Lost all confidence in putting

[WillC]

As the title suggests, I can't putt anymore basically.

Have recently changed putters, but I am not blaming that at all. It is a very nice putter and I should be doing better. Only thing with it is there isn't an alignment line, but I don't think it is a huge problem for me.

Essentially, I am leaving my first putt so short, which is resulting in 3 putting.

I am missing short putts so often now, which is so frustrating and is getting me down. It literally feels like I am throwing away shots. This is the worst part, when both my PP are holing from a similar distance, and then I am inside them, and I miss.

So, should I get a half hour putting lesson, or get myself on the putting green and put some time in myself?

I am debating the lesson due to missing the short putts, think my alignment is incorrect.

 

[Slab]

Practice I'd think, unless you believe you have a technique issue, but it (the putting stroke) has such a wide array of methods it may not suit to take the pro's preference

Also how do you feel on the ones you leave well short, do you think you've hit it the right distance and you've judged wrongly or did you think it was tentative stroke and that's why it was short (then if a lesson is required it may be on reading greens rather than the stroke)

 

[WillC]

Practice I'd think, unless you believe you have a technique issue, but it (the putting stroke) has such a wide array of methods it may not suit to take the pro's preference

Also how do you feel on the ones you leave well short, do you think you've hit it the right distance and you've judged wrongly or did you think it was tentative stroke and that's why it was short (then if a lesson is required it may be on reading greens rather than the stroke)

Thank you Slab. I feel like It should be enough, but it obviously isn't if I am leaving it short. It's like I am making it hard for myself. Most people would 2 putt, and I am 3 putting.

 

[virtuocity]

So, should I get a half hour putting lesson, or get myself on the putting green and put some time in myself?

I'm putting well at the moment, and have been for 6 months. The key for me is being able to read greens well. This gives me the confidence to get the ball to the hole. If I wasn't confident in the line, I'd be thinking, either consciously or not, "I'm going to miss here, better not hit it too hard or too soft". Those thoughts will kill your short game.

As for making a decision on lessons, I think it depends. I've never had a putting lesson and, at the moment, I don't plan to. If you were to look at my putting, I probably stand "too tall", "eyes far too far behind the ball" and use a short stabby stroke. All of these things, a pro would most likely seek to change. I'd buy into these changes as well, if I wasn't holing putts and had lost confidence.

But with these changes, the putting game becomes awfully technical. Personally, I would become very rigid and start blaming missed putts on not carrying out the pro's orders to the letter. This would lead to more tension, frustration and doubt in my putting ability and my pro's instruction. A destructive cycle.

You might operate differently from me though. After a series of putting lessons, you might stand over the ball with your perfect setup and shoulder-driven stroke and feel confident that you'll hole everything.

Your call!

 

[garyinderry]

Before you go mental and change everything.


Just start getting your first putt past the hole.

Tip to do this is just before you make your stroke take one last look and look at say 3/4 feet past the hole. This imprints a longer distance into your head. works really well for getting people who are always short to get it up to and past the hole.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

My son had a putting lesson last year. One of the exercises the pro had him do was to take 8 balls, take 4/5 steps from the hole and then circle the hole, placing a ball equally around the hole. Practice putting them in. When you are getting 6 out of 8 in then repeat adding an extra step. Keep doing this up to around 8 paces. It helps alignment and certainly pace. Having the ball around the hole rather than taking all of the putts from one place keeps it fresh. It is a very effective exercise and I think would be good for your issue.

 

[jamielaing]

I've had a putting lesson recently. Never thought I would do such a thing as putting is so individual. After walking off at the 14th in a medal having hit about 11 greens in regulation but had 38 putts through 14 I felt it was time.

My problem was that I had changed so much I didn't know what I was doing.

The pro watched me putt, said I line up to the right of target and to make sure I line up properly. Slight change to my putting swing path (I came across the ball) and that was me.

Most importantly he told me I have I good putting stroke and that with this slight change it would be pretty damn good. I walked away with the one thing I wanted. Confidence. A professional has said that I do it correctly and that I am in fact good. Now when I miss I know it was a misread, not my stroke. I don't start changing this to try to find improvements, I just accept it.

