putting tip

[shanker]

I've never hit the ball far but have always chipped and putted well. Recently my putting was getting worse and worse and I was getting angrier and angrier. The answer? A shorter backswing with the putter. I'd read that even Garcia was taking it back too far on the green and I'd noticed other players doing the same. The experts say that on any putt the follow through should be twice as long as the backswing. It's working for me. What do the posters think?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I have the eyeline practice aid which is basically a mirrored surface so you can see you are over the ball correctly and your shoulders are square. However what it also has is a number of holes that you can put a tee into to effectively restrict your backswing and so it forces you to focus on a short concise strike. It also has a space either side for your put another two pegs in to make sure you are following straight through the target line. Its a great gadget and I use it all the time.

http://www.118golf.co.uk/scripts/prodview.asp?idproduct=201

I certainly didn't pay this much for mine which I got in my local AG. I'm sure of you shop around you will find it cheaper

 

[RGuk]

The answer? A shorter backswing with the putter. I'd read that even Garcia was taking it back too far on the green and I'd noticed other players doing the same. The experts say that on any putt the follow through should be twice as long as the backswing. It's working for me. What do the posters think?

My best-est putting drill is to hole short putts with no backswing at all, so I've got used to small backswings for all putts, except the very long ones. It's a well discussed technique to accelerate through the ball, hopefully on a slightly ascending stroke. Too long a backswing is a possible killer, so I approve entirely.

 

[Cernunnos]

My Pro used to maintain the thru stroke for putting should be the same as the back stroke, however recently he seems to have changed his tack to something I've come accross before in that the backstroke should be shorter than the through stroke, much in the way I'd been given this prior in a putter fitting session.

Ironically Its something I used to do before my pro got me to use same back as through.The difference is now I seem to have more difficulty making that short back strokeover \7 above the longer throu stoke.

 

[theeaglehunter]

I must admit in a recent practice session with my new putter I found myself producing more consistent results putting like this. It was guaranteeing that I didn't decelerate through the ball and as such giving me a very good stroke. Also gave me less chance to twist the face / come off the line of the stroke.

I would also recommend trying it- I'm going to on the course tomorrow.

 

[boggybop]

Recently my putting had gone to pot especially judging distance, but I've been taught a drill to practise putting with my eyes focused on the target and not the ball. It feels strange at first but after a while my putting did pick up.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I tried that for a while. Top tip though stand well away from the ball when you do it. I played on my own in apractice round and tried the technique and inadvertantly toed the ball off the green while focussed on the hole. Doh!!

 

[Herbie]

Putting is such an individual thing that more searching by golfers is needed than I think the majority give to this subject. Even pro's fall foul of this problem, often restricted by commercial requirements from searching for that perfect putter or style(for them).

Many years ago I went through about 30 putters (some bought some borrowed)before finding the one that suited me best, I still take out other putters and occasionally borrow friends latest aquisitions just in case I come across one even better, during the same period I also tried numerous methods of putting along with many varied stances, each given a lot of time to bed in and not just a quick 5 mins here and there with each variation (likewise with putters) The method and putter that gave me the most accurate and consistant results is the one I use now.( up to now and for about 20 yrs or more I have a record of cosistant 1 or 2 putting greens and only see a three putt once in a blue moon,literally having only 3 putted four times in a year and one of those because I was messing about while the others were on very difficult greens)

Most golfers dont try to find the best for themselves, they are happy to feel good about a particular club and stick with it and likewise never alter their way of putting or are willing to just take advice from friends and pro's and stick with what they say is right for them.
There is an optimum putting method and putter out there for most golfers, but most choose not to look that far. Putting is one area where advice may be helpful but getting out there and finding it for yourself is in my view the best way, after all the object of putting is simple, its people that put things in their own way that makes it difficult. Reading greens may be difficult sometimes but golfers tend to make the action of the putt itself as difficult as the reading of the green, yet the putt should remain a simple action once the line and pace have been calculated in the mind of the golfer, joining the two events togeather mentally is what often makes a cock-up..

