposite. I feel less need to make a practice swing on full shots... but do like to play a few 'feel' practice strokes on putts and chips/pitches....

SnowDrifts · 22-07-2014 07:05PM

How does taking a practice stroke help you gauge distance?

NFH · 22-07-2014 07:44PM

snaphook wrote: »

Used an Eyeline mirror aid according to today's Examiner. First time I've seen him use it.

Said that one of his trigger words was SPOT during the final round.

Picked a spot on the green on his intended line and focused on making sure that ball rolled over that spot. If it went in it was a bonus.

Ya that's kind of how I would putt as well, only with two practice swings before. Its interesting to see considering the conventional approach is to take practice strokes and the majority of players usually do. But I can see it's merits especially on shorter putts, I sometimes find that the practice swing you make before settling into the ball makes you lose your line slightly. Sure might give it a go so.

Russman · 22-07-2014 10:21PM

I don't think Rory has ever used a practice stroke while he's standing at address.
I was at a putting seminar with Karl Morris around 4/5 years ago and he spoke about Rory's routine and the reasons etc, so it's been going on a long time.

FixdePitchmark · 22-07-2014 10:31PM

snaphook wrote: »

Used an Eyeline mirror aid according to today's Examiner. First time I've seen him use it.

Said that one of his trigger words was SPOT during the final round.

Picked a spot on the green on his intended line and focused on making sure that ball rolled over that spot. If it went in it was a bonus.

Was thinking off getting something like that.

Went into a certain Dublin shop a few months ago to buy one - the lad told me if you need that you have run out of ideas - I went ok. If he is refusing to sell it to me , must be rubbish.

Turn on tv Sunday - Rory out on practice green prior to his open win nailing every 9 footer using the mirror aid.

ForeRight · 22-07-2014 10:32PM

Russman wrote: »

I don't think Rory has ever used a practice stroke while he's standing at address.
I was at a putting seminar with Karl Morris around 4/5 years ago and he spoke about Rory's routine and the reasons etc, so it's been going on a long time.

You are right. He hasn't use a practice stroke in years.

He addresses the ball and looks at the hole while finding the line with his feet.

Takes two looks at the hole and after look two he hits it.

I read he has a trigger word in his head too for starting the stroke

kiad · 23-07-2014 12:08AM

SnowDrifts wrote: »

How does taking a practice stroke help you gauge distance?

For me I can usually tell by the speed of the putter if I think I am over/under cooking it. I will practice swing until I get the feel of the speed I need to hit it (rarely any more than 2 swings) and then address the ball and putt.

ForeRight · 23-07-2014 12:12AM

I can never understand these guys that take a huge practice stroke when the actual stroke is only soft blow from 3 foot

Rikand · 23-07-2014 07:36AM

I put like rory, straight in behind it and bang.

unfortunately that also means I am just as streaky as rory on the greens. I either putt like God or I'm awful!

PARlance · 23-07-2014 07:52AM

Rikand wrote: »

I put like rory, straight in behind it and bang.

unfortunately that also means I am just as streaky as rory on the greens. I either putt like God or I'm awful!

I've only seen you putt like God!!!

geeksauce · 23-07-2014 09:11AM

I have recently stopped taking practice strokes when putting, instead just align the ball to the target I want, align the putter with the ball settle in my stance and make the stroke.

I find it does help me, stops me thinking too much about pace and usually the ball is pretty good for pace it's never 6ft short or long anyway.

GreeBo · 23-07-2014 09:30AM

kiad wrote: »

For me I can usually tell by the speed of the putter if I think I am over/under cooking it. I will practice swing until I get the feel of the speed I need to hit it (rarely any more than 2 swings) and then address the ball and putt.

I guess the point is how can you get a feel for something that you are not actually doing? Its different if you are hitting practice putts to get a feel (like you do on a practice green before a round) but, imo, empty swings with a putter dont tell you too much about whats going to happen when you actually hit a ball.

If I am hitting out of heavy rough or an uneven stance I might take one to see how the ground/rough affects my balance/strike but that would only be for an abnormal situation.

Keano · 23-07-2014 09:31AM

When Rory McIlroy first approached Dave Stockton for a putting lesson after a period of mediocre performances on the green, it’s reputed that the former US Ryder Cup captain and double major winner first asked him to sign his name.

The young Irishman looked a little stunned but thought the veteran maybe just wanted his autograph. Not so, because he was then asked to try to reproduce his signature exactly.

Still a little confused McIlroy carefully tried to trace the lines as closely as possible. He struggled when he had to think about.

“Think of your putting stroke as natural as signing your name,” Stockton told him, that’s what it should feel like – take the mechanics out of it.”

Read more: http://www.golfmagic.com/tips-putting/how-stockton-cured-rorys-putting/11202.html#ixzz38HKiQUgS

Russman · 23-07-2014 09:44AM

GreeBo wrote: »

I guess the point is how can you get a feel for something that you are not actually doing?

