Am I Britain`s worst putter? (handicap relative)

[lyden]

On Friday I spent 2 hours practising my putting and generally I've put in a couple of hours a week work on it. Yesterday on captains day I slumped to a 94 with no less than 45 putts and at certain points I felt like walking off. A highlight was a gir for a par 3 and walking off with a double bogey.

The Driving and iron play has always come easy to me as I know how far I hit each club because I smash it every time. Anything that involves any finesse or touch / speed control I am I believe possibly the worst player in my bracket.

 

[Hobbit]

On Friday I spent 2 hours practising my putting and generally I've put in a couple of hours a week work on it. Yesterday on captains day I slumped to a 94 with no less than 45 putts and at certain points I felt like walking off. A highlight was a gir for a par 3 and walking off with a double bogey.

The Driving and iron play has always come easy to me as I know how far I hit each club because I smash it every time. Anything that involves any finesse or touch / speed control I am I believe possibly the worst player in my bracket.

Some players seriously struggle with putting, and sometimes a drastic measure is needed. There's a couple of guys I know that were in your boat. I suggested to both of them that they go and buy a left handed putter - they're both right handed. One has done it and its made a dramatic improvement in his scores.

 

[tsped83]

On Friday I spent 2 hours practising my putting and generally I've put in a couple of hours a week work on it. Yesterday on captains day I slumped to a 94 with no less than 45 putts and at certain points I felt like walking off. A highlight was a gir for a par 3 and walking off with a double bogey.

The Driving and iron play has always come easy to me as I know how far I hit each club because I smash it every time. Anything that involves any finesse or touch / speed control I am I believe possibly the worst player in my bracket.

I think I might rival you for that title. Tee to green I believe I play better than my handicap, however putting always lets me down. After my wedding I'm going for a putting lesson, SAM lab, the whole works!

 

[dufferman]

I was a shocking putter, so I changed my grip to a 2 thumb putter grip (Google it). A few of the other guys on here have tried / use one. Made a huge improvement. Yesterday I had 30 putts with 3 3putts. It's gone from the weakest to one of the strongest parts of my game!!

Edit: my handicap is 20.5 by the way.

 

[patricks148]

I think I might rival you for that title. Tee to green I believe I play better than my handicap, however putting always lets me down. After my wedding I'm going for a putting lesson, SAM lab, the whole works!

Not a chance i beat both of you hands down, a couple of weeks ago i had eight 4 puts in a comp... it was very windy, but that was only half the bad score.... Putting for me is a real struggle. maybe i should practice!!!!

 

[Scottyrfc]

I really struggle with putting aswell . I play of 21 but I would be lower if I could putt.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

On Friday I spent 2 hours practising my putting and generally I've put in a couple of hours a week work on it. Yesterday on captains day I slumped to a 94 with no less than 45 putts and at certain points I felt like walking off. A highlight was a gir for a par 3 and walking off with a double bogey.

The Driving and iron play has always come easy to me as I know how far I hit each club because I smash it every time. Anything that involves any finesse or touch / speed control I am I believe possibly the worst player in my bracket.

On that basis, yes, you are

The serious answer is you care too much. You have to putt like you don't care about the result. You can't make putts go in. Pick your line, make the best stroke you can, if it drops it drops, if it doesn't, as long as you hit your line and made a good stroke you can do no more.

Whenever I get over a putt and find myself thinking that I have to make it I tell myself it doesn't matter. Sometimes I go as far as telling myself I have good health and a good life and missing this putt doesn't change that. I'd like it to drop, but if it doesn't, that's the way it is. I've hit an awful lot of great putts that haven't gone in, as long as I hit them on the line I chose, I'm happy

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Simple answer. Get a lesson. There sounds like there is a technical flaw, either in the stroke or in reading/pace. No point practicing if you are making the same mistakes over and over

 

[Slicer30]

If you think you believe you are a bad putter, then more than likely you will putt badly. If you have not already I recommend reading "putting out of your mind" by Bob Rotella. I often give Bob credit for putts lol, especially putts where I decide to stop caring and just putt to make it.

 

[Gazboy]

Not a chance i beat both of you hands down, a couple of weeks ago i had eight 4 puts in a comp... it was very windy, but that was only half the bad score.... Putting for me is a real struggle. maybe i should practice!!!!

Imagine a dustbin lid around the hole, just get the ball to within that imaginary zone and then follow up with a tap in. It isn't perfect nor guarantees success but the idea does wonders for your confidence.

 

[woody69]

Imagine a dustbin lid around the hole, just get the ball to within that imaginary zone and then follow up with a tap in. It isn't perfect nor guarantees success but the idea does wonders for your confidence.

I personally think this is one of the worst bits of advice for me when putting. Why aim for a dustbin lid area? Just aim for the hole, it's just as difficult.

I'm a pretty poor putter. Within 3 feet I get no where near enough to go down, it really is 50/50 at best instead of 80% or better. My best ever day putting was 29 putts and my worse was about 42. I average about 2.05 putts a round, which isn't good enough as my GIR is very very low. I need to be getting that under 2 really. Putts per GIR is 2.44, which I guess is expected, but would prefer to get that down as well (not that I get enough opportunities to change that!).

My issue is I can play a lot of holes where I roll one up from 10-15 ft and it's very close, good pace, just poor line and I can tap in for 2, but then I'll hit one that is absolutely miles off, not even close. When I'm bad it is really bad and then because I have a tendency to miss at 3 feet I have a bit of a rep with my playing mates as just being terrible at putting (which is kind of true!)

 

[big_eck]

i changed putter from a blade to a 2 ball odyssey and the line up and feel for me is a million times better

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I've been using a mallet - odyssey #9 and wanted to go back to a blade. Gone for the extra weight on the Tank #1 which I hope I might get tomorrow or early next week. In the demo, it's so easy to take it back and through. Bit worried for playing on faster grounds but Ascot's aren't lightning so it should be a marriage made in heaven

 

[duncan mackie]

I personally think this is one of the worst bits of advice for me when putting. Why aim for a dustbin lid area? Just aim for the hole, it's just as difficult.

classic agree/disagree!

you should aim for the 'correct target' --which will vary relative to the hole on most putts.

on an uphill breaking putt it may be beyond and outside the hole - long straight downhill putt it may appropriate to aim just before the front edge.

it's rarely right to aim at this dustbin lid though!!!

 

[Yosser]

I usually average 36 putts per round, which I'm relatively happy with. I think it would be unreasonable for me to expect any better given my other stats such as GIR and proximity to the hole when I do hit a green - long game is my problem, so you need to be aware of your overall stats. Our course is renowned for having difficult undulating greens - not many are flat, being able to read them is essential. However the surfaces are generally great so the speeds are reasonably consistent. As others have said, after reading the green and picking the line, its all about pace, I always try and get it past the hole and give it a chance. Note the break if it misses, and use this information on the return putt. Some other tips I've learned:-

1. Start reading the green after your approach shot as you walk towards the green, take a note of the surrounding terrain and look for where the land slopes next the green - chances are the green will follow the contours of the surrounding land. If there is a nearby water hazard like a stream, chances are the green will slope towards it.

2. When putting towards a hole with a big break make sure you've made enough allowance, if you miss, make sure its on the "high" side so that it has more chance of going in.