Becoming a better putter

[Oddsocks]

I’ve struggled with lag putting for a long while and a +4 player recently said to just focus on consistently hitting the middle of the putter.

Consistently long - hit it softer
Consistently short - hit it harder.

As long as it’s consistent you know what you’re working with, I’ve been working on this for three months and it definitely helps

 

[kp17]

Do you have a standard grip on the spider?

I’ve probably tried every drill, hit a billion puts, lessons, videos, books etc over the years and the biggest improvement I’ve noticed is by fitting with a chunky big superstroke grip

 

[srixon 1]

Have a proper putting lesson. Preferably with a coach that has/uses Capto (Trackman for putting). It will be a revelation.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

What works for ME

Aimpoint so I am happy I have a good read
Working on my start line (putting gates)
One ball holing out from 2-5 feet on different holes
Making 10 consecutive 3 footers. Miss and start again
Practice putting from 30-40 feet and aim to 2 putt every time

 

[Orikoru]

Do you have a standard grip on the spider?

I’ve probably tried every drill, hit a billion puts, lessons, videos, books etc over the years and the biggest improvement I’ve noticed is by fitting with a chunky big superstroke grip

Same here actually but the Winn Jumbo Pistol is mine. Worth trying out a few in a shop, if it feels perfect in your hands you will certainly putt better.

 

[BobbyA]

Do you have a standard grip on the spider?

I’ve probably tried every drill, hit a billion puts, lessons, videos, books etc over the years and the biggest improvement I’ve noticed is by fitting with a chunky big superstroke grip

Yeah i have a big superstroke grip Playing 9 tomorrow and then got 3 full rounds Sunday Monday and Tuesday, wish me luck

 

[BobbyA]

Have a proper putting lesson. Preferably with a coach that has/uses Capto (Trackman for putting). It will be a revelation.

As I said i have had 2 x 45 minutes with a dedicated putting coach, using samlab and other devices.
We worked on set up and tempo and in the second lesson my tempo was much more consistent so I've made progress there.
The next thing was i was hitting up on the ball to much so we made a set up change which improved that massively.

Perhaps ive jsut had a few bad rounds and need to get used the the speed of the greens with my new tempo

 

[Voyager EMH]

Evening all,

I'm really struggling with putting at the moment. My speed control is way off so I either leave things very short or smash them past. For context I played 9 today, and had a total of 25 putts! 1 x 4 putt, 6 x 3 putt, 1 x 2 putt and 1, 1 putt.

I had a putting lesson earlier in the year and we worked on set up and tempo, initially things were good but last couple of rounds have been bad.

It's really frustrating because I've worked hard this winter with lessons and my ball striking is really good at present

Any advice to become a better lag putter, any drills to try?

Next time you are planning a social game - cancel it and spend 4 hours putting.

Find time each month to do about 10 hours of putting only - minimum 2 hour sessions. Easy to do. It is far less tiring than playing golf or practicing full swing shots.

After 18 months your putting will have improved, I'm sure.

 

[BobbyA]

Next time you are planning a social game - cancel it and spend 4 hours putting.

Find time each month to do about 10 hours of putting only - minimum 2 hour sessions. Easy to do. It is far less tiring than playing golf or practicing full swing shots.

After 18 months your putting will have improved, I'm sure.

Hhmm, not sure I will give up a round to practice putting for 4 hours! that's a very long time.

I enjoy playing golf, of course I want to get better but in reality I don't really care if I score bad, Im not one of these people that gets upset at a bad score,

I will dedicate more time to practice putting, my full swing is in a good place so I will go to the putting green instead of the driving range. I'm also going to try and get to courses early to do 30 minutes putting before a game, hopefully this tactic will yield results.

Anyway, playing 9 today, will report back later

 

[Voyager EMH]

Hhmm, not sure I will give up a round to practice putting for 4 hours! that's a very long time.

I enjoy playing golf, of course I want to get better but in reality I don't really care if I score bad, Im not one of these people that gets upset at a bad score,

I will dedicate more time to practice putting, my full swing is in a good place so I will go to the putting green instead of the driving range. I'm also going to try and get to courses early to do 30 minutes putting before a game, hopefully this tactic will yield results.

Anyway, playing 9 today, will report back later

30 minutes is not enough.
Got to be 2hrs or else you are just not going to make lasting improvements.
And many more 2-hr sessions are needed.

