3 foot putts

[pokerjoke]

i am a 12 handicap and i feel i am on the brink of a great round as im striking the ball great,however im missing 3 foot putts to regularly and its costly,i have practice relentlessly and am fine,as soon as i get on the course over a short putt i am nervous however on long putts im fine,some advice please.

 

[Imurg]

Make sure you don't leave a 3 footer!!

Seriously though, it sounds like you have a phobia about 3 footers - if you sink them in practice and then can't on the course then technique may not be the problem. Stop worrying about them and they'll soon start dropping.

 

[drawboy]

grip the putter, then try and feel the pressure on the grip. If you are strangling the putter and you are really tight on the grip lighten up on the grip you will then make a better putt. It works.

 

[RGDave]

Do you use a line on the ball?

I only ask, as I kept missing short ones a few months back and it was simply the way I was "seeing" the putts.

With a line on the ball, I soon realised what I thought was "straight" was actually about an inch or two LEFT.

I never read a short one over a mark on the green any more. I line up the line, forget the stoke and practice keeping the face of the putter at the hole/along the line.

 

[pokerjoke]

funny you should say about the line on the ball,up 2 about 2 months ago i used a line now i dont,i will go back 2 it and try,also i cud be strangling the club as im nervous so i will try loosening the grip,thx 4 tips

 

[Junior]

Make sure your feet and shoulders are lined up parallel to your target line. I find if i'm missing short putts its my alignment thats out.

 

[freddielong]

I would say check your grip pressure as it is the most obvious thing, especially if you are holeing them on the practice green

 

[TonyN]

U have a pre shot routine? If yes do you stick to it over the 3 footers?

I and many others I know are often guilty of trying to just knock in the 3 footers by walking up, having a quick look and just shooting.

You should stick to ur routine no matter how simple the putt seems, ( apart from the unmissables obv).

 

[TonyN]

It also be worth having a lesson with your pro, I did and there wasn't alot wrong. Just confidence. If it's something simple it may take 5 minutes to sort out.

 

[pokerjoke]

yes i agree its a confidence thing and im sure its only tempory,but i will definately not pay a pro £18 for half hour to tell me its confidence,i always clean my ball b4 putting but have no routine,that i will also try,great tips guys im sure they will all help,roll on 2morrow feel a few birdies coming.

 

[roccokj]

stick a tee 3ft away from the hole and putt as many as you can from there and dont leave until you hole twenty in a row.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Don't dismiss a putting lesson too readily. I had one last year and it was a reveleation. My grip was too strong and my shoulder and feet alignment were both out making it difficult to put a confident and repeating stroke on the short ones.

There really is nothing like practicing on a proper green and building up confidence making those tricky ones from different slopes. I use this as a guide too (but take the rail off when hitting longer putts). Shop around (don't use 118 golf) and you'll find it cheaper

http://www.118golf.co.uk/Golf-Training-P...ANE-SYSTEM.aspx

 

[JustOne]

i am a 12 handicap and i feel i am on the brink of a great round as im striking the ball great,however im missing 3 foot putts to regularly and its costly,i have practice relentlessly and am fine,as soon as i get on the course over a short putt i am nervous however on long putts im fine,some advice please.

I blame the greens

At this time of year the holes are surrounded with footprints. Anything not struck firmly has a chance of going offline and anything that IS struck firmly will DEFINATELY go offline

 

[RGDave]

Don't dismiss a putting lesson too readily.

Yes. I had a fitting/lesson/video all-in-one for £35. Best money I've ever spent.

He showed me something (which I can't explain here) that changed my whole attitude to putting forever. Put it this way, my stroke wasn't exactly ideal, but 10 minutes later, although I still had a rather unusual stroke, I was set for short ones forever.

 

[Yerman]

And the answer is:

1) psychotherapy!
2) Zen Golf -a good read
3) Change you putter
4) All of the above

 

[RGDave]

And the answer is:

1) psychotherapy!
2) Zen Golf - a good read
3) Change your putter
4) All of the above

very good.....except 5) none of those!!!

I did however have an inch chopped off and a few degrees upright.

 

[JustOne]

He showed me something (which I can't explain here) that changed my whole attitude to putting forever.

... why?

 

[CliveW]

... why?

...Because it cost him £35 and he ain't going to tell you for free.

 

[Region3]

The other thing I'd add to what's already been said is don't look up too quickly to see if it's going in or not.

 

[bobmac]

PJ, how long is your backswing for the 3 footers?
I see lots of people who swing it back too far then slow down into the ball.
Put another ball 5-6ins behind your target ball and stop your backswing before you hit it.
This will promote a more positive follow through.
HTH