It may cost you a few bob in clubs/time and frustration but its worth it in the long run.

There is so much judgement involved in reading a green well that the putt itself should be the simple bit, but if you dont have the correct stance/method and putter for you, you may well be wanting no matter how well you read greens and if a confidence issue arises because of this, your problems are doubled.

When I go onto a green (even really tough ones)I never expect anything less than either holing the first putt or being close enough to hole the second without a problem, I expect I will putt the ball well, if I fail I look at my judgement in reading the putt and never associate it with the use of the putter, so many people I know do!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Herb

Some excellent advice. Many great putters including Nicklaus have had unique strokes but each found a way to deliver the putter square at impact which is the ultimate aim. Reading greens comes with experience but most players know the general contours of their home course well enough to at least have an outside chance of getting it close.

Have to say though I'm dubious about only 4 three putts all year as even the top pros managed more than that???

 

[Herbie]

Herb

Some excellent advice. Many great putters including Nicklaus have had unique strokes but each found a way to deliver the putter square at impact which is the ultimate aim. Reading greens comes with experience but most players know the general contours of their home course well enough to at least have an outside chance of getting it close.

Have to say though I'm dubious about only 4 three putts all year as even the top pros managed more than that???

Yes but I dont manage as many 1 putts as they do I havent played many courses this year Homer but even when I do I have an excellent record of 3 putts, most people want the ball in the hole with the first, where I putt to place it close enough not to need a third, occasionally I will sink a single in the process. I havent played what I would call a difficult course for greens this year, but last year and the year before I played a good few which is where I would expect slip ups on courses Im not familiar with but even then it would only be about a dozen 3s all year at the most. Once I get the general pace of greens on a course I can usually putt the first to a sinkable distance from the hole without any problems. Its probably what keeps my h/c where it is , but dont be too alarmed Homer, there have been periods in my golf where 3 putting was much too frequent. so I changed my mental aproach to putting, which is putting to make sure its not 3 as against putting to get it down in 1.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Out of interest herb what are you playing off these days? Are these competitive rounds because I'm sure there are many including myself that miss those little two footers in medals purely because of the self imposed pressure we put on ourselves.

 

[Herbie]

Out of interest herb what are you playing off these days? Are these competitive rounds because I'm sure there are many including myself that miss those little two footers in medals purely because of the self imposed pressure we put on ourselves.

Sorry Homer I didnt specify, I havent played many comps recently and I know the pressure you mean as it has got me a couple of times but its usually before the greens, but even so its never been a significant problem before, I play off 9 at the moment, just got h/c at new club, I rarely get or feel pressure on greens, these days the pressure I put on myself is with all the other clubs thats where I make the most mistakes, I probably have a couldnt care less, cavalier attitude on the greens , maybe thats why I do so well on them, that and spending a lot of time finding my best putter and putting.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

In which case herb I think you have put yourself forward as the ideal foursomes partner. I'd love a partner that would get me in 2 putt range everytime and manage to sink more of the 4 footers I occasionally (!!??) leave my man. Off 9 your ball striking would be good enough too. I'll be interested to hear if your putting does go downhill any once you play comeptitive golf more often but well done for getting your stroke so well behaved so far.

 

[Herbie]

In which case herb I think you have put yourself forward as the ideal foursomes partner. I'd love a partner that would get me in 2 putt range everytime and manage to sink more of the 4 footers I occasionally (!!??) leave my man. Off 9 your ball striking would be good enough too. I'll be interested to hear if your putting does go downhill any once you play comeptitive golf more often but well done for getting your stroke so well behaved so far.

Thankyou Homer, I have been thinking back to when I played off 6 as I played lots and lots of golf then and didnt have MS and a lot of it was comps and I always had great putting to my memory and did very well in comps hence the 6 h/c, but back then it was the other clubs where I would make pressure for myself or do daft shots trying to get to the green which I always saw as a sanctuary rather than a worry. A bit like swimming in the ocean avoiding sharks and drowning and comming across an Island where you can rest and relax.