Category 2....putting advice

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birdieman

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Back in category 2 hopefully short term as my third 0.1 of the season today has me on 5.5 (playing 6) for tomorrows medal.

Quite disappointed at this. Took 35 putts again this morning despite going tee to green pretty well again. Long game is in great shape but my usual reliable short game hasn't surfaced yet.

Gross scores have been 78,77 and 77 this month so although not good aren't too bad either. Just missing the buffer by 2 or 3 each game and am laying the blame squarely on my putting all 3 games this season. Only 1 three putt but too many 2 putts from medium range.

Gave my new Nike IC 20-20a a run out today, started awfully :mad: but by the 8th or so started to go ok with it and by the end we were getting on quite well. :rolleyes:

Didn't manage a single birdie today, 11 pars and 7 bogeys for +7. GIR score was 10. Nothing worse than a 5 on card so some positives.

Getting a little frustrated as I am unable to take advantage of some good tee to green play.

What flatstick advice can anyone give me to get straight back into Cat 1 tomorrow?
 
It's direction, pace isn't too bad. It's the knee knocker 3, 4 or 5 footers that can be a problem, I miss mostly right.

Normally a decent putter so hoping it's just a bit of playing after a long winter that's needed.
 
try the Harrington way , left hand below right

I use it because i was missing those 10ft and under birdie/par savers. It really allows you to strike it on the line you've chosen with no wrist break

Not so easy from long distance though as I find I lose a bit of feel for the longer putts
 
Where do you position the ball in your stance on the shorter putts?
Click to expand...

I think I had it too far forward as when I moved it back a little I started holing better.

Try to get it under my eye but without my izzo putting mirror sometimes the ball wanders out of position I think. Not averse to a little trial and error. Swing tempo improved later on as I relaxed more.
 
I'm wondering if you are missing the short putts to the right, you might not be releasing the putter head in time. This is normally caused either by a weak grip or the ball too far back in the stance. Try positioning the ball an inch forward of centre.
Or........the greens are still a bit rough after the winter
 
How about spending an hour with a specialist putter fitter.

My lesson included how and if my read was always out. My lessons also included some (but only brief) advice on my stroke. Best of all, the fitting didn't cost me a new putter, just £7.50 to cut and re-grip my existing....

Obviously, this isn't a quick fix for tomorrow's game, but I rate the whole experience.

My putting???

Winning round (division) stableford 35 putts.
Got C/F
Since then, 34, 32 and last game 31!!!

I'm not counting the game with Alchemy and Tony where I had 12 putts on the front 9!!!! (that was my new Vokey!!!!)
 
commiserations, birdieman.
Okay, I'm not in your league, but I find my putting is the most vulnerable part of my game. Can go well, but doesn't take much to put me off - mainly a mental thing. Need to practice, I guess, to block out the other stuff.
Will watch out for any advice I haven't already heard.

AliB
 
I had a putting lesson today strangely enough and very interesting it was too. It seemed my left had was too strong on the putter and it was breaking down and I was releasing (turning the putter head over) through impact.

My coach has changed my grip so my left hand is more on the side of the grip with the club running through the lifeline of my left hand making sure the pad at the bottom of my thumb isn't too much on the grip. He's got me standing much taller to the ball (nearer) but with my eyes still over. It seemed my stance was open and my shoulders closed. He's got me opening my shoulders so the now sit squarer (looks way open but he put a club across them to prove the point). My right elbow now tucks in neatly against my body and everything moves much better.

I went on the putting green this afternoon and my putting was much better. I was missing a few 4-6 footers but my speed and distance control on linger ones was much better.
 
My advice is simple and has worked for many many people!

Concentrate on 2 angles the one in your left elbow and the one in your left wrist! it is a myth that the putting stroke is a pendulum the 2 arms working together would have a fulcrum way behind yor neck!

The perfect putting stroke is hinged from the left shoulder which means the left arm should remain a constant throughout and that the right should take on the function of a piston pulling and pushing!

Keep the angle in your left wrist and left elbow constant DO NOT allow them to alter through the stroke!

