MY curiosity of those that "CANT" putt

[Rooter]

I practice around 30 minutes each night on the hall carpet, using a coaster as a target, and trying just to get the ball up to and slightly beyond the target using a mixture of both hands/left only/right only grip and working on a smooth back-and-through stroke.

Dont recall who suggested it, but i use 2 x 5p coins. one 2 foot behind the first. aim of the game is to roll the ball over the first, but not touch the second. much smaller target will help, aim small and accurate, miss small... if that makes sense!

PS. i am a weekend chomper, so feel free to disregard my tip, its second hand anyway!

 

[Val]

36 + putts per round= bad putter

needs to be 30 and under to be classed a good putter, also no 3 putts would be a very good putter....

I am a bad putter and need more practice- real practice not the putting green practice as that really isn't difficult no matter what level you are.

DV, all joking aside mate you have a mental block on your putting more than anything, as far as kit goes you always focus and mention on here putters and have tried different types. Im unsure if you've had a putting lesson or not but something aint right with you and I reckon a lot is in the head, you dont get to Cat 1 being a bad putter.

 

[Val]

If you cant hole a straight, flat putt from 6ft on a good green, you're a bad putter

How often do you need to hole it?

 

[Rooter]

DV, all joking aside mate you have a mental block on your putting more than anything, as far as kit goes you always focus and mention on here putters and have tried different types. Im unsure if you've had a putting lesson or not but something aint right with you and I reckon a lot is in the head, you dont get to Cat 1 being a bad putter.

I have seen him putt and drain some decent putts! must be in his head..

 

[bobmac]

How often do you need to hole it?

To be a good putter, I'd say 4 out of 5.

Putting stats are only marginally better than useless IMHO.
You could one putt every green one day and two putt every green the next

As I'm sure everyone knows, your number of putts will depend on how many greens you hit.
If you hit every green, your not going to one putt very often.
If you miss every green and you can chip well, you will one putt more often.

But your total will also depend on the type of putts you leave yourself.
Some days, all your putts will be uphill and straight, other days, they all seem to be downhill L-R.
Also some greens can be very difficult to read (subtle slopes, grain etc)

If you can hole a 6 foot flat putt, at least you know your technique is sound and you're not blaming any misses on slopes, grain, spike marks etc

 

[bladeplayer]

To be a good putter, I'd say 4 out of 5.

Putting stats are only marginally better than useless IMHO.
You could one putt every green one day and two putt every green the next

As I'm sure everyone knows, your number of putts will depend on how many greens you hit.
If you hit every green, your not going to one putt very often.
If you miss every green and you can chip well, you will one putt more often.

But your total will also depend on the type of putts you leave yourself.
Some days, all your putts will be uphill and straight, other days, they all seem to be downhill L-R.
Also some greens can be very difficult to read (subtle slopes, grain etc)

If you can hole a 6 foot flat putt, at least you know your technique is sound and you're not blaming any misses on slopes, grain, spike marks etc

must admit to liking everything bout that ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[Imurg]

36 putts may or may not make you a good putter.
If you hit every green but never get closer than 30 feet from the hole - to have 36 putts tells me your putting pretty darn well!

18 putts can mean you've missed every green but chipped up to 6 inches every time.........

 

[GeneralStore]

Great thread and one I have just read with interest because I am focusing on this area for improvement.

Just looked at my stats over the last 7 rounds and all sensitive viewers look away now...I average 38.6 putts per round while 3 putting 3.6 times per round. If you are cringing, the worst part is that I am only averaging 6 GIRs.
The reason I mention those god-forsaken stats is because I am answering what makes a bad putter...which I clearly am.

So I think in terms of how can you tell a bad putter, the stats have to tell most of the story, but they have to be looked at alongside other stats e.g. GIRs. If I could chip it close enough, then with the number of greens I miss, I should be able to average between 30 to 32 putts. I would still technically be a bad putter though. Same for 3 putts, anything more than 1 or 2 a round shows bad pace control, etc... Green reading has a part to play, but I cant think of how to quantify that through stats.
I would work out a formula to calculate a 'putter handicap' that takes GIRs, number of putts and number of 3 putts into account, but I am algebraically challenged. Might give it a go regardless.

Apologies for the long post

 

[CheltenhamHacker]

I would work out a formula to calculate a 'putter handicap' that takes GIRs, number of putts and number of 3 putts into account, but I am algebraically challenged. Might give it a go regardless.

Number of putts, minus no of greens NOT in regulation, plus number of three putts?

Can you tell I'm bored at work?

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

My putting became poor. So I developed a routine that I use for EVERY putt longer than a 12" or less tap-in. Part of the prep routine is REALLy reading the green and seeing the line. Now that I have my routine sorted I put most thought into reading the line and deciding on it - and sticking to it once I get into the rest of my routine. My routine takes care of strength. And I take my time.

 

[macca64]

I'm a steamy putter, 1 week good 3 weeks bad, find it hard to practice as it does my back in

 

[louise_a]

I am not bad putting at my own course where I am used to the greens, but I struggle reading greens and judging pace at away courses, I must have 3 putted 6 times both on Saturday at Northampton and today at Oldham.