putting methods

[dankiz]

Finally got a new handicap of 18 after a few years since last one lapsed. Quite happy with my overall game although lots of room for improvement, but my putting is woeful and has def cost me many shots per round. Basically I have been getting nervous over 2-4 foot putts, moving my head too quickly leading to body moving, erratic stroke and missed putts. Finally decided to try looking at hole or spot on line of putt 2 weeks ago. Feels so weird but I am not moving head now and putting is gradually coming together, ie not so many 3/4 putts. Anyone else suffer with the tiddlers due to nerves? If so, what different methods have you tried?

 

[RichA]

I find that if I've already used up my shots and it's for a blob, I can knock them in one handed from almost any distance.

 

[dankiz]

I find that if I've already used up my shots and it's for a blob, I can knock them in one handed from almost any distance.

Yep, I know what you mean!

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I try to think of pushing the club head into the hole. It helps keep a straight follow through.

I will also try to not look at the hole when putting those tiddlers. Keep my head forced down, look at the ball when putting and keep looking at the spot where the ball was after you have hit it. It helps prevent the jerk where you come out of the putt early looking to see if it went in.

I will still miss some but far fewer now through nerves or twitches.

I play with a guy who will miss 5-6 per round from 2ft and in. He is someone you would never give a putt to in matchplay, even from 6". His putting stroke from distance is fine but from close up he is a twitcher, it is all wrist or hands. When you see someone miss so many you start to learn a little about what causes you yourself to miss and how to stop it. Try watching others, good and bad and see if you can visually pick anything up.

 

[dankiz]

I try to think of pushing the club head into the hole. It helps keep a straight follow through.

I will also try to not look at the hole when putting those tiddlers. Keep my head forced down, look at the ball when putting and keep looking at the spot where the ball was after you have hit it. It helps prevent the jerk where you come out of the putt early looking to see if it went in.

I will still miss some but far fewer now through nerves or twitches.

I tried looking at the ball and keeping focused on that spot after ball hit, but for me it didn't work. I felt my periphery vision watching the club go back. I know I am overthinking everything, but I think we need to something that works for us. Looking at hole after sorting out line really seems to help me as I am not concentrating on stroke but only been 2 weeks and I haven't played enough rounds to see it helps me properly. Thanks for reply and glad your method works for you

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I tried looking at the ball and keeping focused on that spot after ball hit, but for me it didn't work. I felt my periphery vision watching the club go back. I know I am overthinking everything, but I think we need to something that works for us. Looking at hole after sorting out line really seems to help me as I am not concentrating on stroke but only been 2 weeks and I haven't played enough rounds to see it helps me properly. Thanks for reply and glad your method works for you

I should have added that caveat, you are dead right. With a question like this there will be a range of replies for what works for the individual. You will have to try them in a scatter gun style approach until you hit the one that works best for you. There is no 'one size fits all'.

 

[dankiz]

I should have added that caveat, you are dead right. With a question like this there will be a range of replies for what works for the individual. You will have to try them in a scatter gun style approach until you hit the one that works best for you. There is no 'one size fits all'.

It's funny what you said about your 'Twitcher' playing partner, my friends won't ever give me a putt no matter how short as they know how shaky I am. I feel like I have hit on something for me and my challenge is to be given the odd putt this year. Don't want to forever be known as the Twitcher

 

[Orikoru]

I was getting jittering and stabby on holeable putts last year, I just had a putting lesson with one of the pros at my club. I don't normally bother with lessons but putting seemed like something that could be fixed fairly simply. He gave me 3 or 4 pointers that improved by stroke by getting it smoother and rolling the ball better, and the improved stroke improved my confidence on the greens.

