My putting needs help!!!! Major Help!!!!

Today, we had to qualify for the upcoming tournament. I am number 2 and today I shot a 38 (+3) I hit 8 out of 9 greens. On the 9th hole I barely missed the green but got up and down. anyways, i had 20 putts. i had one double and bogey. I four putted in front of my coach. and the hole before i 3 putted for a bogey. I played well on every other part of the game.. Is there any tips or advice anyone can offer me? I greatly appreiciate it!!

Statistically you are putting 2.2 putts per hole and managed 1.8 on the 7 that you did not 3 & 4 putt. 3 putts happpen so I would guesstimate you average 2 putts per hole in a normal game? The 4 putt in front of your coach suggests nerves, in a qualifier with the coach watching would make most people nervous and put a lot of pressure on those putts. I would talk to my coach about strategies to reduce nerves if this was the problem. If you can't talk to your coach (hey, there are bad coaches out there, some are unapproachable, some may take this the wrong way, lable you as a choker, etc) play some betting game with your friends on the greens. It adds more pressure than regular play and helps gain some experience with pressure. Other pressure simulators are lag putting 10 putts into a two foot area or making 10 2 or three foot putts in a row. You can't leave the practice area until you do these. How far away from the pin do you average when you hit the green in regulation? This can increase the # of putts you take as well. If you normally putt better than 2 putts per green I'd chalk it up to nerves or, if you did not particularly feel any nervous energy than it might just be golf, stuff happens sometimes and ussually at the wrong time so it's best to forget about it.

1) distance control is more important than line
2) practice putting to get your confidence back
3) practice 1, 2, 3, 4, foot putts
4) find your stroke that works for you
5) pre-putt routine
6) light grip pressure
7) one piece keep your wrist out of the putt
8) distance control so that you leave all your putts within a 3 foot circle
9) believe that you will make each putt
10) practice, practice and more practice
11) have a friend that is a good putter take a look at your putting and he might see something very simple that will help you.
12) relax, you mention 4 putting in front of your coach, make a good stroke and relax and have fun

What were your misses like? Were you off on line, distance, or both? I'm guessing with the 3 and 4 putts that distance control was the major issue. A drill I love for distance control is to put a coin on the flange of the putter right behind the club face, and then practice making strokes without making the coin slide off the putter. Any jerking of the putter or use of your wrists at all will have the coin sliding off immediately, and keeping the coin in place will ingrain a good smooth rhythm. On course I even try to mentally keep the image of having the coin on the putter, and it helps me immensely.

-C

Assuming that distance control is your major problem, there are a number of drills you can do to help improve your feel. Some that I like are:

* Putt 5 or 6 balls from somewhere on the green to the fringe, so you're not worrying about target but only distance.
* When practicing, line up your putt and then close your eyes while you putt. You'll learn the "feel" of different distances.
* Use just your right (if a righty) hand.
* On the putting clock before the round, the first thing you might do is find a level spot and hit a few balls with a backswing halfway to your back foot, a few balls with a backswing to your back foot, and a few balls with a backswing 3-4 inches behind your back foot. Then pace off the average distances. This will give you a baseline when out on the course if you get to a hole where you don't trust your feel or mentally you're shaky. If you're facing an 11 foot putt and you know your back foot backswing is getting you about 12 feet, you should be able to hit that within a foot or two (or better) of the hole.