Home Greens Psychology

[Driverman]

Does anybody out there have the same problem as me in that I cannot get on with the greens at my home club? Anywhere else I play, I have lots of confidence in holing putts and lagging long putts well but on my own course, any length of putt I am capable of missing. Even if I hit a nice approach to 3 feet or something, I'm still thinking I'm going to miss. I cost me and my mate the matchplay semi-final last year by missing a 2 footer on the 17th. To give you an idea, the greens on the course are very bland with virtually no break apart from about 4 greens. They are in average to good condition throughout the year without ever being excellent so I should be able to putt well on them shouldnt I? Am I alone on this? Thanks.

 

[theeaglehunter]

strange, I don't know an answer. I'm the opposite and putt much better on my own greens as I'm more used to them. Could be becasue you put to much pressure on yourself round your own track and relax more when playing away.

 

[MVP]

I putt crap on home greens but i think the greens are crap tho im gettingused to them and improving, i played friday at a different course and putted the front 9 pretty well, i prefered the grass on them!!

 

[Marko77]

I think theres summat to what eaglehunter is saying. Around your home treck there's always that bit more expectation to perform better. Away from home, you have an excuse so you don't care as much, as a result more tend to go in?

Putting....got to love it

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I think with home greens there is a tendency to try and read too much into putts. You have a general idea of the contours and breaks by playing regularly, but then in competitions you start looking for breaks that aren't there.

If you are like me you putt quite well on home greens when its just a friendly Saturday morning game with your mates. Knowing you are likely to be conceded anything within a foot or so its much easier to relax, put a good stroke on the putt and lag it stone dead.