The one thing I need to work on now is distance control on my long putts (+30 foot).

Drills such as Lord Tyrion's suggestion help, also look up the 'gates' putting drill to help with lag putts. I've got to say though, the lesson was the best £16 I've spent in golf and I would recommend it to anyone struggling with their putts!

 

[Beezerk]

My putting has gone south recently as well, it's not helping that I keep swapping berween a Ping blade and Odyssey #7.
Leaving loads short recently and missing short ones which I was nailing last year and early this.
I'll keep the tip about aiming long in mind if I get out tonight.

 

[bobmac]

Do you vary the length of your backswing?

 

[stokie_93]

My putting has gone south recently as well, it's not helping that I keep swapping berween a Ping blade and Odyssey #7.
Leaving loads short recently and missing short ones which I was nailing last year and early this.
I'll keep the tip about aiming long in mind if I get out tonight.

I've got the Odyssey #7, vowed I would never take it out of my bag at one point, now I want to snap it in half most rounds but I know it's me and not the club.
Played Saturday and my PP told me to relax my hands as it looked like I was trying to throttle the putter.
Low and behold I tried it and my stroke felt so much smoother and relaxed and the ball was rolling beautifully.

Going down tonight and hopefully get 18 in which will give me a better idea of how i'm going on!

 

[One Planer]

How often do you practice your putting?

 

[Beezerk]

I've got the Odyssey #7, vowed I would never take it out of my bag at one point, now I want to snap it in half most rounds but I know it's me and not the club.

Amen to that, bought the #7 on a whim 3 or 4 months ago, couldn't miss with it for the first few weeks then it went cold pretty fast.
Went back to the Ping and putted much better then that one went cold 😂

 

[tsped83]

I'm putting well at the moment, and have been for 6 months. The key for me is being able to read greens well. This gives me the confidence to get the ball to the hole. If I wasn't confident in the line, I'd be thinking, either consciously or not, "I'm going to miss here, better not hit it too hard or too soft". Those thoughts will kill your short game.

As for making a decision on lessons, I think it depends. I've never had a putting lesson and, at the moment, I don't plan to. If you were to look at my putting, I probably stand "too tall", "eyes far too far behind the ball" and use a short stabby stroke. All of these things, a pro would most likely seek to change. I'd buy into these changes as well, if I wasn't holing putts and had lost confidence.

But with these changes, the putting game becomes awfully technical. Personally, I would become very rigid and start blaming missed putts on not carrying out the pro's orders to the letter. This would lead to more tension, frustration and doubt in my putting ability and my pro's instruction. A destructive cycle.

You might operate differently from me though. After a series of putting lessons, you might stand over the ball with your perfect setup and shoulder-driven stroke and feel confident that you'll hole everything.

Your call!

Great post.

 

[WillC]

Thanks for all your comments guys, much appreciated.

Garyderry - Will put that into practice, simple yet effective tip thanks.

Lord - Thanks, going to use that! Might actually make me practice more, if I have a fun drill to do on my own.

Jamie, think I will have half an hour lesson, and go on the practice green more too. I'm how you were, in that i have zero confidence, literally saying out loud that I am going to miss a putt.....and then missing it! It's really that bad. Need to stick at it though, it used to be strong part of my game!

Bobmac, I guess I do if the putt is further away, take it back to how far I think is enough, there may be some deceleration in there, although I don't think there is.

One Planner - Like, never! Just got back into golf around 6 weeks ago, and have been out on the course whenever I am at the club, so on the course is my 'practice'. I hit about 8 putts on the putting green before I go off that's about it. Obviously where I am going wrong I know.

Wanted to reply to each because I am going to take them all on board, because as you know It's a huge part of the game, and is pretty disheartening at times! I think I am going to practice a few times this week, for just 45 mins maybe 3 times this week each session after work, then decide by the weekend if I am going to have a half hour lesson with the pro to check my stroke and alignment etc.

