Putting practice

[andyp1977]

So what's the best way to practice putting when not at the practice green or course. I have a generic 6 foot putting mat and when I use it I can't miss. When I get on the green I don't seem to have a clue what I'm doing. I can't even seem to hole out from inside 2ft more often than not. So is the 6ft mat a complete waste of time or am I missing something when playing properly? Apart from the cup that is! 😉

 

[ScienceBoy]

Practice your grip and stance at home.

Putt to a 5p on the carpet. You have to make it click as in roll right over it rather than hit the edge

Don't putt the hole, putt to a point.

 

[ger147]

So what's the best way to practice putting when not at the practice green or course. I have a generic 6 foot putting mat and when I use it I can't miss. When I get on the green I don't seem to have a clue what I'm doing. I can't even seem to hole out from inside 2ft more often than not. So is the 6ft mat a complete waste of time or am I missing something when playing properly? Apart from the cup that is! 😉

A quality putting matt is good for practicing at home.

 

[ruff-driver]

Vary the distance on your mat, when you think you've cracked it, try it with your eyes shut.

 

[huds1475]

Practice your grip and stance at home.

Putt to a 5p on the carpet. You have to make it click as in roll right over it rather than hit the edge

Don't putt the hole, putt to a point.

Do something similar. About 2ft of packing tape, laid out 2 ft from ball. If I can roll it all the way down the strip, I'm putting ok.

I do this a lot and it helps me trust that I can hit it on the line I pick more often than not.

its my reading and distance control that then let me down. Only way I know you can sort that is on proper greens. And you have to accept you can get these wrong, it happens.

 

[the_coach]

So what's the best way to practice putting when not at the practice green or course. I have a generic 6 foot putting mat and when I use it I can't miss. When I get on the green I don't seem to have a clue what I'm doing. I can't even seem to hole out from inside 2ft more often than not. So is the 6ft mat a complete waste of time or am I missing something when playing properly? Apart from the cup that is! 

bunch of things to check that should give you an indication of what stuff you need to look at

if the hole is being missed from close in it's usually about face alignment - what direction the face is looking at impact
- strike quality so not from sweet spot nearer heel or toe
- angle of attack
- path of the stroke

cover the toe and heel sides of the putter face with a couple of strips of masking tape leaving the sweet spot clear (you can find the sweet spot by holding the putter shaft with thumb and 1st finger and tapping the face at center with the butt end of a pencil you'll find a spot that when tapped doesn't make the putter head wobble) put the masking tape to leave a 1/4" either side of that spot
can you make a stroke to consistently hit the ball on that uncovered section or is the tape coming into contact with the ball

make a 'gate' 1/4" wider than the putter head - can you make a stroke to pass through the gate without hitting either side of the gate and start the ball rolling straight for the first 3' - ball starting position is just 'hole' side of the gate
(gate could be sleeve boxes the long sides running towards you, or 2 balls, 2 upturned tees)

draw an alignment line on the ball, align that to the back of the middle of the 'cup' during the roll does that line travel smoothly end over end or is that line moving in an exaggerated ways with a staggered motion

it you look at your putting set-up and within it the angles both wrists form before any movement - can you make a stroke and hold the follow-through without the putter head recoiling back after impact and are the wrist angles at the hold of the end of the stroke exactly the same as they were before the stroke began

can you make the stroke without any movement from the hips down while the head also remains still

 

[Chisteve]

I practice in my garage - I have 3 number 2 x 1 m astro turf sheets (cheap from lidle) so practice from 600mm to 6m - I cut out a board with various sized mouse holes and also laid down chalk lines for checking alinement

The floor is fairly flat but has some undulations so there is a little break also to contend with

Its essential to practice putting I think + short game chipping etc (my favourite part of the game)