I also got an Evnroll putter which is really nice.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I work hard on my 2-3 foot putts to the point I'm comfortable with the distance. I know there will be some I miss but I always stand there being positive I can make it. Nerves will only lead to a nervy and tentative stroke and "looking for it" which is my usual cause on pulled putts. If I tend to get nervy or feel myself moving I pick a dimple on the ball and focus on that and keep looking at that spot until I see grass and the ball has gone

 

[Deleted member 25575]

Ive recently beem through a spell of having no confidence from 4ft in. Pushing so so many putts. At the moment I am for the first time in my life, taking practice swing(putts) with the putter. Im doing a couple with an overly forced open face to get the feel for what my miss is, then a couple consentrating on keeping the path / head straight, so I have a very recent feel about what is right and wrong. Thats really helped me, I don't make them all but im giving every single one a chance now

 

[Skytot]

Finally got a new handicap of 18 after a few years since last one lapsed. Quite happy with my overall game although lots of room for improvement, but my putting is woeful and has def cost me many shots per round. Basically I have been getting nervous over 2-4 foot putts, moving my head too quickly leading to body moving, erratic stroke and missed putts. Finally decided to try looking at hole or spot on line of putt 2 weeks ago. Feels so weird but I am not moving head now and putting is gradually coming together, ie not so many 3/4 putts. Anyone else suffer with the tiddlers due to nerves? If so, what different methods have you tried?

You sound just like me . Still putting my cards in for a new handicap after a 14 year break . My general game is coming together nice but my putting is woeful. I had 5 x 3 putts in 9 holes last night . It wasn’t nerves, only playing with mates , just need re-boot I think . Anyone know of a good putting coach in the Stockport/ south Mcr area ?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Ive recently beem through a spell of having no confidence from 4ft in. Pushing so so many putts. At the moment I am for the first time in my life, taking practice swing(putts) with the putter. Im doing a couple with an overly forced open face to get the feel for what my miss is, then a couple consentrating on keeping the path / head straight, so I have a very recent feel about what is right and wrong. Thats really helped me, I don't make them all but im giving every single one a chance now

Which is why I use my Visio gates A LOT. The smallest gap only allows 0.5 degrees of variance (face being open or closed) and so to get the ball through you have to meet the ball with a square face. Keeps you focused and still

 

[Skytot]

Played 9 holes tonight ,45 with no pars and only 2 x 3 putts . I tried looking at the hole putting method like Jordan Spieth . Much better and definitely going to persevere with it .

 

[dankiz]

Played 9 holes tonight ,45 with no pars and only 2 x 3 putts . I tried looking at the hole putting method like Jordan Spieth . Much better and definitely going to persevere with it .

Played 9 holes tonight ,45 with no pars and only 2 x 3 putts . I tried looking at the hole putting method like Jordan Spieth . Much better and definitely going to persevere with it .

Definitely helping me as well. Work in progress but definitely feeling and more encouraged.

 

[Skytot]

Definitely helping me as well. Work in progress but definitely feeling and more encouraged.

I played yesterday to put my 3rd card in for new handicap. I had a 91 with 3 triple bogeys & no 3 putts

 

[dankiz]

Great stuff! I do think putting is a real work in progress all the time

 

[dronfield]

Over the years i have struggled a lot missing shortish putts - generally pulled left due to right hand taking over.
This has improved a lot over last 18 months due to me moving to pencil grip - per Fleetwood etc. Whole grip, stroke feels more solid with neither hand becomming over active. Feels strange at first, particularly judging distance on longer putts, but worth persevering with.

Rich

 

[dankiz]

Over the years i have struggled a lot missing shortish putts - generally pulled left due to right hand taking over.
This has improved a lot over last 18 months due to me moving to pencil grip - per Fleetwood etc. Whole grip, stroke feels more solid with neither hand becomming over active. Feels strange at first, particularly judging distance on longer putts, but worth persevering with.

Rich

Over the years i have struggled a lot missing shortish putts - generally pulled left due to right hand taking over.
This has improved a lot over last 18 months due to me moving to pencil grip - per Fleetwood etc. Whole grip, stroke feels more solid with neither hand becomming over active. Feels strange at first, particularly judging distance on longer putts, but worth persevering with.

Rich

Great work Rich. I personally think we can watch as many style and instructional tips as we like but at end of day, it has to be perfect for your own game. I am sticking to looking at hole with old style Tiger reverse overlap and working on getting rid of the jitters

 

[Crazyface]

It's a black art. I try and just stab at the ball and judge the weight of attack. Any back lift and the club wobbles all over the place back and through.

 

[r0wly86]

sounds like a mental issue rather than anything that a change in technique will help you.

If I start having a mental block in my game, I try to recreate a 30s routine before hand, it works for me as it tend to focus my mind on the routine rather than the shot itself, gets me out of my head.