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Not good enough for my Scotty...?

Tiger I totally can relate to your problem as its similar to mine, I can hole a 20 footer 1 minute then be 2ft short and wide on the next. I intend on going the high MOI route. I know my sroke isnt perfect but also my putter isnt suited to my putting style.

I may even purchase another 2 ball belly putter as that thing was the dogs danglies, I just felt whispers every time I pulled it out of the bag ;)

Keep us updated as to how the lesson/putter search goes

Will do :)
 
Tiger I thought I was sbst or maybe slight arc, the Ping app said I was strong arc, even when I tried to consciously go sbst I was strong arc.................basically what I'm saying is you might be also, try a full toe hang putter Scotty California Hollywood or Ping #4 or #6, I think you'll be shocked as you'll be hitting the sweetspot regularly.

My lag putts were same as yours, short or long due to clunky mis-hits...........had lessons but putting stroke was sound- confidence fell though as I thought it must be me.........its not always the Indian though
 
Tiger I thought I was sbst or maybe slight arc, the Ping app said I was strong arc, even when I tried to consciously go sbst I was strong arc.................basically what I'm saying is you might be also, try a full toe hang putter Scotty California Hollywood or Ping #4 or #6, I think you'll be shocked as you'll be hitting the sweetspot regularly.

My lag putts were same as yours, short or long due to clunky mis-hits...........had lessons but putting stroke was sound- confidence fell though as I thought it must be me.........its not always the Indian though

Thanks for this DV :) How is your hunt for a new putter going by the way? Any joy yet?
 
Tiger, I know how you feel.

I had the same problem as you with my Sonoma California, thought it was the putters fault.

Then I realised I had changed my stance and wasn't over the ball.

If I get over the ball and use Bob's rhythm technique it comes out of the sweet spot every time.

Must admit to swapping for the claw grip on putts less than 6' and that has steadied my takeaway enormously.

Cheers

Steve...
 
Thanks for this DV :) How is your hunt for a new putter going by the way? Any joy yet?

YW, yes I bought another Scotty:rolleyes:, the California Hollywood, full toe hang and the shaft doesnt 'hide' the ball as much, it just suits my eye better.................fingers crossed this one's for keeps
 
Tiger, I know how you feel.

I had the same problem as you with my Sonoma California, thought it was the putters fault.

Then I realised I had changed my stance and wasn't over the ball.

If I get over the ball and use Bob's rhythm technique it comes out of the sweet spot every time.

Must admit to swapping for the claw grip on putts less than 6' and that has steadied my takeaway enormously.

Cheers

Steve...

Thanks Steve :)
 
I am having some serious putting woes, enough to make most grown men cry. Some serious wobblies on the way back. I am good from 3 feet, but when I have a lag putt, I have been known to offer my first born in exchange for a 2 putt.

I had a playing lesson with my pro a couple of weeks ago with an aim to look at my technique, course management and review my putting. I have only ever had 1 putting lesson and so it could be anything. Anyway, to the point of the matter, he said it wasnt technique, it wasnt the putter, it was me being too mechanical with the stroke. To worried about the perfect stroke, path...etc...he changed my pre-putt routine and he said forget about everything and just try and 'feel' the length a bit better.

It has made a difference and as soon as I start getting mechanical or concentrating on the perfect technique/take away, it starts to wobble again. As Bruce Lee said ...feeeeeeeeeeeeeel. Anyway, not saying that this will sort you out, but it seems a similar issue and letting you know what diagnosis I received.
 
Tiger please don't take this the wrong way but if you read Putting Out Of Your Mind and you're still thinking about the sweet spot and wobbly take away, or that you're not good enough for your putter, you didn't fully appreciate what the good Doctor Bob was trying to tell you. Yes you need a basic stroke and for this you could and should use a V-easy and our Bobs drills, but when you get out there on the course these things should be as far from your mind as you can get them. I had an awful time with my putting start of the year 40+ every round, as many as 45. I won the medal in April with 32 putts. Last Friday I played a foursomes game and had 6 of those 3-5 footers I coudnt make if my life depended on it on the front 9 for wins or halves, and I made them all. On the 12th a holed a 12 footer for a half after we had conceded their tap in. This would have sounded like someone else to me, and you may ask whats changed since the time I couldnt putt from 2 feet? I haven't had a lesson, not spent much if any time on the practice green (10 minutes at home with a V-easy every now and then), all I did was read and digest Bob Rotellas advice. I said before "if my life depended on it", and thats how it felt. It doesn't any more, and the putts are dropping. You can hole a putt with a garden rake if your heads in the right place, you just have to see the roll, stand up, look at the target, lightly grip the putter and roll it in. If the ball goes in the hole, great. If not. Big deal. Do it again. If you've lost confidence in the Scotty and get a new stick and continue to over-analyse what youre doing you'll eventually lose faith in that too. I was on the brink of buying a new putter - lure of the shiney, I wanted Gareths Scotty but now I think na, the one I have is just fine, its only rolling a ball across some grass and into a hole. Thats all it is. And if youre not thinking that, youre thinking the wrong thing. Thats Rotellas message, and I can't thank Slicer30 enough for putting me onto it. The book only takes an hour or 2 to get through, its worth another read and a good thinking about ;)

You'll be fine chap, just a low point, you'll bounce back nothing surer.
 