Keep the angle in the right wrist fixed but allow the right elbow to change! this will give you a stroke that doesn't even need a putter! you can put with anything in the bag as I have proved on numerous occasions to numerous beer token awards :cool:

JollysH1
 
You might be releasing the putter head too early through your stroke. That is the only thing I could think of.
Click to expand...

You, or Bob?

EDIT: Infact on re-reading, if he was releasing the putter head too early, he would be missing on the left side surely?


Not offering any advice cause that would be silly of me, but...

My last putter lesson I was missing everything right. 2 things wrong.
1. The plumb line from ball to eye was out, ball was to far away from my feet.
2. I wasn't squaring the face on impact, I was keeping it a fraction open... a push.

Good luck sorting, its a bloomin nightmare.
 
A little better today, 31 putts but I had a wee chip in on 10th so putting stats weak. 8 GIR so too many putts after decent chips, missed three putts under 4' which drove me mental. Tee to green was pretty good again.
Anyway got it round in 74 (+4) with 3 birdies on the back 9 so putting improved through the round. +4 after 5 holes but kept it at +4 thereafter.
Scored net 68 so as long as CSS doesn't come down I'll be back to 5.3. Fingers crossed.
Just feel I could be scoring much better with some better putting although in my defence the greens are still pretty rough up here until the soil warms up and grass gets moving better.
 
My advice is simple and has worked for many many people!

Concentrate on 2 angles the one in your left elbow and the one in your left wrist! it is a myth that the putting stroke is a pendulum the 2 arms working together would have a fulcrum way behind yor neck!

The perfect putting stroke is hinged from the left shoulder which means the left arm should remain a constant throughout and that the right should take on the function of a piston pulling and pushing!

Keep the angle in your left wrist and left elbow constant DO NOT allow them to alter through the stroke!

Keep the angle in the right wrist fixed but allow the right elbow to change! this will give you a stroke that doesn't even need a putter! you can put with anything in the bag as I have proved on numerous occasions to numerous beer token awards :cool:
Click to expand...

You've got to love this post.
 
birdie....31 putts today, pretty good!

I know the putter you own (20-20A) and it's a nice stick.

I still reckon you could do a lot worse than having it retro-C/F......

My TM Monza is a big mallet thing and I'd been struggling. I was rock-solid today, both distance (lag-ups) and testing par saves up to 5-7 foot. Couldn't have done this as comfortably with it set up the old way.....
 
Maybe read Fergus Bisset's blog "Managing Expectations" on the main site.........

You're still playing and scoring well don't forget.
 
It would appear that bobmac is showing an enormous amount of reserve in not mentioning his new putting training invention. If ever there was an opportunity for him to try to promote his product this would be a perfect time.
So I will leave it up to bobmac as to whether he decides you should visit the following website

http://www.bobmcarthur.co.uk/#/puttingandchipping/4531132974

to at least explain the principles of his new device and whether it may be the solution to your problem. If he decides not to publish the afore-mentioned website, then he will remain innocent of any charges of self promotion. However, we the consumer will be none the wiser and will never know if this could have been the answer to our problems!
 
Handycap,
I wrote a thread for all to view about the V-Easy so hopefully Birdieman will have seen it.
I dont want to bore people with talks of the V-Easy, especially when it wont be for general sale for another 6-8 weeks.
I just thought in this instance, some general putting tips might help Birdieman. If however he would like to buy a V-Easy when it is released, I'll only be too glad to sell him one, if the postage will cover all the way up to Aberdeenshire :D ;) ;)
 
I did look at the v-easy, looks like a useful swing aid. I'm not convinced I need one though (sorry Bob). Thanks for the tips anyroad. My putting action isn't wristy at all, I think I have a decent enough stroke, just my alignment and perhaps right hand grip pressure need attention (maybe my glasses too!)
Thought Jollysheld's post was about right -that's what I try and do - maintain a steady left elbow and wrist right through the stroke.

Anyway got back to 5 yesterday so a little progress in the right direction. ;)
 
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