Putting issues

[StrangelyBrown]

I suck at putting. I do. Seriously...

My question is should I get a v easy and keep going with the Ping putter I have in the bag or should I get a v easy and some form of mallet headed putter? I play with guys that use Odyssey 2 ball putters and have great success with them.

I tend to struggle with pace more than line if that makes any difference...

Cheers
P

 

[JustOne]

I don't like putting with a heel shafted putter - center shafted for me everytime.

 

[viscount17]

fwiw I was recently showed a timing drill to help pace judgment in which the V-easy figures quite largely.

the idea is that you maintain an equal distance back and forward and cover both in the same time - no matter the length of putt (stops decelleration). I use 1 second, and the handy reference marks on the v-easy allow you to attempt consistency.
a further idea of this is that you can use two or three of your standard putts of differing lengths on the practice green to get an idea of its pace for you.

I would stress that this is still a work in being.

 

[bobmac]

If distance control is your problem, you're not alone.
Some golfers turn their hips. Others flick their wrists and some even rock their shoulders.
The unfortunate among us do a combination of all three, so its not really the putters fault.

To simplify things, keep everything below the waist STILL.
Dont flick your wrists into impact, just rock your shoulders. The longer the putt, the longer the swing.
This will make it easier for you to control just one thing to give a more consistant distance on your putts.
If you watch the short clip below, notice how my lower half stays still and the "Y" formed between my arms and putter never change shape.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvsBcUH3UQE

Hope this helps

 

[StrangelyBrown]

Thanks guys...

Viscount, i've been trying to keep my backswing and follow through the same length.

Bob, I've been trying to move only my shoulders in a gentle rocking fashion...

My playing partners say it's pretty stabby and quick, i'm trying to slow things down but I guess I tense up.

Maybe I need vallium or something

 

[thecraw]

Flip sake Bob!

I blinked and missed that clip twice!

 

[bobmac]

Flip sake Bob!

I blinked and missed that clip twice!

If you watch the short clip below

I did warn you

 

[brendy]

For what its worth, I moved from a Scotty to an Oddy 2 ball putter and it has been a revelation moving pretty much instantly from the severely crap to the better than average camp.
How? because as soon as I picked it up I could "see" a line while making a practice putt, it is a blur from the white of the two ball against the darker green of the grass underneath. I make a practice putt 4-5 inches above the ball with my full stance aim etc, If I feel it isnt running towards my target then I adjust and take a second practice swing (only takes a couple of seconds) then address and putt.
I have mocked up a quick image of what I mean (pardon the blue grass!)

 

[StrangelyBrown]

Hmm, i'll have to try one next time I'm in the pro shop.

 

[john0]

I play with guys that use Odyssey 2 ball putters and have great success with them.

Hmm, i'll have to try one next time I'm in the pro shop.

Wont your playing partners let you try out theirs like?

 

[HRC99]

As always, some great advice on here. Just to add my bit to the mix, do you find that you struggle with alignment?

If so, then putters with more visual aids to them (Odyssey 2 Ball, Yes putters, TM Monza Spider range and loads of others) can be a big help to get you set up correctly.

I sacked my Ping CU5 after many years as I was struggling to line it up. With my Yes putter and a huge line down the middle, that problem is long gone.

If it is distance control, then Bob has hit the nail on the head (as usual). His advice helped me improve my distance control.

The V Easy is also a great practice aid as it will help you keep your wrists out of it. If your stroke is a bit quick, you'll find the V Easy will help you slow it down a little as it ain't easy to hit a putt quickly using a V Easy!

But one thing I cannot recommend highly enough is to get a lesson. I had one recently and, although I wasn't far out at all, there was enough wrong that meant my stroke could be inconsistent. And if you're inconsistent in your stroke, then you've got no chance with distance.

The pro really enjoyed giving the putting lesson as he said he hardly ever gave them. He also fitted my putter properly so that it suited my stroke which has made a huge difference to my ball striking with it.

I'd be amazed if half an hour with your pro wouldn't get you much better results. Who knows, you may not even need a new putter and a lesson will be much cheaper than a new putter!

 

[bobmac]

I suck at putting. I do. Seriously...

My question is should I get a v easy and keep going with the Ping putter I have in the bag or should I get a v easy and some form of mallet headed putter? I play with guys that use Odyssey 2 ball putters and have great success with them.

I tend to struggle with pace more than line if that makes any difference...

Cheers
P

Thats why I focused on distance control.

 

[StrangelyBrown]

As Bob points out, and I mentioned, my distance control is pretty poor. Allignment is not too bad because when I do knock one the required length it's generally not too far away.

I tend to jab at the ball, probably because I'm not entirely sure how far it's going to go and tighten up. I'll keep working on Bob's advice, keeping my 'Y' stable and consistant.

I mentioned putters with allignment aids because I thought that if I could be confident that I was hitting the ball in the right direction it may help me to relax over the ball a bit to allow me to control distance better.

I do have one lesson to get, but our putting green is out of action. Apparently the builders used the wrong kind of grass or drainage or something and it tends to be, well, [****], for want of a better word.

Anyhoo, i'll try some putting tonight on the carpet if the cat leaves me and my balls alone.

That didn't come out right...

 

[bobmac]

If I were you I wouldn't buy another putter I'd buy another cat.
It sounds like yours needs a friend

 

[StrangelyBrown]

Bob, do not say that to my wife-to-be... One cat is plenty

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I'd get a lesson. Simples. It may not be just the tempo etc but your alignment, grip and address. Are you an in, square, in putter or straight back and through as it may also be your not always getting the blade square. A decent pro will sort you out pretty quickly and then use the V-Easy (top bit of kit) to keep it all working

 

[thecraw]

Take up darts!

 

[StrangelyBrown]

Homer, I try to keep square to square. The fewer moving parts the better. I have just read that a toe weighted putter like mine is better for in to in strokes.

Hmmm :-|

And Crawford, I was playing darts on Saturday night. It did not go well, but in my defence I was so drunk I couldn't really see the dart board.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I think you could do a lot worse than get this. I have one and its made a huge difference especially on the 3-6 footers

http://www.improvemygolf.co.uk/acatalog/Pathfinder.html

 

[RGDave]

Without wishing to bore everyone again, I cannot speak highly enough of paying for a lesson/custom fit before reaching for the credit card.
I have 2 putters with identical length and lie, the first I had C/F, the other was a demo fisher 34" and 2-3 degrees up...
If I went and bought any odyssey of the shelf, I'd be as useful with it as a garden trowel.
I miss a few (I don't read putts at all well, especially on new courses) but if I miss a long range putt by....hmm....a long way ( ), at least I get the next one down......


most of the time