Hey Curls definitely won't take your post the wrong way :) I guess the repeated questions have made me sound more technical than I actually am. I love the good Doctor's book(read it about three times) and normally have a look at the line from behind and usually make my mind up on the break. I'll have one or two practice strokes to get a feel for how long the stroke should be, get over the ball, look at the target, look at the ball, letitgo :)

What I have noticed though is that far too frequently I make a poor connection. There is a distinct audible difference between a good strike and a bad strike. When I make a poor connection on really long putts I'm leaving myself anywhere between six feet and ten feet for a two putt.

I don't dwell on the first putt and sometimes I sink the second but sometimes I don't. It's all well and good putting naturally but if you know you keep making off centre putts there's no point ignoring it. So that leaves two choices: get better at putting so I don't miss the middle of the putter or get a putter that is more forgiving if I do.

I have to say just putting the elastic bands on as suggested by Region3 has been a real eye opener :)

Thanks for your post
 
A good thing to do if you're just trying to 'feel' the distance (which I try to do) is to look at the putt from the side.
No need to study it or waste time, I do it either walking to the green or when others are putting.

Just see the distance, and note any uphill/downhill parts of it. All you're doing is showing your brain, no need to do anything with the info.
 
Tiger please don't take this the wrong way but if you read Putting Out Of Your Mind and you're still thinking about the sweet spot and wobbly take away, or that you're not good enough for your putter, you didn't fully appreciate what the good Doctor Bob was trying to tell you. Yes you need a basic stroke and for this you could and should use a V-easy and our Bobs drills, but when you get out there on the course these things should be as far from your mind as you can get them. I had an awful time with my putting start of the year 40+ every round, as many as 45. I won the medal in April with 32 putts. Last Friday I played a foursomes game and had 6 of those 3-5 footers I coudnt make if my life depended on it on the front 9 for wins or halves, and I made them all. On the 12th a holed a 12 footer for a half after we had conceded their tap in. This would have sounded like someone else to me, and you may ask whats changed since the time I couldnt putt from 2 feet? I haven't had a lesson, not spent much if any time on the practice green (10 minutes at home with a V-easy every now and then), all I did was read and digest Bob Rotellas advice. I said before "if my life depended on it", and thats how it felt. It doesn't any more, and the putts are dropping. You can hole a putt with a garden rake if your heads in the right place, you just have to see the roll, stand up, look at the target, lightly grip the putter and roll it in. If the ball goes in the hole, great. If not. Big deal. Do it again. If you've lost confidence in the Scotty and get a new stick and continue to over-analyse what youre doing you'll eventually lose faith in that too. I was on the brink of buying a new putter - lure of the shiney, I wanted Gareths Scotty but now I think na, the one I have is just fine, its only rolling a ball across some grass and into a hole. Thats all it is. And if youre not thinking that, youre thinking the wrong thing. Thats Rotellas message, and I can't thank Slicer30 enough for putting me onto it. The book only takes an hour or 2 to get through, its worth another read and a good thinking about ;)

Is this an Infommercial :rolleyes:
 
get better at putting so I don't miss the middle of the putter or get a putter that is more forgiving if I do.

No worries, I've never used a Scotty so don't know about the disparity between a sweet spot strike and a miss, so fair play if you think something more forgiving will help you do what you need to then cool, my Odyssey has an insert and apart from the odd time I have to hit a long lag putt and catch it clean in the centre (thereby rollng 8 feet past!), if I miss its pretty much nickels to dimes that the problem is me. Good luck in your quest!
 
A good thing to do if you're just trying to 'feel' the distance (which I try to do) is to look at the putt from the side.
No need to study it or waste time, I do it either walking to the green or when others are putting.

Just see the distance, and note any uphill/downhill parts of it. All you're doing is showing your brain, no need to do anything with the info.

Since you first mentioned this months ago, my distance judgement has improved no end. I still get the odd one which I completely mis judge or get scared of, but I gauge the distance (by glancing at it from the side), pick my line and putt. No practice strokes, no nothing. And I'm more confident because of it. So cheers for that mate! :)
 
A Dave Hicks Vibe would make make the sweet spot feel alot bigger. I have one in one of my Scotties and it does make a big difference.


It does add a bit to the overall weight of the putter too which can help but I think they do a lighter version too now which might suit you better as you have a heavy head already.

Not sure if this is worth a go or not but might be worth looking into.


Might be time for the belly!

Good luck whatever you do mate.
 
A Dave Hicks Vibe would make make the sweet spot feel alot bigger. I have one in one of my Scotties and it does make a big difference.

Just had a look on his website and that does look interesting. There is a centre of excellence near my work so I'll pop along on a lunch break and make an enquiry. Cheers Swinger :)
 
No problem, just hope it helps. Let me know how you get on.

Not back into London till Thursday but will be taking the test then. Out of curiosity how long does it take to fit it to your putter? I'm think of taking my putter with me, taking the blind test and if I like the results getting it fitted there and then.
 
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