Do tips really make a long-term difference?

[Allanxyz]

So a month or so ago all the talk was about Baker-Finch giving a putting tip to Westwood... Just before he drained them from all angles at the Open... Seems like he's forgotten that tip as he's gone round in 80 at the BMW with strokes gained putting of -4.8 (it was at around -5.8 before he popped a long on in at the last to save par)...

Early days for woods but he's currently at -1.8 strokes gained putting despite the Stricker "wonder tip".

Aren't all these tips just short team things which switch you concentration and free up/focus the mind a little... Or has anyone ever had tip that worked permanently?

 

[Mr A]

Can't say I've ever had a tip that has stuck. I think as you say it's just a short term thing to help overcome a certain problem. Solid practice and/or lessons are, in my experience, the only real remedy to any issues.

 

[JustOne]

So a month or so ago all the talk was about Baker-Finch giving a putting tip to Westwood... Just before he drained them from all angles at the Open... Seems like he's forgotten that tip as he's gone round in 80 at the BMW with strokes gained putting of -4.8 (it was at around -5.8 before he popped a long on in at the last to save par)...

Early days for woods but he's currently at -1.8 strokes gained putting despite the Stricker "wonder tip".

Aren't all these tips just short team things which switch you concentration and free up/focus the mind a little... Or has anyone ever had tip that worked permanently?

Is the 'strokes gained putting' just a statistic for the sake of having a statistic?

Surely if you don't knock your approach shots close to the flags you're going to take more putts and 'lose shots to the field'. So is it really Westwood's putting tip that isn't working or his approach shots?.. or the fact that his driving was bad so he couldn't hit his approach shots close enough?

 

[Sid Rixon IV]

I once had a great putting tip from a playing partner when I originally played in the 80's (that's the 1980's by the way).
My second shot on a par 5 stopped about 6 foot from the pin.
As I stood over the ball, putting for an eagle, my head swimming, I tried desperately to compose myself.
After a few seconds of composing myself and being almost ready to putt my partner decided to encourage me.
He said, quietly, "Now just take your time and get it in the hole".
Ive never forgotten that moment.
I wanted to step away and say "What the ...... do you think I'm actually trying to do??"
I didn't because he was my Boss, actually a lovely man and superb man manager.
I gritted my teeth, stroked through the red mist and sunk the putt.
The other couple, also work colleagues, had suppressed their laughter for about 30 seconds and fell about laughing.
If I'd missed I'd certainly also still remember that moment

 

[JustOne]

I gritted my teeth, stroked through the red mist and sunk the putt.

Seems it was a great tip!

 

[the smiling assassin]

Best tip?- simple one really. Pick something a few inches in front of the ball on the ground in line with your target to help square the clubface at address. Hardly ever see anyone else do this but it's an absolute game changer. Alignment is so important and so difficult to get right - this goes a long way to help.

 

[Foxholer]

Is the 'strokes gained putting' just a statistic for the sake of having a statistic?

Surely if you don't knock your approach shots close to the flags you're going to take more putts and 'lose shots to the field'. So is it really Westwood's putting tip that isn't working or his approach shots?.. or the fact that his driving was bad so he couldn't hit his approach shots close enough?

No. The stat is meant to tke those into consideration.

So a sunk 20 footer gets more reward than a 5 footer.

This could help http://www.pgatour.com/stats/academicdata/shotlink.html

 

[JustOne]

No. The stat is meant to tke those into consideration.

So a sunk 20 footer gets more reward than a 5 footer.

This could help http://www.pgatour.com/stats/academicdata/shotlink.html

Cheers Foxy :thup: will check that out.

 

[Sid Rixon IV]

Best tip?- simple one really. Pick something a few inches in front of the ball on the ground in line with your target to help square the clubface at address. Hardly ever see anyone else do this but it's an absolute game changer. Alignment is so important and so difficult to get right - this goes a long way to help.

Actually, quite a few of my playing partners do just that.
You're spot on about alignment being difficult to get right, for me at least.
I've been fighting a slice and find that, if I focus hard I can hit straight but too often off target.
I bought alignment sticks at the DR last week.
A simple aid that really works.

 

[garyinderry]

Actually, quite a few of my playing partners do just that.
You're spot on about alignment being difficult to get right, for me at least.
I've been fighting a slice and find that, if I focus hard I can hit straight but too often off target.
I bought alignment sticks at the DR last week.
A simple aid that really works.

read this last night, I agree, if you can hit consistent distances then you wont be far out.

Moe Norman aligned his feet a bit to the right and hit a slight pull straight down the middle. Lee Trevino lined up to the left and hit a push cut, and Hogan had a square alignment. Two of the three best ball-strikers in history weren't lined up square to their target, so I tend to think that aim is overrated. The thing that isn't overrated is making a repeating golf swing. No matter what your aim is, if your swing repeats you're going to be a great ball-striker. I always say, if you can hit consistent shots, you can always find your aim.


-hank haney

 

[the smiling assassin]

That's why getting your clubface square at address is so important. You can do what you like with your feet providing you have the swing to match, but having a super consistent reference point will only increase accuracy. I line myself up for every shot, be it a drive, iron, chip, putt from off the green, with the above method.

 

[Ian_S]

Is the 'strokes gained putting' just a statistic for the sake of having a statistic?

Surely if you don't knock your approach shots close to the flags you're going to take more putts and 'lose shots to the field'. So is it really Westwood's putting tip that isn't working or his approach shots?.. or the fact that his driving was bad so he couldn't hit his approach shots close enough?

Basically what it says is that if he'd been putting at the field average level, he'd have taken ~5 fewer strokes, given the distances his putts were from. Average putting would have given him a 75. Sned has +3.5 strokes gained, so if he had been taking Lee's putts, the Westwood/Snedeker combo would have scored 72.

 

[CMAC]

if you met Tiger and he gave you the once over- oooeerrr- and left you with a 'tip' I think it would make a difference short medium and long term:thup:

 

[Andy808]

Westwood struggled more with a neck problem yesterday rather more than anything else. I can see him pulling out after round 2 if it doesn't get better quickly.
Tiger quiet often misses a few putts on the first day of a tournament while he gets used to the greens.

As for tips given to me, I think it all depends on how you react and use the tips. If you use it, it works and forget it then it's not going to make any long term difference. If you use it, it works and you work on it to ingrain it into your game then it's there for the long term.

I was given a tip a few weeks back about my setup and it helped no end and I have worked on it on the range to make it part of my setup. Nearly feel natural already.

 

[garyinderry]

best tip I ever got was from a guy at work.

he asked me to take my chipping stance? I duly did so holding an imaginary club. he told me next time I go out to get my hands ahead of the ball and keep them there through the stroke.

I came bounding into his office the following Monday and congratulated him on changing my game.

yes, tips stick.

 

[la_lucha]

Not really a tip but a technique I brought from Crown Green bowls. When putting I look at the hole. I look at the hole on the practice swings and picture the ball running to the hole and dropping. I then address the ball whilst looking at it and when ready to putt I move my eyes along the line to the hole. Watch the hole, stroke the ball and plop.