Short & Curlies - how do you do yours

[ManinBlack]

I was out playing 9 holes on my own the other day & was faced with a 5' putt on a notoriously sloping green. I had 4 goes, hitting it quite firmly, & missed every one, high & low. I then tried one where I allowed a lot more borrow & tried to get the ball to die at the hole. Result, for the last couple of feet the ball was rolling in a straight line towards the hole & dropped in the middle. I tried a couple more like this & holed them too. Hitting putts with a small borrow firmly is a good idea but as the distance & borrow increases the strength of the putt becomes more important.

I'm a bit embarrassed just to (re)discover this after playing for 58 years but it just shows that you're never too old to learn.

 

[MendieGK]

I was out playing 9 holes on my own the other day & was faced with a 5' putt on a notoriously sloping green. I had 4 goes, hitting it quite firmly, & missed every one, high & low. I then tried one where I allowed a lot more borrow & tried to get the ball to die at the hole. Result, for the last couple of feet the ball was rolling in a straight line towards the hole & dropped in the middle. I tried a couple more like this & holed them too. Hitting putts with a small borrow firmly is a good idea but as the distance & borrow increases the strength of the putt becomes more important.

I'm a bit embarrassed just to (re)discover this after playing for 58 years but it just shows that you're never too old to learn.

I'm working on hitting my putts with more pace this year, but i believe one of this first things Aimpoint teaches is that the majority of amateurs under borrow putts. So it makes sense what you are saying.

 

[ManinBlack]

I'm working on hitting my putts with more pace this year, but i believe one of this first things Aimpoint teaches is that the majority of amateurs under borrow putts. So it makes sense what you are saying.

Not only amateurs. I haven't conducted a survey but watching European Tour & PGA events I get the impression that more putts are missed on the low side than high.

 

[Slab]

My preference is for my putts to drop on the last roll of the ball so I tend to be generous with borrow (I don't like putting through a borrow, I think the missed putt outcome is more severe)

 

[One Planer]

5" putt.

Personally I play them firm to take out the break.

 

[3565]

I can never understand the take the break out of it and hit it firmer as all your doing is reducing the size of the area for the ball to be able to go in, and why take that risk and have a 4-5ft return. I had an interesting convo with our pro yesterday and I asked him has anyone ever had a green reading lesson from you? His answer was no. And I would think that would be the case across the land.
I do Aimpoint, due to the sceptisium shown by some on hear and past arguements ive had Im not goin to get involved in lengthy debates of its validity, but I will say this, it may pay you to have a green reading lesson with your pro, he is there for a reason.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

3565:

The man behind Aimpoint (Jamie Donaldson) is coming to my club in the near future to do an Aimpoint Express clinic, I take it you would recommend going to it then?

 

[One Planer]

I can never understand the take the break out of it and hit it firmer as all your doing is reducing the size of the area for the ball to be able to go in, and why take that risk and have a 4-5ft return. I had an interesting convo with our pro yesterday and I asked him has anyone ever had a green reading lesson from you? His answer was no. And I would think that would be the case across the land.
I do Aimpoint, due to the sceptisium shown by some on hear and past arguements ive had Im not goin to get involved in lengthy debates of its validity, but I will say this, it may pay you to have a green reading lesson with your pro, he is there for a reason.

Personal preference I suppose.

I play all my putts firm so that they finish 18" past the hole. I certainly don't try and drop them in.

 

[garyinderry]

Can't say I do one thing or the other. Depends on the putt. I do know when lee park quickens up it helps to let them die into the hole and if there is break allow for it. Otherwise they just lip out all day long.

 

[ManinBlack]

5" putt.

Personally I play them firm to take out the break.

So do I on putts where the putt is short or the break is slight. Do that on the kind of putt I'm talking about & if you missed you'd be literally 10' or more past the hole. Not the best option.

