Short Putts on bumpy greens

[User 105]

So, what's your approach ?

Our greens were really bad at the weekend, slow and bumpy because of the rain. I also suspect they didn't cut the greens on Sun and also didn't move the holes between as there was a lot of damage around the holes but the rest of the green looked ok'ish.

So, do you just try and die it in the hole and hope it holds it's line or give it a firmer hit and hope it doesn't take a diversion and go 4ft past leaving you a longer putt back ?

 

[Matty]

The greens where I play always end up like this in Autumn - and to make matters worse we seem to have the holes created such that they are on the top of a little mound so that the last 2 inches into the cup is always up a slight gradient.

The only option therefore is to hit a firmer putt and hope it doesn't stray from the line.

 

[Capella]

I do give it more of a shove than a hit, if that makes sense. On fast and true greens I tend to actually hit the ball with a short whack, on slower greens, I putt more with he feeling of slightly accelerating through the ball and the clubhead follows through more. I find that the ball holds direction better that way and goes through the break.

 

[garyinderry]

Slow greens is always firm and in the middle. Wet furry greens don't break as much.

 

[Slab]

Swap the 34" putter with insert face to the 1inch longer & heavier milled face so swinging as near the same as possible and take some break out

 

[User 105]

I'd usually go the firm route as well. Maybe it was pin positioning as well this weekend. They seem to have them all on a crest so if you hit it firm and missed then you were running it a good distance by, which I did on quite a few occasions then started trying to just die it in, which didn't work either but the next putt was a tap in.

 

[patricks148]

Slow greens is always firm and in the middle. Wet furry greens don't break as much.

This.

Ours have been Hollow tinned and heavily sanded, so are very bumpy at the moment. Firm and at the hole is what is required.. its dosen't matter if it misses due to the lumps and bumps

 

[Hobbit]

I play the ball a bit further forward, catching the ball slightly on the up/mid ball to give it a bit more of a top spin roll. Google it, there's some decent explanations...

 

[Three]

So, what's your approach ?

Our greens were really bad at the weekend, slow and bumpy because of the rain. I also suspect they didn't cut the greens on Sun and also didn't move the holes between as there was a lot of damage around the holes but the rest of the green looked ok'ish.

So, do you just try and die it in the hole and hope it holds it's line or give it a firmer hit and hope it doesn't take a diversion and go 4ft past leaving you a longer putt back ?

There is a happy medium

I focus on the contact, get it rolling as best I can to give it as much chance as possible. After that, don't worry too much about the result if it's out of your control.

 

[duncan mackie]

I play the ball a bit further forward, catching the ball slightly on the up/mid ball to give it a bit more of a top spin roll. Google it, there's some decent explanations...

Exactly

Watched a good player (+2) do exactly this a couple of years ago. Strangely his putts rolled more consistently (into the hole as well) than everybody else despite all playing on the same greens!

 

[Jimaroid]

Played a quick 9 holes on Saturday morning in the drizzle. Greens were very soft and a little hairy in places.

Took 12 putts in those 9 holes, 3 birdies. Only had one putt longer than 10 feet. Best performance on the greens that I can remember all year but it was all for nothing.

Golf is an infuriatingly stupid game.

 

[garyinderry]

Exactly

Watched a good player (+2) do exactly this a couple of years ago. Strangely his putts rolled more consistently (into the hole as well) than everybody else despite all playing on the same greens!

Quite common for golfers in the past to hit up and flick at their putts to try and put on this top roll.

 

[Crawfy]

Agree on the 1st with your playing partners to increase gimme distances...

 

[Hobbit]

Quite common for golfers in the past to hit up and flick at their putts to try and put on this top roll.

Whoa! Less of the in the past. I'm a very youthful, athletic chap

 

[Jates12]

Always firm and at the back if its a little bobbly.

 

[duncan mackie]

Quite common for golfers in the past to hit up and flick at their putts to try and put on this top roll.

Not quite sure what your point is - but there was definitely no flick involved in his stroke!

 

[delc]

The greens where I play always end up like this in Autumn - and to make matters worse we seem to have the holes created such that they are on the top of a little mound so that the last 2 inches into the cup is always up a slight gradient.

The only option therefore is to hit a firmer putt and hope it doesn't stray from the line.

Yes, I noticed that volcano shaped holes were back with us when I played on Friday! Due to the foot fall of people attending the flag or retrieving their golf balls from the hole on soft wet greens and creating a depression around the hole.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

How short are we talking? On 1-2 footers at this time of year I aim inside edge and hit it firm

 

[Jacko_G]

Winter, don't worry about the putts.

If you've put a good stroke on it and it doesn't go in, who cares, Walk on.