Putting Woes

[Jackooo]

My putting is terrible at the moment, its killing my scores. 3 putted 5 times today, I just don't feel confident over any putts at all - pushing, pulling, flying them past, leaving them woefully short. Its shot my confidence to pieces.

Completely stuck on what to do, I spend time on the practice green, but when it comes to making putts that count I bottle them. So frustrating.

Im sure lots of people have been here before, question is how do i get out of it?!

 

[Chrisb83]

Probably not the answer but I had the exact same problem with the odyssey metal x face I just could get a feel for distance, reverted back to the white hot xg and doing a lot better.

 

[One Planer]

What's your main issue?

Pace? Line? Both?

 

[Grogger]

Probably not the answer but I had the exact same problem with the odyssey metal x face I just could get a feel for distance, reverted back to the white hot xg and doing a lot better.

I tried one with a metal X face. Felt weird, as if the ball was just flying off the face without any control coming from the putter

 

[Jackooo]

Thing is I was great with it, so I know its there somewhere, just need to dredge it from the depths some how. To be honest Gareth its both, especially on the course, its just very demoralising and I cant feel confident over any putts. Short putts I tend to fire past and push. Long I can't feel any pace at all, line aint too bad.

 

[Mattyboy]

My putting is terrible at the moment, its killing my scores. 3 putted 5 times today, I just don't feel confident over any putts at all - pushing, pulling, flying them past, leaving them woefully short. Its shot my confidence to pieces.

Completely stuck on what to do, I spend time on the practice green, but when it comes to making putts that count I bottle them. So frustrating.

Im sure lots of people have been here before, question is how do i get out of it?!

First things first dear chap - we have all been there.

Now, it is likely that you are not striking the centre of the putter face and not getting an immediate roll on the ball.

Back to basics for you!:
Keep still (no peeking or body movement)
Elbows in and rock the shoulders to get a rytham to your stroke
Now check the immediate roll you get on the ball.
If the ball jumps on impact ensure your hands are forward of the ball a little.
Then try some different ball positions out - (forward or middle of stance)

The basics are strike and roll.

Let us know how you go.

Edit - and get our feet hips and shoulders parralell square to the target line :thup:

 

[pendodave]

mine has been rubbish recently, so I did what I almost never do in these circumstances (normally preferring to stew in my own juices for a month or two), I had a putting lesson.

We changed : grip, shaft angle, alignment, swing length and my very odd habit of moving my head backwards as I made my stroke.

Definitely an hour well spent, if only to teach me basics that I'd never had properly checked before.

At the very least, video yourself. Then put it up here. I think you'll be amazed at the difference between what you think you're doing and what you really are doing. Plus there are some good putters on here who can probably offer some more constructive advice than with only your description to work on.

I think the relationship between full swings and putter swing videos on ask the experts must be about 50 to 1.

 

[duncan mackie]

mine has been rubbish recently, so I did what I almost never do in these circumstances (normally preferring to stew in my own juices for a month or two), I had a putting lesson.

We changed : grip, shaft angle, alignment, swing length and my very odd habit of moving my head backwards as I made my stroke.

Definitely an hour well spent, if only to teach me basics that I'd never had properly checked before.

At the very least, video yourself. Then put it up here. I think you'll be amazed at the difference between what you think you're doing and what you really are doing. Plus there are some good putters on here who can probably offer some more constructive advice than with only your description to work on.

I think the relationship between full swings and putter swing videos on ask the experts must be about 50 to 1.

spot on

 

[Jackooo]

First things first dear chap - we have all been there.

Now, it is likely that you are not striking the centre of the putter face and not getting an immediate roll on the ball.

Back to basics for you!:
Keep still (no peeking or body movement)
Elbows in and rock the shoulders to get a rytham to your stroke
Now check the immediate roll you get on the ball.
If the ball jumps on impact ensure your hands are forward of the ball a little.
Then try some different ball positions out - (forward or middle of stance)

The basics are strike and roll.

Let us know how you go.

Edit - and get our feet hips and shoulders parralell square to the target line :thup:

Will try get back to basics, the frustrating thing is its been for a while. The even more frustrating thing is everything else with my game is great at the moment, irons, driver, chipping, pitching - all fantastic!

Honestly want to snap my putter in half and try again. Its in the naughty corner, I don't want to look at it!

 

[Sid Rixon IV]

mine has been rubbish recently, so I did what I almost never do in these circumstances (normally preferring to stew in my own juices for a month or two), I had a putting lesson.

