Putting woes

[Basher]

Happy to report that my game has been improving so far this season when compared to last.

However, a couple of outstanding flaws have come to the fore, namely putting and short iron/wedge shots.

I do all the good work, decent drive from the tee, tidy wood/iron shots up to approach. I then totally ruin my scores by woeful approach shots and putting.
It's as if when I get a short iron (8 upwards) in my hands I totally forget how to hit the ball cleanly.
On the green, I must say my long putts are not noticeably too bad, it's the medium to short putts that I screw up on.

Anybody have some good tips or links to good sites to help me out please?

 

[bobmac]

Pulls up a chair..........
Is it length or direction you are having problems with?

 

[Herbie]

Practice the areas that you feel are flawed, see a pro, talk to Bobmac.

Some people fail with chipping through fear of overhitting and consequently duff it. Its better to over hit, but hit!, than it is to under hit or duff it as it is easier to correct distance with good striking.

 

[Basher]

Makes 2 cups of tea, lies on the couch.

It's like this Bob:

Putting wise, on longer putts, distance is an issue. On shorter ones, distance.
Short iron and wedge play - duffing shots (Points received and understood HNJ, thanks) and generally mis-hitting approach shots.

Hope this gives you a bit to work on Dr Bob!!!!!

 

[roccokj]

Read a bit of Bob Rotella!
I had that problem with putting from short ranges but it's gradually improving because I've begun to pick a really small target on my target line like a small blemish or on occasion, a noticeable blade of grass on the lip of the hole - obviously for the small putts.
When I practice putting I always putt towards a small target like a coin. The hole then seems much bigger.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I use this for practicing

http://www.americangolf.co.uk/golf-equip...s/bullseye-cup/

It really helps on the 3-6 footers as the hole is significantly reduced and so you have to be accurate to get it in. Take it away and the real hole seems huge

 

[ev123uk]

I've had similar problems with short putts and saw a pro last weekend. He altered my grip as i was abit strong with the top hand which was causing a pull. He also tucked my elbows right into the body and moved the hands forward to create a flatter left wrist. Finally he got me to have my hands level with the front of the ball at address. It feels as uncomfortable as hell at the moment but it does work!

With wedges shots from inwards of 75 yards, he told me a set up where the left foot is places 6 inches back from the right at address. Your weight stays forward through the backswing and down swing, lmost like the downswing gathers up the rest of the body at impact and follows through together. Again it works a treat for me.

Sorry if my explanations dont make any sense!! All works for me but thats just me!

 

[golf_bug]

1. Get a lesson from a pro. If you have a fundamental issue like grip, you will be wasting your time practising the wrong things.

2. Buy a putting matt - I got a cheap one from Tesco. Its really bad quality, but it gives you a target to aim at in your house, and allows you to grain a consistent stroke.

3. Chill out on the course. I am a bad putter, but I am learning to relax and trust my instincts wrt line and pace. You'll be amazed at how much better you are if you take a look at a putt, then hit the thing immediately after.

4. Wedges etc. Again, I am pretty bad at this myself, but shorten yoru backswing and force yourself to hit down on the back of the ball and trust the loft to get it in the air. You will get a much better strike and control.

 

[nmartyn]

my putting has always been the poorest part of my game.
but i went to try out loads of putters and to my surprise ended up coming home with a YES Hannah.
it has a central shaft which makes alignment SOOO much easier for me.
with this kind of putter you have a straight through stroke (opposed to a usual pendulum shape) which immediately cured my tendency to push putts to the right.

now i take my time, use the line on the ball to aim at the target, step back and check it. then its a case of simply lining up the club cos i know i'll have a straight action due to the centrally positioned shaft on the head.

make sense?

 

[vig]

PM Bobmac and get one of his V easy's. I have tried one, briefly and can see the benefits.
Technique is everything!!!

 

[bobmac]

Lots of people have distance problems when putting.
This is normally caused by too many power sources.
If you have more than one power source its tricky to control how far the ball goes.
Power source
1. Hips moving
2. wrists hitting
3. shoulders rocking or turning.
If you do all 3, its almost impossible to control how fast the putter will travel, hence how far the ball will go.
If the golfer only has one power source, that is the shoulders rocking he or she can control the length of the backswing. With a gentle acceleration through the ball and a complete follow through the golfer has more chance of controling how far the dam thing goes.

Duffing.
We've all done it and we'll all do it again (including me)
Sometimes caused by the ball too far back in the stance, sometimes the golfer flicking the wrists trying to LIFT the ball into the green and sometimes caused by the golfer swinging back too far and slowing down into the ball.
Check the ball is JUST a bit back in the stance (one inch), weight on the front foot (80-20), gentle grip (sexy fingers) hands slightly forward and try and take a little divot after the ball. If you cant take a divot, think of the club hitting the dirt under the grass, not just skimming the top of it.
Lastly, make sure the follow through is LONGER than the bakswing.
That will be £15 please. Paypal or green shield stamps accepted
HTH