Putting feel

[CirenBhoy]

Struggling with putting for a while, too many pushed shots costing me dearly.

But while at the practice green yesterday I started to feel the putter more with the fingers of my right hand. The feeling was more of my right hand guiding the putter on the correct path. The result was a much crisper sounding putt and the ball rolling better on the target line.

All well and good, problem solved......Or is it...

The previous feel I had was of the inside of both wrists locked and pushing together - probably with the intention of keeping a strong Y-shape throughout the stroke.

What I am now wondering is whether this "new feel" I have is correct or am I just fixing one bad habit with another??

There may not be a right or wrong answer to this; it may just be "whatever works for you" situation, but I was wondering what feel others have in their putting stroke?

 

[duncan mackie]

none (when I'm putting well) - I just rock the shoulders, but don't feel it

 

[GreiginFife]

There are too many variations of use of the flat stick (even amongst the pros) for there to be a right or wrong answer in my mind.
Everyone will go through multiple variations of their putting technique until the find one that works [for now]. Once that stops working then it will more than likely change again.
If it works, go with it until it doesn't. It's about getting the ball in the hole, not HOW* you do it.

* Disclaimer for the more anal retentive out there: Within the rules of golf.

 

[Region3]

It will be each to their own.

When I'm putting I want to feel nothing through my hands.
If I can feel them I'm conscious of them, and if I'm conscious of them I tend to get too careful and try to steer the ball which is rarely good.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

I couldn't tell you, I don't think about it. I guess if you have found something you need to practice it until you don't have to think about it either.

 

[Rooter]

Now that i am a putting expert... LOL one of 3 drills David Howell uses and suggested i do to, is the putting gate one. This is irrespective of how you grip the club, fundamentally the club face needs to be returned to the ball square or the ball will not go in the intended direction.

This promotes a straight back swing, square impact and a straight follow though. do all these 3 and you should not add any side spin to the ball. this should syop you pushing putts left or right and also ensure a consistent strike on the sweet spot.

 

[Deleted member 17920]

Now that i am a putting expert... LOL one of 3 drills David Howell uses and suggested i do to, is the putting gate one.

This promotes a straight back swing, square impact and a straight follow though. do all these 3 and you should not add any side spin to the ball. this should syop you pushing putts left or right and also ensure a consistent strike on the sweet spot.

View attachment 7630

That's a very good technique, A smooth takeaway back and forth and you will be picking the ball out of the hole

 

[Darlophil]

I recently made a change to my putting which at least feels like I'm putting better.

I had been struggling with the take away of the putter head by catching/dragging it on the grass having an unsettling effect on the rest of the stroke. This left me with inconsistent ball striking making it difficult to guage distance control.

While watching Phil Mickelson (seems to be a trend at the moment) play I noticed on his putting action that he moves/tilts the putter handle forwards slightly prior to starting the upswing/take away. This action lifts the back edge of the putter blade meaning it doesn't get caught on the grass. Adding this action to my putting increased my confidence level on the green as I am getting a far more consistent action.

Now I just have to worry about the line!

 

[Rooter]

That's a very good technique, A smooth takeaway back and forth and you will be picking the ball out of the hole

Exactly, and to enable me to do that, i had to change my posture massivly! i was far too upright almost swinging the arms, rather than stood above the ball allowing the shoulders to rock. arms are almost dead weight and just along for the ride!

 

[One Planer]

Tempo, tempo, tempo.

A nice steady motion, not jerky, quick or rushed.

A good simile is consider the motion of a pendulum.

Another good piece of advice is not to hit your putts. If you have a long putt, or a short putt, vary the distance by the length of your back stroke (Credit Bobmac for that one :thup

[video=youtube;GpSoNakV1to]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpSoNakV1to[/video]

 

[bladeplayer]

View attachment 7630

i use this one a lot but i use golf ballls rather than tees . start a bit wide then narrow it in , as i set up for a putt during a round i visualise the lines of balls and swing through .. great drill

 

[CMAC]

Struggling with putting for a while, too many pushed shots costing me dearly.