We changed : grip, shaft angle, alignment, swing length and my very odd habit of moving my head backwards as I made my stroke.

Definitely an hour well spent, if only to teach me basics that I'd never had properly checked before.

At the very least, video yourself. Then put it up here. I think you'll be amazed at the difference between what you think you're doing and what you really are doing. Plus there are some good putters on here who can probably offer some more constructive advice than with only your description to work on.

I think the relationship between full swings and putter swing videos on ask the experts must be about 50 to 1.

One lesson - an hour well spent?
Was it a double lesson?

 

[pendodave]

One lesson - an hour well spent?
Was it a double lesson?

It was an hour lesson. As he does half hours I guess that makes it a double...

It actually ended up a little longer than an hour, but it was definitely well spent. I originally booked it to have a look at the swing on a SAM putt lab that they have (I went to The Shire in north london, which was the nearest place to where I live that had the kit).

However, once we'd talked about my putting, and hit a few, it became pretty obvious that nothing more hi-tech than a pro's eye and a video camera would suffice for now.

We did all the basics - grip, stance, ball position, shaft angle, tempo, swing length, alignment. Pretty much all aspects got an explanation, a look at what I was doing, a comparison with 'good practice' and then some work to correct. Like all lessons, there was plenty of chat - what we'd seen on the telly, other players/pros/courses locally etc etc.

An hour gave me enough to going on with, but half an hour wouldn't have covered it. As I had a 25 min drive to get there, I wasn't that keen to go twice in a couple of days to cover the same stuff.

I came away thinking it time and money well spent. Given the relationship between money spent and shots dropped in my average yearly golf budget I think it stacks up pretty well. Looking around here, I think that would be the case for a significant minority !!

 

[pokerjoke]

My putting is terrible at the moment, its killing my scores. 3 putted 5 times today, I just don't feel confident over any putts at all - pushing, pulling, flying them past, leaving them woefully short. Its shot my confidence to pieces.

Completely stuck on what to do, I spend time on the practice green, but when it comes to making putts that count I bottle them. So frustrating.

Im sure lots of people have been here before, question is how do i get out of it?!

Forget changing your putter,angle,lie etc,just change your mentality.
I got fitted for my putter,however the early part of the year I was putting awful.
The greens were poor and I got it into my head I was a crap putter.
So in my mind I changed my mentality,telling myself I was a good putter.
Now the greens are better,all of a sudden im a much better putter.
Its all in the mind

 

[Simbo]

Providing your basics are decent, the only answer is practice .......LOTS of it.

If you haven't had a lesson, get one, money well spent. Then work like there's no tomorrow at it, but make sure the practice is productive. Do EXACTLY on the practice putting green as you would do on the course, standing raking in balls and hitting them one after the other is a waste of time.

 

[m9wst]

Have a read of Putting out of your mind by bob rotella, its about the psychological side of putting, i found it a great help.

 

[wonga]

To improve your confidence & feel, place 4 balls around the cup one putter length from the cup, follow your usual routine and put the ball into the hole. Try to get all 4 balls in. If not repeat until you become 100%. Then try from 2 club lengths away. You will soon improve your putting & your confidence

 

[sev112]

Practice 3 foot straight putts at home, lots of them
Try to sink 50 in a row
Seriously helps ingraining hitting the sweet spot of your putter

Add that to an acceptance that you will always miss a couple /few during a round, and that bobbles will always throw a few odd line (and a few back online), and finally that even the pros you see in the top 10 in a major also miss a few.

I tend to find I putt better if I don't care if they don't go in

 

[HomerJSimpson]

On the advice of a well known coach, I've take an old putter and put a 5p on the face and worked on hitting the sweetspot (aka the coin) every time. Made a huge difference and much easier to control pace and line if you are hitting it off the middle everytime

 

[r11john]

Back to basics. Start with a few tap ins two inches. Try with your eyes closed. Feel what your doing. Baby the ball in the hole. Experiment with touch. It will come. Feel, feel.

 

[TheDashingBlade]

Sounds like your confidence is shot. Get Bob Rotella's Putting Out Of Your Mind... its great for clearing a lot of the negative thoughts festering in the mind.

 

[Jackooo]

Unfortunately it is shot, for moments it was briefly better, but still not confident. I've got a lesson on Wednesday so hopefully he will give me some drills etc to work on. Will try upload some videos as well.