Putting Hell

[Spoff]

I've been playing just over a year and am getting closer and closer to breaking 100 (104 is the closest)

Played Saturday morning and tee to green was the best I have ever played. But on the green...

Hole two is a 200 yard par three. I landed six foot from the pin. And FOUR putted!!!

I didn't count the puts but there were very few greens that had less than 3/4 puts on them.

The greens were damp and slower than usual but that wasn't an excuse. I shot 127 and I reckon I hit 40-50 putts

 

[jeffc]

try practising your putting for half an hour before you tee off

 

[Ken_A]

I got a putting lesson - a few tweeks and my scores dropped by about 10 shots, to be honest I think its time for another as I have not been as hot on the green as usual.
For a while I was getting at least one 2 per week. Lots of one putts or lip outs - it really drops your score.

Its all about confidence. Get practicing, use the same balls on the course and practice ground.

Rock the shoulders dont move your lower body or head until you count to 2 after hitting the ball. Yup will be surprised how much this helps.

 

[Spoff]

I shall try counting to two after hitting the ball.

Not sure when I'm next out though, mate I usually play with has bust his coller bone!

 

[birdieman]

I played 18 off the whites on Saturday and putted pretty well, had 3 birdies and 5 bogeys in a 2 over 72, only one silly 3 putt.
My only thought on putting is to keep the face square through impact. As others have indicated you don't want any wrists in the shot just rock the shoulders. If I keep that 'face square' thought I do ok as it makes me hold the putter face square and complete the whole follow through rather than jabbing at it and letting it twist off line.

I am also a believer that if you have lost confidence with your putter, change it. Try shorter shaft or longer shaft, heel shafted, centre shafted etc. Hole a couple with a new putter and the confidence comes back, once you've confidence in your putting stroke the hole becomes a lot larger! Some people say it's the Indian not the arrows but a change in putter can force a change in alignment or posture that might help.

 

[viscount17]

where is it going wrong - line, length or both?

tip I got, which I admit I don't follow as often as I should, is to mark, pick up and clean every time, no matter how short.

another is to putt through a 'gate'. set up two tees just wider than the putter head and practice stroking through without touching. then add another gate about 4 to 5 inches ahead - now you have to stroke through both, then add the ball

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Loads of putting tips out there but I'd start with the fundamentals. Make sure you eyeline is directly over the ball, it is not too far forward/back in the stance and that you are parallel with the target line. You should try and adopt a neutral grip (palms facing each other).

Without knowing what your particular demons are it is hard to give more detailed advice although the putting through two tees routine is great for getting the club travelling straight down the line.

 

[Spoff]

On Saturday I was totally underhitting everything. The line wasn't too bad on most just the speed.

The first green of the previous round I sent the ball from one edge of the green off the other side and since then I hardly dare hit the thing.

The greens were damp and slower than usual but I new that and still couldn't give it a decent whack.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

In general wetter greens are slower and take less break. It sounds to me as though you need to get on your clubs putting green and really get a feel for the pace. You need to retain a certain positivity in your stroke in order to get putts running at the hole

 

[thecraw]

Accelerate through the ball.

 

[viscount17]

ah, my biggest fault with both putting and chipping.

 

[forefortheday]

I'm starting to belive that the fear of 3 putting is the root cause of 3 putting!

On long putts I don't get so wound up but anything around 10 foot to 6 foot can be a nightmare, usually involves one to 3 foot then a short stab that invariably misses the hole

When it's a good distance I have no real expectation of getting close so seem to relax more and get a better result

 

[golfcitydweller]

u must be thinking ur going to hole it...rather than thinking ur going to 3 putt ..going on to the green with the right attitude will help ur putting no end ...good luck

 

[Spoff]

Some great advice here - I will try and take some of it on board next time.

 

[TonyN]

my putting was awful last week, infact no it wasn't even that good. A quick change to the grip has turned my putting on it's head and today I was on fire. NO 3 PUTTS. My mate davethepro told me the closer the hands are together, the easier it is to control the putter/stroke. My new grip is like jonny wilkinsons hands before a try, left over right. Try new grip, slow ya swing down, see ya pro, practice!

 

[cm_qs]

A good tip I was given for distance control is to get a blank CD, put it on the green (or carpet at home) and try to putt balls and get them to stop on top of the CD. It really allows you to focus on pace rather than line. I modified this drill by turning a tee peg upside down and sitting it in the hole in the middle of the CD and trying to knock it over - gives you a very precise and small target to aim at. After you've mastered knocking over a tee a 4 and a quarter inch wide hole looks like a bucket!