If only I could putt . . .

[PuttPuttSteve]

I'm currently playing off 14.4 at Royal Winchester and really want to get my handicap down to 12, but my putting is holding me back.

I've been working on it over the last couple of weeks and am getting better at reading greens and judging distance on long putts, but it's the short putts that are messing-up my card. It's not uncommon for me to three putt from 8 to 10 feet.

The problem is two-fold. On short putts my practise swings are fine and follow a gentle arc but on my 'actual' swing I twist the club slightly and miss a lot of holes on the left and, because I've probably hit the ball a bit too hard, I leave another testing putt.

Is there a simple tip or technique for keeping the putter square at impact?

 

[bobmac]

Do you move your hips when you putt?

 

[garyinderry]

Weaken your left hand.

I was pulling putts with one putter and not another. I noticed that one grip naturally made my left hand sit weaker due to its shape.

That's weaker position not how hard you are gripping it just in case

Give it a try. Simple fix.

 

[PuttPuttSteve]

Do you move your hips when you putt?

Not sure about the hips. I'll get my wife to watch me putt and report back.

 

[pokerjoke]

I'm currently playing off 14.4 at Royal Winchester and really want to get my handicap down to 12, but my putting is holding me back.

I've been working on it over the last couple of weeks and am getting better at reading greens and judging distance on long putts, but it's the short putts that are messing-up my card. It's not uncommon for me to three putt from 8 to 10 feet.

The problem is two-fold. On short putts my practise swings are fine and follow a gentle arc but on my 'actual' swing I twist the club slightly and miss a lot of holes on the left and, because I've probably hit the ball a bit too hard, I leave another testing putt.

Is there a simple tip or technique for keeping the putter square at impact?

If your working on it like you say it wont take long to work it out yourself.
Just trial and error,really concentrate on ball position.
Mark your ball around its axis and use the lining up line on your putter.
It wont take long

 

[PuttPuttSteve]

Weaken your left hand.

I was pulling putts with one putter and not another. I noticed that one grip naturally made my left hand sit weaker due to its shape.

That's weaker position not how hard you are gripping it just in case

Give it a try. Simple fix.

Am I right in thinking I should move my left hand anti-clockwise a touch?

 

[PuttPuttSteve]

If your working on it like you say it wont take long to work it out yourself.
Just trial and error,really concentrate on ball position.
Mark your ball around its axis and use the lining up line on your putter.
It wont take long

I've started putting a cross on the ball so the putter face is parallel to one arm of the cross and the other points towards the hole. The putter is definitely lined up correctly before I make the stroke, but something is happening during the stroke. As you say, practise will probably make perfect . . . or at least better.

 

[Slab]

Have you tried not having a practice putt (or if you must then do it when your behind the ball looking along your line)

 

[Hobbit]

Hard work, putting in lots of hours doing the right things. There is no short cut to being a good putter, but there's no need to make it a lengthy one either. It is, genuinely, about practicing the right things.

 

[Slicer30]

If your wife is not around to watch you putt - you could try the Ping Putter App ( needs some form of holding device)

But sounds like it might help you see what the face is doing at impact

 

[PuttPuttSteve]

Have you tried not having a practice putt (or if you must then do it when your behind the ball looking along your line)

I'll give this a try.

I think you guys may have resolved the problem. My hips rock backwards and forwards as I swing the putter back and through, so I'll widen my stance and lock my legs/hips. Secondly, weakening the left hand has definitely helped . . I can feed the putter through the stroke with the right hand, which feels better.

It's raining heavily at the moment, but tomorrow I'll get out on the practice green and try the new technique. Thanks for the tips.

 

[louise_a]

If you are anything like me, you might be watching the ball rather than keeping your head still on short putts.

 

[Slab]

This probably only works for me but I also find when I get any tendency to miss left then I've found that if I tilt the club so that it lifts the toe of the putter slightly off the ground at address (by titling the shaft slightly) it'll start straighter, too much tilt and it'll miss right

Maybe not a habit you want to get into but suggesting it for illustration

 

[PuttPuttSteve]

View attachment 15300


If your wife is not around to watch you putt - you could try the Ping Putter App ( needs some form of holding device)

But sounds like it might help you see what the face is doing at impact

From Ping's website it looks like this app is only available for iPhones and iPads. (I have an android.) Good suggestion, though.

 

[garyinderry]

Am I right in thinking I should move my left hand anti-clockwise a touch?

Yeah that's it. Experiment with it. You should notice a difference.

 

[bobmac]

I think you guys may have resolved the problem. My hips rock backwards and forwards as I swing the putter back and through,

Try this drill

Find a chair or a wall at home/workplace and stand with your backside resting against it with even pressure on both sides.
Then make your stroke keeping the pressure even throughout the stroke. This will tell you if you are turning your hips or not.


[video=youtube;vsTLHVK9DqY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsTLHVK9DqY&list=PL7Uf2W3sfvqYBJ3OUldKvQT7ZWYEmPOyW&index=15[/video]

Failing that, if you are twisting your hands and or wrists, you could do worse than getting a V-Easy. That will definitely give you the feeling of keeping the hands and wrists solid.

 

[ruff-driver]

What size is your putter grip?

If standard you may want to try a jumbo superstroke type, helped me no end :thup:

 

[Curls]

What size is your putter grip?

If standard you may want to try a jumbo superstroke type, helped me no end :thup:

Bit personal

 

[lex!]

Agree with @bobmac on keeping your hips and lower half solid. I have been working on this recently.

"Is there a simple tip or technique for keeping the putter square at impact?"


1. Put 2 balls on the deck, your putter width apart, then place your ball between these and putt it to a mark 3ft away without moving the other balls

2. A variation on the above is to practice 3ft putts to a tee peg, between 2 canes, set the width of your putter

 

[Canary_Yellow]

I've found Dave Stockton's book to be very helpful.

I used to get tied up in knots over technique, thining everytime I missed I'd made a bad stroke and constantly thinking about technique over the ball.

There's a time and a place for thinking about and practicing technique. It's not on the course. In my opinion, when practicing technique you shouldn't even be aiming at a target when rolling the ball. Just getting a sense for feel etc.

Once you start aiming at a hole, think of nothing other than that target.

The tips above are undoubtedly very good ways to improve your technique, but when it comes to sinking putts, forget all about it and just concentrate on the target!