8 foot putts and closer

[Sheffieldhacker]

During today's round i must have doubted myself at least 5 or 6 times from this range and missed every one of those putts when my initial thought was right. Still shot 74 nett 70 but how frustrating.

Does anyone else regularly doubt themselves on the greens At short range?

 

[Deleted member 16999]

During today's round i must have doubted myself at least 5 or 6 times from this range and missed every one of those putts when my initial thought was right. Still shot 74 nett 70 but how frustrating.

Does anyone else regularly doubt themselves on the greens At short range?

Over to you Delc😃

 

[delc]

Over to you Delc😃

You know the answer folks!

 

[Dan2501]

I do exactly the same. Stand behind the ball and pick my line, then stand over it and see a different break. Change my mind and it breaks the way I thought it did initially. So frustrating, but something I've picked up and am trying to change. Standing over a putt and having doubt about the break is a horrible feeling. Positivity and making emphatic decisions when on the greens makes such a difference.

 

[Three]

During today's round i must have doubted myself at least 5 or 6 times from this range and missed every one of those putts when my initial thought was right. Still shot 74 nett 70 but how frustrating.

Does anyone else regularly doubt themselves on the greens At short range?

Try lining up the ball.

When you get over the putt, just focus on the distance and roll the ball over the line. It'll work but you need to be strong and not change your mind.

 

[Foxholer]

I do exactly the same. Stand behind the ball and pick my line, then stand over it and see a different break. Change my mind and it breaks the way I thought it did initially. So frustrating, but something I've picked up and am trying to change. Standing over a putt and having doubt about the break is a horrible feeling. Positivity and making emphatic decisions when on the greens makes such a difference.

Try lining up the ball.

When you get over the putt, just focus on the distance and roll the ball over the line. It'll work but you need to be strong and not change your mind.

This was one of the 2 or 3 tips I was given by a Putting Specialist (Break 30 in the Sheffield area) when I attended an otherwise quite disappointing Scottish Golf Show - many years ago!

His suggested routine was to stand behind the ball and sort the line out - including lining it up with the line/logo if that helps (it actually doesn't help me); have sufficient swings to get the weight right, then get into the putting position and not look at the hole again - as the view from this setup is different to the 'real' one from behind! Another swing or 2 with the correct feel and then simply move to the ball and putt it!

 

[SugarPenguin]

My putting has been amazing recently.

My tip: Hard and straight and focus on the stroke not the hole. If you line it up and just concentrate on the stroke there is only one place that ball of misery is going...

 

[Smiffy]

If you line it up and just concentrate on the stroke there is only one place that ball of misery is going...

3 foot past and miss the return?

 

[MashieNiblick]

I read a quote (from Jack Nicklaus I think) along the lines of you won't make a putt that you've already missed in your head. Couldn't agree more.

I try to visualise the putt going in and then concentrate on making the stroke that will do that. My putting from this range has improved significantly over the past couple of years as a result.

 

[Ethan]

All putts are straight. Straight down your chosen line, that is. I look at the break, err on the pro side (i.e more break rather than less) then focus on pace, using a spot or blade of grass about a foot ahead of the ball as a line guide. The wrong pace will usually get you into more trouble than the wrong break.

The Dave Stockton videos on putting are very good, gimmick free, just good solid advice. He emphasises putting as a left handed activity, i.e the left hand leads and controls the stroke.

 

[SugarPenguin]

3 foot past and miss the return?

my misses usually go about 6 foot past - which I do admit, makes the return more difficult
But we dont talk bout that.

 

[delc]

This was one of the 2 or 3 tips I was given by a Putting Specialist (Break 30 in the Sheffield area) when I attended an otherwise quite disappointing Scottish Golf Show - many years ago!

His suggested routine was to stand behind the ball and sort the line out - including lining it up with the line/logo if that helps (it actually doesn't help me); have sufficient swings to get the weight right, then get into the putting position and not look at the hole again - as the view from this setup is different to the 'real' one from behind! Another swing or 2 with the correct feel and then simply move to the ball and putt it!

No wonder golf is getting so slow!

 

[Smiffy]

I hate it when you stand over one and your mind goes totally (and I mean totally) blank.
You have got no idea of line, no idea of how hard to hit it........

 

[ManinBlack]

I do exactly the same. Stand behind the ball and pick my line, then stand over it and see a different break. Change my mind and it breaks the way I thought it did initially. So frustrating, but something I've picked up and am trying to change. Standing over a putt and having doubt about the break is a horrible feeling. Positivity and making emphatic decisions when on the greens makes such a difference.

That was me until recently You must hit it on the line chosen. Also, the more break in the putt the more important the weight is. On a curly putt I'd rather run the risk of leaving it short than hit it too firmly. If the putt is dead weight it's rolling straight towards the hole as it dies. Works for me.

 

[sandmagnet]

I hate it when you stand over one and your mind goes totally (and I mean totally) blank.
You have got no idea of line, no idea of how hard to hit it........

I have that feeling with my driver irons and wedges at the moment!

 

[Smiffy]

I have that feeling with my driver irons and wedges at the moment!

That's been hanging around for quite a while now hasn't it?
Mine is only now and again

 

[huds1475]

My putting has improved massively with a few changes to my mental approach. And a few slightly technical.

Mental;

1. Pick line and align ball accordingly. Once picked, stick with it. You have to trust the part of the brain that makes the initial analysis.

2. Don't fret about distance, weight. This will mess your strike up. Trust the brain to work it out and go with it.

From being always 3 to 5 ft short and tentative I am now invariably there or there abouts.

Is a merger of some Karl Morris stuff and ignoring the inner chimp that throws doubt at your initial analysis (Chimp Paradox ) and has been massively effective.

Ignoring the chimp is hard but very worthwhile!

'Technical';

1. Look at the front edfe of the ball, edge nearest hole, encourages you to hit through the ball.

2. Buy a marker thingy and draw a big massive line on your ball. Inspires miles more confidence than using a manufacturer logo and, importantly, allows you to trust your initial read more and keep the chimp quiet.

Cue 'comedy' responses on the chimp!

 

[delc]

I just look at the putt from the side and from behind, and then let my brain do the trigonometry. Seem to work most of the time.

 

[njrose51]

Get on your practise green and put yourself under pressure. Set up 5 8ft putts. if you miss one, start again. goal is to get all 5 in the NORMAL SIZE HOLE AS WE DO NOT NEED BIGGER HOLES!

Might help with the doubts on the real greens?

 

[delc]

Get on your practise green and put yourself under pressure. Set up 5 8ft putts. if you miss one, start again. goal is to get all 5 in the NORMAL SIZE HOLE AS WE DO NOT NEED BIGGER HOLES!

Might help with the doubts on the real greens?

You would be lucky to hole all the 8 footers, bearing in mind that good putters only hole about 95% of 3 footers! At 8 feet the probability of holing the putt is less than 50%!