Putting "lesson"

[One Planer]

My putting has been woeful, for want of a better word, for the last, well forever.

To this end, I've decided to spend a lot more time on the practice green.

On there yesterday (prior to the club stableford) the pro made a passing comment as to why my putting is so inconsistant. He said my hands were behind the ball at impact and suggested i address this in a similar way to Phil Mickelson . By moving my hands forward at address before drawing the club back.

On first impression, what a difference it has made! With more practice I'm sure my putting consistancy will improve.

My question is.... Why, when putting, is getting your hands level/in front of the ball important or is he talking pish?

I tried to find him after my round to ask why, but he'd finished and isn't there again till Saturday!!

 

[bobmac]

Imagine you find the pro and ask him why this helps.
He tells you that it improves the clubface loft at impact slightly, it changes the angle of attack a touch, helps you square the clubface up more and improves your accelertion into the ball.

The very next time you have a putt, the chances are you will start thining of all those improvements and changes to your stroke and mess it up.

I would say dont ask why, just do.

Anything that keeps this game simple has got to be a good thing.

 

[One Planer]

Good advice Bob.

I was just curious to understand a little more, mainly for peace of mind.

It would also be handy to know if I'm ever asked why I do it, rather than just saying "the pro told me to"

 

[CrapHacker]

It would also be handy to know if I'm ever asked why I do it, rather than just saying "the pro told me to"

How about

"coz it works"

 

[One Planer]

It would also be handy to know if I'm ever asked why I do it, rather than just saying "the pro told me to"

How about

"coz it works"

Tou'Che

 

[titleistkid]

a forward press promotes topspin which will keep the ball on track as it approches the hole as opposed to dying away with any hint of a break. Hands behind the ball encourages the putter to chip it slightly leading to inconsistent roll pattern. This is why the majority of putters are offset and the putters mickelson uses have none or very little. simple physics

 

[Aztecs27]

I use a putter similar to Phil's, and have flitted back and forth between forward press and not forward press...And the forward press yields better results. Also helps me with a more consistent putting swing too.

 

[EZprophet]

a forward press promotes topspin which will keep the ball on track as it approches the hole as opposed to dying away with any hint of a break. Hands behind the ball encourages the putter to chip it slightly leading to inconsistent roll pattern. This is why the majority of putters are offset and the putters mickelson uses have none or very little. simple physics

That is simple physics but unfortunately its actually a bit more complicated than that! Every putt has topspin when you think about it, otherwise they wouldnt roll forward! Its just how/how quickly that topspin is created that changes.

You actually dont want to impart topspin on the ball in an ideal world. You actually want to impart no spin at all and a launch angle of 4 degrees (or something similar, if memory serves)... This is because if you launch it any lower then the ball drives into the ground and bobbles. If you launch it too high then the ball skids too much and creates inconsistency that way.

This is why Mickelson has a putter with something like 6 or 7 degrees of loft (while the standard loft for a putter is 2-4 degrees). Because his hands are so far forward, if he used a normal putter, he would drive the ball into the ground (creating that early topspin if you like) which is not what you want.