Putting Lesson

[Sneds]

So I had my first ever putting lesson last night, with my local club pro - rather than my PGA pro down the driving range (for obvious reasons right?). It was an interesting experience, the pro was very analytical in his evaluation of my current stroke and how I could improve.

He said I had a solid posture, a good stance and a nice stroke, but that he wanted to change two things. Firstly he said that I tend to pull my putts and one to correct this we pulled the ball back in my stance slightly to the middle in order to help make sure my hands were over the ball and prevent a pull.

Secondly he thought my ball position was slightly too far away from my feet. This had an affect of my swing path being quite arced and for simplicity and consistency we both felt a straighter path would be more beneficial.

He had the old ping balls that have a different colour on each side and these were used to accentuate the roll on the ball. The difference was striking. Great roll and solid putts too. Not only that but the ball was diving into the hole a lot more.

Personally, I'm hoping this lesson will give me some focus on the putting green as I used to adjust so many variables that there was never any consitency. At least now I have a structure to work from. I was very pleased with the lesson and I am looking forward to get out on the course.

If you're struggling with your putting. I would really recommend a trip to your pro. x

 

[Up_Point_1]

Cannot agree more on this. Have putting problems, get a lesson !!

My putting a while back was quite simply woeful and was crippling my scoring. Like Sneds I took the plunge with a putting lesson and the pro made a couple of minor tweaks to my putting set up. Hey presto, i'm now holing loads more and am much more confident on the greens. I still have the odd iffy day on the greens but at least now having had a putting lesson I have something to focus on. Beforehand I quite honestly had no idea what I was doing wrong.

UP1

 

[bobmac]

Beforehand I quite honestly had no idea what I was doing wrong.

UP1

And there lies the problem.
It's all very well saying practice practice practice, but how can your practice help if you don't know what you're doing wrong?

 

[drawboy]

Total agreement Bob, how many hours do folks spend bashing balls and ingraining bad habits further. No point practicing mistakes.

 

[Sneds]

I think you end up being so short termistic when you're unsure of technique. You'll try something new and think 'this is great' until you miss a couple and then you change again. Just because you're unsure which parts of your stroke are correct and which parts need work. x

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Of all the lessons I've had in the last twelve months the hour onthe putting green was the best money spent

 

[RGDave]

Well done sneds....sounds a good move to me.

I travelled away from home t'other day to play. I got drawn to play matchplay against a chap who turned out to be frighteningly steady. I gave him lots of putts (he wasn't likely to beat me as I was well fired up and knew my game was solid enough to play well under my h'cap).

He made me putt a few, none missed, he gave me some around the "middle" of the course and then hoped to unnerve me by seeing some in on the last few. It didn't pay off for him. We shook hands on the 17th (after he'd insisted on seeing one in from 5')

The match was close and played in the best sporting style. He complimented me on my putting walking down the last fairway, and I modestly said it was all down to the lesson and C/F putter....which it is.

Oddly enough, my C/F took place at a range putting across the carpet in the coffee/tea area. A usable stroke and the right grip coupled with an "understanding" of where I was going wrong in the way that I see the line was all it took. Sure, there was a video analysis and some freaky work with lazers and some Yes! gadgets, but essentially......

I approve!