But while at the practice green yesterday I started to feel the putter more with the fingers of my right hand. The feeling was more of my right hand guiding the putter on the correct path. The result was a much crisper sounding putt and the ball rolling better on the target line.

All well and good, problem solved......Or is it...

The previous feel I had was of the inside of both wrists locked and pushing together - probably with the intention of keeping a strong Y-shape throughout the stroke.

What I am now wondering is whether this "new feel" I have is correct or am I just fixing one bad habit with another??

There may not be a right or wrong answer to this; it may just be "whatever works for you" situation, but I was wondering what feel others have in their putting stroke?

is it working better? then it's 'correct'

 

[Region3]

do all these 3 and you should not add any side spin to the ball.

I agree that it's good to hone your putting (although mine is an arc so would have to put the tees/balls accordingly) but the notion that you can swerve a golf ball by putting sidespin on it is a bit far fetched imo.

 

[Big D 88]

I recently made a change to my putting which at least feels like I'm putting better.

I had been struggling with the take away of the putter head by catching/dragging it on the grass having an unsettling effect on the rest of the stroke. This left me with inconsistent ball striking making it difficult to guage distance control.

While watching Phil Mickelson (seems to be a trend at the moment) play I noticed on his putting action that he moves/tilts the putter handle forwards slightly prior to starting the upswing/take away. This action lifts the back edge of the putter blade meaning it doesn't get caught on the grass. Adding this action to my putting increased my confidence level on the green as I am getting a far more consistent action.

Now I just have to worry about the line!

I noticed that Jordan Spieth does this too,

Its very noticeable, but very productive!

 

[HawkeyeMS]

I agree that it's good to hone your putting (although mine is an arc so would have to put the tees/balls accordingly) but the notion that you can swerve a golf ball by putting sidespin on it is a bit far fetched imo.

Had a little chuckle to myself when I read that bit too.

 

[Rooter]

I agree that it's good to hone your putting (although mine is an arc so would have to put the tees/balls accordingly) but the notion that you can swerve a golf ball by putting sidespin on it is a bit far fetched imo.

OK, side spin may have been an exaggeration, but hitting the ball where you aimed it can surely only be achieved by bring the club back square at impact no?

 

[Robobum]

Agreed that it won't start moving like a Beckham free kick....but, as the ball leaves the ground after it leaves the blade, side spin will make it deviate on the first bounce/ skid before it starts rolling.

My mate putts like this - kind off a downward chop cut - makes me squirm

 

[Region3]

OK, side spin may have been an exaggeration, but hitting the ball where you aimed it can surely only be achieved by bring the club back square at impact no?

100% Yes.

I just don't happen to think the path the club is on (ie cutting across the ball) will put enough sidespin on to move the ball to a significant degree.

I've not actually tried this (just read it), but if you want to see, find a flat part of your practice green and spin the ball as much as you can with your fingers and see how far the ball moves to the side.
Then do the same thing but cut across the ball as much as you can with the putter, and again see how the spin affects the ball.
From seeing how much the ball deviates from the above 2 exercises, you should be able to guess how much the ball will be affected by someone trying to hit the ball with a square path but being a little bit out. My guess is not a lot.

 

[Rooter]

Will have a play sure! but i personally would still want my ball rolling true on its centre axis, whether side spin has an effect or not.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Will have a play sure! but i personally would still want my ball rolling true on its centre axis, whether side spin has an effect or not.

My guess would be that you would have to hit the putt very hard (possibly harder than you could hit a putt with a normal putting stroke) and cut across it a ridiculous amount (so much so that it would make hitting the ball at all quite difficult) to even see any sidespin imparted at all.

Of course you're right, you want the ball rolling true on it's centre axis, but I doubt a normal putting stroke could impart enough sidespin to make any difference at all.

I feel we may be going a little off topic here though