Becoming a better putter

[BobbyA]

Ok, so I'm back from 3 days of golf.

Ill be honest I didn't track track how many 3 putts I had across the 3 rounds but safe to say it wasn't as bad as 7, 3 putts in 9 holes!

My lag putting was much better, I still had some 3 putts but all of these were from quite a distance (and after hitting GIR). Also holed a good 20 footer on the 18th on the final day.

Still got some work to do but I think I had been over thinking putting, I now try to get a decent read, few practice strokes for pace and then go. This seems to be helping and makes my putting more athletic and less robotic.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Small steps/ You need to keep working at it and regular practice is a must

 

[BobbyA]

cheers, played 9 holes yesterday and 2 putted every hole with two lip outs for birdie! Seems I'm improving!

I bought the Bob Rotella book and I am about halfway through, to be honest the books is quite repetitive and the key message is to trust yourself, be athletic, be confident, basically try not to overthink.
I think the message is good and I'm definitely trying to put without thinking too much. one takeaway is not to putt to avoid a 3 putt but putt to sink your first. I think that's a good mental approach.

Will start tracking my putts and see where i can get too. Also going to do about an hours practice tomorrow.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

cheers, played 9 holes yesterday and 2 putted every hole with two lip outs for birdie! Seems I'm improving!

I bought the Bob Rotella book and I am about halfway through, to be honest the books is quite repetitive and the key message is to trust yourself, be athletic, be confident, basically try not to overthink.
I think the message is good and I'm definitely trying to put without thinking too much. one takeaway is not to putt to avoid a 3 putt but putt to sink your first. I think that's a good mental approach.

Will start tracking my putts and see where i can get too. Also going to do about an hours practice tomorrow.

Great podcast from Karl Morris may be of help

 

[Orikoru]

cheers, played 9 holes yesterday and 2 putted every hole with two lip outs for birdie! Seems I'm improving!

I bought the Bob Rotella book and I am about halfway through, to be honest the books is quite repetitive and the key message is to trust yourself, be athletic, be confident, basically try not to overthink.
I think the message is good and I'm definitely trying to put without thinking too much. one takeaway is not to putt to avoid a 3 putt but putt to sink your first. I think that's a good mental approach.

Will start tracking my putts and see where i can get too. Also going to do about an hours practice tomorrow.

Yeah - the book really resonated for me. It got me thinking, how many times do you see someone attempt to 'lag it up' for a two-putt but actually leave it 4 feet short? And how many times do you hear someone say they've got one putt for a point so they need to 'go for it', then hit it about 8 feet past with no chance of it dropping at that speed? Since reading the book I treat every putt the same - just try and get it in or as close to the hole as possible. It sounds so obvious when you say it out loud as well - like why on earth would you not do that?

 

[Orikoru]

Great podcast from Karl Morris may be of help

I just looked at the image and thought, why the hell is Paul Merson doing a podcast about putting?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I just looked at the image and thought, why the hell is Paul Merson doing a podcast about putting?

Wasn't just me then

 

[BobbyA]

Wasn't just me then

Same

 

[BobbyA]

Little update here, Played 2 x 9 hole rounds since my last post with only 1, 3 putt in there.

I've really tried to be more confident over putts. Basically a quick read of the green, one practice stroke and go. It does seem to help. On short putts I'm not even taking a practice stroke as i don't think this needed.

now this is playing my regular course where I know the greens, speed and the break quite well so they don't need as much green reading.

Looking forward to playing elsewhere and seeing how I get on!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Still boils down to regular practice to maintian ability to judge speed and slope and getting use to working on the short putts and getting used to seeing them go in

 

[Oddsocks]

After 2 hours practicing lag putting Saturday afternoon and an hour pre game on Sunday, I proceeded to have my worst stats of the year.

The practice was structured with good results but a flat practice green has no resemblance to undulating course greens.

From this weekend I’ve learned that all practice will now be coursed base after work during the summer months as it’s the only “ real life “ test.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

After 2 hours practicing lag putting Saturday afternoon and an hour pre game on Sunday, I proceeded to have my worst stats of the year.

The practice was structured with good results but a flat practice green has no resemblance to undulating course greens.

From this weekend I’ve learned that all practice will now be coursed base after work during the summer months as it’s the only “ real life “ test.

I guess I am luckier than you in that the putting green has large slopes and so practice can be structured to take this into account. It is definitely something that needs taking into consideration and a period of flat puttign is good for the confidence but isn't realistic to the challenges on the course

 

[Oddsocks]

Ou

I guess I am luckier than you in that the putting green has large slopes and so practice can be structured to take this into account. It is definitely something that needs taking into consideration and a period of flat puttign is good for the confidence but isn't realistic to the challenges on the course

Our practice putting green had mild breaks at best, some of our greens on course have Augusta grade breaks so flat putting is pointless

 

[Orikoru]

Most people seemed to have the same problem this weekend just gone, judging by some of the posts - greens have sped up due to drying out but are still bobbly from maintenance or just winter. Makes it very difficult to hole anything. I had a 3-footer on our 7th that has always been right-to-left, but it moved the other way and didn't touch the hole. I felt like Tyrrell Hatton every time he misses one.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Most people seemed to have the same problem this weekend just gone, judging by some of the posts - greens have sped up due to drying out but are still bobbly from maintenance or just winter. Makes it very difficult to hole anything. I had a 3-footer on our 7th that has always been right-to-left, but it moved the other way and didn't touch the hole. I felt like Tyrrell Hatton every time he misses one.

It’s the lack of warm weather overnight with the added drought meaning there is very little growth on the courses

Morning frosts are not helping


Thankfully the wind changes at the end of the week and we start to get the westerly winds and warmer overnight weather to keep the ground temps up

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Most people seemed to have the same problem this weekend just gone, judging by some of the posts - greens have sped up due to drying out but are still bobbly from maintenance or just winter. Makes it very difficult to hole anything. I had a 3-footer on our 7th that has always been right-to-left, but it moved the other way and didn't touch the hole. I felt like Tyrrell Hatton every time he misses one.

Ours are definitely a little bumpy from the recent work but the speed for the time of year was as quick as any of the members can remember. I think they have done a good job watering them regularly which has helped fill the holes in

 

[Oddsocks]

It’s the lack of warm weather overnight with the added drought meaning there is very little growth on the courses

Morning frosts are not helping


Thankfully the wind changes at the end of the week and we start to get the westerly winds and warmer overnight weather to keep the ground temps up

Our Gm said exactly the same Sunday, also that it was pointless watering as the cold temps overnight are not seeing warm enough soils temps to germinate the seed.

 

[Springveldt]

Our Gm said exactly the same Sunday, also that it was pointless watering as the cold temps overnight are not seeing warm enough soils temps to germinate the seed.

Same is happening at our place. They put loads of new seed down on the greens a couple of weeks ago but nothing is growing. Last night is was a feels like temp of -1C but at least we are going to get decent weather for the next few days but after Sunday we are back to overnight temps being feels like 3C and below for the week.