The results from last nights putting lesson.

[One Planer]

As a direct result of last nights putting lesson, I can not hit a much better 50 yard pitch


Seriously

When I arrived for my lesson, I did a little chipping and putting to warm up. We had a chat to see where I felt I was going wrong. The my pro had me roll a few balls with my putter.

He immediately picked up on my hands being behind the ball at address. After moving them forward to the correct position, with the same address posture and stroke, direction was very much improved. This, and a minor issue in my follow through just after impact, were the main cause of my issues.

Literally 10 minutes to improve my stroke.

So, we made a start on what I wanted to look at in Decemebers lesson. Short Pitches.

As it transpires, 90% of my issues are caused by poor positions at set-up. Once my pro got me into the correct positions and alignment results were, well, dramatically different to say the least.

My old technique and poor positions caused all manor of issue and correction/compensation through the swing in order to get the ball remotely on target. Something like that is never going to repeat.

How he has me hitting it now is much, much simpler. As a result, I'm making better, more crisp contact and on first impression better distance control. It's going to take some practice to get used to the feeling of the new swing, but the early signs are very encouraging.

I may have a putting lesson to work on my driving :rofl:

 

[garyinderry]

what were your old set up and ball positions and what are the new?


hands ahead of the ball at address when putting? does that not take the 3/4 degrees of loft off the putter?


glad to hear he didn't just mug you of £25 quid for putting and moved on to something else! sounds like a good pro :thup:

 

[One Planer]

what were your old set up and ball positions and what are the new?

For the pitching, the ball was positioned centre stance. With the new positions just inside my left heel, so a lot more forward. He wants me to use the bounce a little more than I currently am.

All I can say is with the posture changes and the ball position more forward, I'm making better contact than when the ball was positioned back and getting a much more accurate results.

For putting fractionally back, but only fractionally.

hands ahead of the ball at address when putting? does that not take the 3/4 degrees of loft off the putter?

My hands aren't ahead of the ball Gary, they are, pretty much level. Before the changes, they sat, clearly, behind the ball.

glad to hear he didn't just mug you of £25 quid for putting and moved on to something else! sounds like a good pro :thup:

He's a very good pro Gary. Doesn't use jargon and make it difficult to undestand. He'll demonstrate the correct way and talk you through why it will work better. I won't change pro's because of how easy he makes it to learn and improve.

He did say my set up and stroke were pretty good. Just need to get my hands level with the ball. The issue occuring just after impact can be cured with a ruler in the back of the glove as a drill to get the correct feeling.

 

[jpjeffery]

I think this proves why seeing a pro is a really good idea. All those naysayers reckoning that for putting you just need to practice...but practice only works if you're practicing the right thing, which it sounds like you now will be.

Pros rule!

 

[virtuocity]

I think this proves why seeing a pro is a really good idea. All those naysayers reckoning that for putting you just need to practice...but practice only works if you're practicing the right thing, which it sounds like you now will be.

Pros rule!

Sweeping statement.

I know plenty of pros who would consider a putting lesson to exclusively involve showing you a few drills/games to use on the putting green. Sounds like Gareth got his moneys worth whilst diagnosing the technical faults in his putting stroke.

 

[CirenBhoy]

I've been working on the ball forward method of pitching and chipping for a year or so now. It stemmed from getting the GM Gary Smith App for my iPhone.
It really is a simple method and removes all the complex actions attributed to the more non-traditional ( ball back ) methods.

I have found that I need to go back to the videos on the App to re-ingrain the technique into my head, otherwise I start to do it all wrong and get frustrated.

Would recommend this to anyone

 

[pokerjoke]

As a direct result of last nights putting lesson, I can not hit a much better 50 yard pitch


Seriously

When I arrived for my lesson, I did a little chipping and putting to warm up. We had a chat to see where I felt I was going wrong. The my pro had me roll a few balls with my putter.

He immediately picked up on my hands being behind the ball at address. After moving them forward to the correct position, with the same address posture and stroke, direction was very much improved. This, and a minor issue in my follow through just after impact, were the main cause of my issues.

Literally 10 minutes to improve my stroke.

So, we made a start on what I wanted to look at in Decemebers lesson. Short Pitches.

As it transpires, 90% of my issues are caused by poor positions at set-up. Once my pro got me into the correct positions and alignment results were, well, dramatically different to say the least.

My old technique and poor positions caused all manor of issue and correction/compensation through the swing in order to get the ball remotely on target. Something like that is never going to repeat.

How he has me hitting it now is much, much simpler. As a result, I'm making better, more crisp contact and on first impression better distance control. It's going to take some practice to get used to the feeling of the new swing, but the early signs are very encouraging.

I may have a putting lesson to work on my driving :rofl:

Im now expecting your handicap to tumble quite considerably.
It just goes to show that people who don't putt well only need a little fine tuning.
I had a little tip off the best putter in my club,hes a regular playing partner as well.
Something very simple has made a significant difference.

 

[JustOne]

So, we made a start on what I wanted to look at in Decemebers lesson. Short Pitches.

As it transpires, 90% of my issues are caused by poor positions at set-up.

Rather than do things 'properly' we all seem to like to complicate matters by adding bits that just aren't necessary... or just plain wrong!

Golf is much easier than most of us make it

 

[chris661]

hands ahead of the ball at address when putting? does that not take the 3/4 degrees of loft off the putter?

Not wanting to sound flippant or whatever but what if it does deloft the putter a bit? Maybe his putter wasn't quite correct and too "lofty" to begin with.

 

[garyinderry]

Not wanting to sound flippant or whatever but what if it does deloft the putter a bit? Maybe his putter wasn't quite correct and too "lofty" to begin with.

gareth was fitted for his putter so I don't think its a case of the putter being too lofty

I take it you are aware of the role of the loft? surely the loft must be necessary or they wouldn't have it as standard on all modern putters!

 

[chris661]

gareth was fitted for his putter so I don't think its a case of the putter being too lofty

I take it you are aware of the role of the loft? surely the loft must be necessary or they wouldn't have it as standard on all modern putters!

Because as a mid to high handicap amateur golfer his putting stroke will stay the same?

From what I was told when I had a couple of putting lessons too much loft isn't great and if his hands were behind the ball that will increase the loft.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I always advocate using a mirror if you are working on the putting stroke at home or the course. I find it just reinforces my set up position particularly the hands and shoulders

 

[harpo_72]

The other point is where is the club head pointing when he is behind the ball and the how is it being delivered to the ball. It would be interesting to hear if Gareth's miss was to the right ...
Sometimes I putt with a slight forward press, sometimes I don't but my lining up procedure is the most critical and to do it before my right hand is on the club.

 

[garyinderry]

Because as a mid to high handicap amateur golfer his putting stroke will stay the same?

.

he cant always be sure that he had his hands behind the ball all the time. he might just have done this the day the pro had a look at him.

either way, he now knows where his hands should be.


I don't get the modern fascination of completely taking the wrists out of putting. with a little wrist action through the stoke you can easily add some top spin through the ball. this will help the ball to holds it line. I do this on up hill putts sometimes when I want to be aggressive.

ive read this in an old Arnold palmer book. many have used it down the years.