This lack of "learning how to learn" is what holds many back from improving putting and short game skill.

 

[Neilds]

30 minutes is not enough.
Got to be 2hrs or else you are just not going to make lasting improvements.
And many more 2-hr sessions are needed.

This lack of "learning how to learn" is what holds many back from improving putting and short game skill.

You are probably right but I can’t imagine many taking you up on the idea! I get bored after 10 minutes warm up before the round

 

[Imurg]

You are probably right but I can’t imagine many taking you up on the idea! I get bored after 10 minutes warm up before the round

Bored after 10 minutes?
After 10 minutes my back will have given up the ghost.....

 

[Orikoru]

Next time you are planning a social game - cancel it and spend 4 hours putting.

Find time each month to do about 10 hours of putting only - minimum 2 hour sessions. Easy to do. It is far less tiring than playing golf or practicing full swing shots.

After 18 months your putting will have improved, I'm sure.

That really is not easy to do. Most normal people would get bored after about 15 minutes tops.

 

[BobbyA]

Most people would lose concentration after say 40 minutes, hence why school lessons are always under an hour and the best golf lessons for me are 45 minutes.

What drills can you do for 4 hours? Ive no doubt after 4 hours on 1 green i will have my speed dialled in to a tee, however what happens when you step on a slower / faster green!

Anyway, back from 9 holes,

Had 3 x 3 putts so much better then the other day but still room to improve.
All 3 putts were the same error, to much speed on the first putt racing it by the hole. I almost made every putt back but literally left them 1 roll short so there is some positives!

The greens were alot faster today due to the lovely weather.

All in all a lovely 9 holes on a wonder full day

 

[Voyager EMH]

Why do people find putting boring?
You play golf for 4 hours, is that not boring? Do you lose concentration by the 7th hole?

The putting fairy is not going to sprinkle you with some magic putting dust after a little instruction and 30 minutes practice.
Time, persistence and repetition is what it takes for the judgment required to be a good putter embeds itself so that putting becomes instinctive.

Lose concentration? Ha!
I won't ever be a passenger in your car, then.

Put the effort in. Its only putting. Forget about it being boring - just do it.
Practice, practice, practice.

 

[RichA]

Like somebody else has said, if I'm on the practice putting green for 10 minutes then my back starts to ache.
30 minutes worth and I'd probably need 4 hours lying on my back on a hard floor to recover.
Boredom isn't the only issue.

 

[Neilds]

Why do people find putting boring?
You play golf for 4 hours, is that not boring? Do you lose concentration by the 7th hole?

The putting fairy is not going to sprinkle you with some magic putting dust after a little instruction and 30 minutes practice.
Time, persistence and repetition is what it takes for the judgment required to be a good putter embeds itself so that putting becomes instinctive.

Lose concentration? Ha!
I won't ever be a passenger in your car, then.

Put the effort in. Its only putting. Forget about it being boring - just do it.
Practice, practice, practice.

In a 4 hour round you are doing lots of things, chatting, walking different shots - how can you compare that to the repeated action of putting for 4 hours?

 

[garyinderry]

Just break the practice up. Do it more often.

Also combine it with chipping. Make it fun and mirror the game we play. Try and get up and down.

 

[The Squirrel]

Why do people find putting boring?
You play golf for 4 hours, is that not boring? Do you lose concentration by the 7th hole?

The putting fairy is not going to sprinkle you with some magic putting dust after a little instruction and 30 minutes practice.
Time, persistence and repetition is what it takes for the judgment required to be a good putter embeds itself so that putting becomes instinctive.

Lose concentration? Ha!
I won't ever be a passenger in your car, then.

Put the effort in. Its only putting. Forget about it being boring - just do it.
Practice, practice, practice.

I’ve no doubt you are right but … Like 99.99% of golfers I play golf for enjoyment, not for a job, and 3 hours in I would not be enjoying myself (and I’m one of those people who like practicing!). Why would I spend my leisure time doing something boring that I don’t enjoy? I’d guess the vast majority of people would fall into my camp .

In many other fine cognitive/motor skills (think learning a musical instrument) daily repetition even if for a much shorter time is more effective than less frequent big blocks of practice. Would this not be the same for golf anyway?

 

[Voyager EMH]

In a 4 hour round you are doing lots of things, chatting, walking different shots - how can you compare that to the repeated action of putting for 4 hours?

They are both 4 hours of doing stuff.