Hmmm

Putting_Green_Pro

Q-School Graduate
Joined
May 3, 2009
Messages
989
www.heyrosegolfclub.com
Excuse the title but I didn't know what to call it.

At the moment my game is coming together nicely. Have shot several high 70s, low 80s and a few mid 80s. Won the saturday medal and won a D matchplay single handedly.

However,,, my putting is dreadful! I can't get a putting lesson for at least another 10 days (pro is fully booked for weekend then has a weeks holiday) and I cannot tell what I am doing wrong.
Pace isn't bad but the directions the ball is going, it may as well be backwards. I think my club face is turning through impact. Tried a mallet type putter but didn't like it.

Can anyone suggest any tips, techniques or practice ideas that can help me?

Ta
 
Practice, practice, practice. Concentrate on short putts (inside 8-10 feet and in with extra effort on 3 to 4 footers), do all the sequence drills to build up pressure at 3/4/5/6 feet etc. For the other half of your practice time concentrate on dead weight from outside 20 feet. Then when you've done that practice all of it some more.
 
Try putting with your eyes closed (on the practice green) it should help you find some rhythm and feel.

Although I'm also useless at putting so will be interesting to hear what comments you get.
 
Use the line on the ball and set it up pointing on your intended line. Set your putter up square to that line and trust in you stroke.

If nothing else this will tell you what flaw you have in your stroke- Push pull etc. If the go in then it's your eye's not setting the putter up square to what you think is the line. the cure to that is just keep lining the ball up first

Shark
 
My putting is all over the place as well. I'm going to go down to the course some day and spend a few hours putting. It will either kill me or cure me. Thats all it will take, a few hours and I will sort myself out. But I'm a lazy git. So that day might be a long way off..............
 
Without seeing you putt, it's difficult to advise but.....
Is your lower body moving?
Ask a friend to stand behind you and hold your hips firmly and see if that feels different.
 
Pete
If you're shooting high 70's/low 80's your putting can't be that bad - it just can't. Granted it could improve but..

Don't forget, most of us miss most 10 footers most of the time!
 
My putting has been awful...i have stumbled across a method recently that works for me.
It goes against usual conventions but - its what works for the individual.....I make a concious effort to keep the back of my left hand pointing to the target all through the stroke, i also feel as though i am gripping the putter with just my left hand and the right hand is a balance/guide. I also grip the club slightly firmer than normal...as i said its working for me for the past few weeks....no harm in trying
 
Pete
If you're shooting high 70's/low 80's your putting can't be that bad - it just can't. Granted it could improve but..

Don't forget, most of us miss most 10 footers most of the time!

it is that bad! yesterday shot 86 on par 73 and had 6! yes 6! 3 putts. Did i mention the 4 putt i had? if all of them were 2 putts, i would have shot 78 and 2 putts per green isn't out of the question.
 
it is that bad! yesterday shot 86 on par 73 and had 6! yes 6! 3 putts. Did i mention the 4 putt i had? if all of them were 2 putts, i would have shot 78 and 2 putts per green isn't out of the question.

Might I suggest your trying too hard. When you putt, what are you thinking about? Are you thinking about the pace, not hitting it too hard, not 3 putting? If you're thinking any of those things my experience is you will putt badly.

Try putting without thinking about it. Take a look at the putt, assess the break and slope and pick a line. When you address the ball don't think about anything, especially not how hard you must hit it. Just take a couple of looks at the hole, looking back at the ball in between. I take three looks at the hole, when my head returns to the ball the 3rd time I hit it. I don't try to hit it a certain distance, I don't try to force it into the hole, I just trust that my brain has digested all the information required to make the putt. They don't always go in, but I very rarely 3 putt any more.

I'm porbably gonna get pelters on here for this but it works for me. I used to be exactly the same as you, play well and have 38/39 putts a round, I was trying so hard to make the putt I was preventing myself from making it. If you can putt with a clear head, you will have less putts, I almost guarantee it :)
 
Hawkeye, I understand what you mean about "feel putting" but as the OP said, pace isnt bad, it's direction thats causing the problems.
Pete, are you missing most of your putts left?
 
Thanks for all the reponses! Today i got a new putter grip with the money on my card. It is huge and sits nicely in my hands ;) i think it must have been the twisting face.
I had 26 putts today. Including 2 birdies and an eagle :D
 
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