 

[WillC]

I'm putting well at the moment, and have been for 6 months. The key for me is being able to read greens well. This gives me the confidence to get the ball to the hole. If I wasn't confident in the line, I'd be thinking, either consciously or not, "I'm going to miss here, better not hit it too hard or too soft". Those thoughts will kill your short game.

As for making a decision on lessons, I think it depends. I've never had a putting lesson and, at the moment, I don't plan to. If you were to look at my putting, I probably stand "too tall", "eyes far too far behind the ball" and use a short stabby stroke. All of these things, a pro would most likely seek to change. I'd buy into these changes as well, if I wasn't holing putts and had lost confidence.

But with these changes, the putting game becomes awfully technical. Personally, I would become very rigid and start blaming missed putts on not carrying out the pro's orders to the letter. This would lead to more tension, frustration and doubt in my putting ability and my pro's instruction. A destructive cycle.

You might operate differently from me though. After a series of putting lessons, you might stand over the ball with your perfect setup and shoulder-driven stroke and feel confident that you'll hole everything.

Your call!

Sorry, forgot to reply to this!

I think you're right, and is why I asked the question, as putting is such a personal thing, what the pro tells me to do, might not actually make me hole more putts! That's why I was debating it really.

I mean, I don't think my stroke is terrible by any means, think my issue is different to that. I think I will have a few practice sessions on my own, then decide after that if I am still not happy.

 

[stokie_93]

Amen to that, bought the #7 on a whim 3 or 4 months ago, couldn't miss with it for the first few weeks then it went cold pretty fast.
Went back to the Ping and putted much better then that one went cold 

I've got one of the original models, the white hot XG, been in my bag for a good 6/7 years now!

I normally hole 9/10 putts under 8 foot, always been a very strong point of my game. But at the moment I seem to be pulling my putts - think this is down to my aforementioned strong grip and I cut across the ball just leading to a pulled putt.

Here's hoping that I can putt tonight!

 

[AmandaJR]

Also, when you're practicing put a club/stick about 1.5 feet past the hole. If you don't hole them then your intent is to get past the hole but not hit the club/stick behind it.

Another good pace drill is to set up a practce station...so tee peg/coin where you'll putt from, another 6' away and another 6' past that. Hit the first putt with the aim to get it past the first 6' marker, but only just. Hit the next to get just past the first ball and so on. The aim is to get as many putts within the 6' and 12' marker until you run out of room but each one has to be further than the one before. Keep a note of how many is your best and aim to get better. 6-8 would be a good first session aim. Hope that makes sense?!

 

[TheDiablo]

I've got one of the original models, the white hot XG, been in my bag for a good 6/7 years now!

I normally hole 9/10 putts under 8 foot, always been a very strong point of my game. But at the moment I seem to be pulling my putts - think this is down to my aforementioned strong grip and I cut across the ball just leading to a pulled putt.

Here's hoping that I can putt tonight!

That's some going seeing as there's only 80 pros on PGA tour who even get 7/10 from 4-8ft (and none that get 8/10!!!).......

 

[stokie_93]

That's some going seeing as there's only 80 pros on PGA tour who even get 7/10 from 4-8ft (and none that get 8/10!!!).......

I'd be a pro if the rest of my game matched up then :smirk:

 

[WillC]

Also, when you're practicing put a club/stick about 1.5 feet past the hole. If you don't hole them then your intent is to get past the hole but not hit the club/stick behind it.

Another good pace drill is to set up a practce station...so tee peg/coin where you'll putt from, another 6' away and another 6' past that. Hit the first putt with the aim to get it past the first 6' marker, but only just. Hit the next to get just past the first ball and so on. The aim is to get as many putts within the 6' and 12' marker until you run out of room but each one has to be further than the one before. Keep a note of how many is your best and aim to get better. 6-8 would be a good first session aim. Hope that makes sense?!

It makes sense to me! Thanks. Good tip with the club and nice drill. I now have 2 drills to try, so no excuse to not get the practice in starting tonight, especially with this weather! Thanks.