Can anybody tell me what part of my game to work on?

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Yesterday's round, 1st singles comp' of the year. My basic stat's go as follows:
FIR: 77%
GIR: 67%
putts: 40 (as Tim Gudgen would repeat "that's fourty")

That includes 7 lip-outs and only 1 one putt green.
I know it's been dry of late but I think our greens have doubled in speed in one week and I just couldn't get the pace.
Very annoying - but at least the rest of my game looks in good nick!
 
Ouch, that's a sore one, i can guess where you'll be able to be found around your clubhouse, but you didn't get to the level you're at by being a bad putter, just a bad day me thinks.
 
needmoreclub said:
Ouch, that's a sore one, i can guess where you'll be able to be found around your clubhouse, but you didn't get to the level you're at by being a bad putter, just a bad day me thinks.
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Agreed, just a bad day on the greens but clearly the rest of your game is in nice shape. I had a similar story (but much higher 66 and 50% FIR/GIR!) with 41 putts, 8 of which were 3 putts resulting from missing within 3 feet, working on the cure though ;)

What struck me about this post (and the reason I replied) was to relay something I read once, if you're lipping out that much it might be because you are seeing the putts as right-edge or left-edge, and then managing to actually hit the edge (which takes some skill), so best to visualise them pouring into the heart of the cup rather than aiming for an edge and then compensating against the break (in your swing) to hit it.

Thankfully not my own advice, as I can't putt for nuts at the mo :)
 
Cheers guys, I think I do aim for the lip a little too often instead of going straight and firm. I've always been more a dead-weight putter. Think I'll have to get the V-easy back out and spend a few evenings on the greens.
 
Gil
Stats, be careful when taking too much notice.

At a guess I would say that you have been hitting the edges of the green. As they say, you seldom three putt from the centre of the green. It may then be a case of working on the mid to short irons than the obvious putter. Do you count putts from just off the green in your stats.
Folk sometimes make putting the excuse for a poor score as it tends to make the listener think that they are a better player than their score suggests.

As a youngster bemoaning my poor putting and old caddy told me the secret to stop three putting, 'get your flaming shots closer to the pin'. [or words to that effect]
 
I'm talking 3 putts anywhere from 10ft to 25ft & my short irons etc were dialled in pretty well.
I just couldn't get any distance control. Direction from long range was quite good, and then the 2nd putts were just lipping out.
I had makeable birdie putts ( < 20ft and not too much slope) on holes 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 17 and 18. 3 putts came on holes 3, 5, 10, 14 and 17.
Those stat's talk for themselves - 4 holes with makeable birdie putts and came off with bogeys.
 
I think even without the stats I would have said putting.

I think you could also look at chipping and other approach play (ie anything from 120 yards and in) as poor putting stats can mask what is actually poor chipping, pitching and wedges.
 
Firstly, our greens at the weekend were frightening! Go above the hole and youve had it - period. Accept the 10 footer back up the hill. Secondly, its early in the year and the greens are still a bit bumpy as the growth hasnt shown itself as yet. So take a bit of heart in that.

Now, my putting has been a bit off recently and I think I have finally worked out whats wrong. In my attempt to get my hands ahead of the ball at address, I have cheated and moved the ball too far back.

What I would suggest is checking the basics are there. then its a case of rocking the shoulders.
 
I wouldn't be too hard on yourself based on stats from one round! There are lies, damned lies and statistics....

Better looking at your averages over 5 rounds and then look at where you are losing shots. As the poster above said you didn't get to your handicap by being a bad putter!
 
Curls said:
What struck me about this post (and the reason I replied) was to relay something I read once, if you're lipping out that much it might be because you are seeing the putts as right-edge or left-edge, and then managing to actually hit the edge (which takes some skill), so best to visualise them pouring into the heart of the cup rather than aiming for an edge and then compensating against the break (in your swing) to hit it.

Thankfully not my own advice, as I can't putt for nuts at the mo :)
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Gil_Emott said:
Cheers guys, I think I do aim for the lip a little too often instead of going straight and firm. I've always been more a dead-weight putter. Think I'll have to get the V-easy back out and spend a few evenings on the greens.
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I think you've misunderstood what Curls wrote, as I have the same book.

It's not a case of hitting straighter and firmer to take the break out, but more of a potential visualisation problem.

The theory goes that your mind does it's best to produce the image you give it, and you're standing over your putt thinking right edge so you push the putt further wide than intended and lip out on the right edge.

The idea is still to pick your line on the edge of the cup, but over the putt you should be thinking about the ball rolling into the hole, so on a 3' putt that's a right edge line it will probably drop in at 5 o'clock if the hole were an imaginary clock face. That's what you should be thinking once you've lined yourself up.

I hope that makes sense?
 
You dont always have to hole everything, if you are outside 15ft try to leave the ball within a 18inch diameter, if outside 25ft you should look for no more than 2foot diameter. If you had 2 putted every hole you would have saved 7 shots. Look to hole the putts within 15ft but play to leave no more than a foot past, if you read it wrong should be a tapin.
 
Region3 said:
over the putt you should be thinking about the ball rolling into the hole
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Yeah sorry should have made myself clearer, basically if you're looking at the putt as a left-edge putt and that's what's in your head then if you're a talented putter you could hit that tiny target of the left edge, better to start the putt off straight along the target line and visualise it taking the break and dying into the heart of the hole than seeing, aiming towards and thinking about an edge.
 
Region & Curls,
I see what you mean. I must admit that my visualisation on the golf course isn't great. I once had a playing lesson and the pro realised I was a comlpetely blank canvass for him regarding the long game. As I never used to think about my game plan much, just hit hard & straight.
I do think alot more these days. But putting I have so little confidence at times I will myself not to 3 putt and scare myself quite alot.
But I must, with some practice start to visualise better.
 
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