Maybe a visual feel then. Feel isn't something you can't measure, lots of guys take a practice putting stroke while looking at the hole because they feel it helps them with pace.

SnowDrifts · 23-07-2014 10:56AM

That's a great little article Keano... I'd say there would be so many golfers who would benfit from that advice and get rid of these bullsh*t pre-shot routines you see out on the course every Sunday.

Another snippet...

Stockton also advised him to dispatch to the dustbin, his pre-shot routine he’d developed since a boy prodigy.

As Stockton reveals in his superb instruction book Unconscious Putting: “Once you see the line the key to making the ball go where you intend is to stop cluttering your pre-putt routine with steps that at best don’t do anything to help you roll the ball on line and at worst actively hurt your chances to do it.”

NFH · 23-07-2014 11:44AM

Keano A Legend wrote: »

http://www.golfmagic.com/tips-putting/how-stockton-cured-rorys-putting/11202.html#ixzz38HKiQUgS

Interesting article, might be worth reading some of his stuff, cheers.

SnowDrifts wrote: »

That's a great little article Keano... I'd say there would be so many golfers who would benfit from that advice and get rid of these bullsh*t pre-shot routines you see out on the course every Sunday.

Another snippet...

There might be, but you can't say pre-shot routines are bulls**t! I think Jack and Tiger would have thing or two to say about that.

TheDoc · 23-07-2014 12:01PM

GreeBo wrote: »

I dont use a practice swing for any shots at all.

For putting and chipping I find its more of a distraction...what if I make a bad stroke etc?

I have never taken a practice swing when throwing someone a ball or firing something into the bin, dont see golf as any different, especially for feel shots.

I don't take a practice shot persay, I kinda just make a really loose swing to just, get loose I guess.

I have however been trying to focus more on direction and setup with my putting and chipping, and stopping practice swings. My putting is in the horrors at the moment, so I'm getting less confident taking practice strokes, wathcing my putter head go off line

SnowDrifts · 23-07-2014 12:05PM

NFH wrote: »

There might be, but you can't say pre-shot routines are bulls**t! I think Jack and Tiger would have thing or two to say about that.

I can indeed say it and think it. It's called having an opinion.

alxmorgan · 23-07-2014 12:08PM

SnowDrifts wrote: »

I can indeed say it and think it. It's called having an opinion.

Why don't we ask Parlance about putting pre-shot routines ?

NFH · 23-07-2014 12:17PM

SnowDrifts wrote: »

I can indeed say it and think it. It's called having an opinion.

Haha, calm down! You can say that a pre shot routine does not work for you. But you actually can't say that a pre shot routine is bulls**t, that's just nonsense. All of the best players to play the game used a pre shot routine. Imagine walking up to Jack and Tiger and saying "lads.... you're doing it all wrong".

SnowDrifts · 23-07-2014 12:23PM

NFH wrote: »

Haha, calm down! You can say that a pre shot routine does not work for you. But you actually can't say that a pre shot routine is bulls**t, that's just nonsense. All of the best players to play the game used a pre shot routine. Imagine walking up to Jack and Tiger and saying "lads.... you're doing it all wrong".

Perfectly calm.. just have a differing opinion to your own. When you say you take two practice strokes to gauge distance... well.. lets just say, I'm on the side of Mr Stockton in thinking that's about as useful as a chocolate fireguard.

NFH · 23-07-2014 12:32PM

SnowDrifts wrote: »

Perfectly calm.. just have a differing opinion to your own. When you say you take two practice strokes to gauge distance... well.. lets just say, I'm on the side of Mr Stockton in thinking that's about as useful as a chocolate fireguard.

Hilarious! My point is that discrediting or disregarding the use of a practice stroke as you are doing is just stupid considering how effective it has been for the vast majority of the greatest players throughout the history of the game. Even though Stocktons method is not what I use, I still see its merits and would not trash it simply because I prefer another method. Shame on me for even taking the bait :rolleyes:

GreeBo · 23-07-2014 12:49PM

NFH wrote: »

Hilarious! My point is that discrediting or disregarding the use of a practice stroke as you are doing is just stupid considering how effective it has been for the vast majority of the greatest players throughout the history of the game. Even though Stocktons method is not what I use, I still see its merits and would not trash it simply because I prefer another method. Shame on me for even taking the bait :rolleyes:

How are you measuring the effectiveness of the practice routine for those players?
If every great putter also scratched their left ear before taking a putt, would you think its a vital piece of good putting?

NFH · 23-07-2014 01:08PM

GreeBo wrote: »

How are you measuring the effectiveness of the practice routine for those players?
If every great putter also scratched their left ear before taking a putt, would you think its a vital piece of good putting?

Rory's Putting Routine at The Open

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