 

[3565]

3565:

The man behind Aimpoint (Jamie Donaldson) is coming to my club in the near future to do an Aimpoint Express clinic, I take it you would recommend going to it then?

like Gareth has just posted, it's personal preference which to be fair is correct, its what works for you, But I bet majority will try the latest driver 3w to see if it's better then our old one and if so, it's in the bag. if you don't try you'll never know!

Im not going to say to you James you must do it, you have to decide is it something that you may benefit from?

Personally, I have best of both worlds old and new methods, 'IF' and sometimes I do my reading in old style to compare with new, it has improved due to the knowledge ive gained from Aimpoint. I'm holing a lot more lengthier putts and my misses, my stats are showing more are on the high side then the low.

Its not for everyone, but I won't go back to the traditional way. Sorry if it's a vague answer.

Where is the course at near you?

 

[Deleted member 1147]

like Gareth has just posted, it's personal preference which to be fair is correct, its what works for you, But I bet majority will try the latest driver 3w to see if it's better then our old one and if so, it's in the bag. if you don't try you'll never know!

Im not going to say to you James you must do it, you have to decide is it something that you may benefit from?

Personally, I have best of both worlds old and new methods, 'IF' and sometimes I do my reading in old style to compare with new, it has improved due to the knowledge ive gained from Aimpoint. I'm holing a lot more lengthier putts and my misses, my stats are showing more are on the high side then the low.

Its not for everyone, but I won't go back to the traditional way. Sorry if it's a vague answer.

Where is the course at near you?

No, it's not a vague answer it's a detailed one. My green reading isn't great and some assistance would be good. So I think I will go along.

It's being held at my club, Kedleston Park GC in Derby.

 

[Junior]

Im a dribbler....always have been. Especially in a medal. To me the best putters seem to fond a nice medium.

 

[Khamelion]

3565:

The man behind Aimpoint (Jamie Donaldson) is coming to my club in the near future to do an Aimpoint Express clinic, I take it you would recommend going to it then?

Watching the Honda Classic over the weekend, Poulter was on the green and held his hand up to line up his putt. The commentator said "There's Poulter using the aimpoint express method, I'd tell you how it works, but there's not enough time left in this telecast to do so, but it appears to work for him"

 

[Region3]

Personal preference I suppose.

I play all my putts firm so that they finish 18" past the hole. I certainly don't try and drop them in.

18" past is not 'firm' imo, certainly not firm enough to take much of the break out, especially on a downhill putt.

For me it's situational. If the one back matters then a really tricky short putt will finish no more than a foot away and if it goes in great.
If the one back doesn't matter it'll be a bit firmer.

My PP has kittens at my short putts sometimes, as if there's only a couple of inches break I'll hit it straight and hard enough to go about 4' past.

 

[CMAC]

Personal preference I suppose.

I play all my putts firm so that they finish 18" past the hole. I certainly don't try and drop them in.

see, that's where you are going wrong Gareth, try to put them in the hole, not past it and your handicap will tumble :ears:





You are either a firm holer or a 'die at the hole' holer. There is no right or wrong way, just the way that suits you

 

[3565]

I'm a dribbler too!
My pillow is soaking wet in the morning, must be my old age.

 

[pokerjoke]

I like to see my putts on a breaking putts drop in the hole on its last revolution.
Uphill a little firmer.

I don't know why Poulter has started using aimpoint as he is already a good
putter.

Theres someone on here who does it and all he talks about is 3 putting.
So much for aimpoint and NGT.

 

[Hobbit]

Depends on slope, length and speed of the greens. Some I'll hit firm - very firm according to some who've seen me play - but some will just die into the hole.

 

[CMAC]

I like to see my putts on a breaking putts drop in the hole on its last revolution.
Uphill a little firmer.

I don't know why Poulter has started using aimpoint as he is already a good
putter.

Theres someone on here who does it and all he talks about is 3 putting.
So much for aimpoint and NGT.

omg! taking him out my fantasy league teams and no more bets on him.