Putter help needed!

I played Tuesday in league and was leaving putts ungodly short (2-3 feet). The course I play most frequent typically has slow greens. I was thinking of picking up a heavier putter, any recommendations? I am currently using a TaylorMade Tour Corza Ghost Putter, head weight is 345g. I love the feel, just not getting the distance on longer putts (+15 feet).

That's a common misconception. Actually, the slower the greens the lighter the putter you should use to allow you to swing it more freely and forcefully. Heavy putters work better for faster greens since in those conditions the last thing you want is your stroke to get away from you.

That's up for debate.  I would be hesitant to change the weight of my putter based on green speed.  It will affect how the putter releases for you.  I've heard of players using more loft on slow greens though.

Hit the ball harder.  Leaving puts short is not the putter's fault.  Never heard of a distance problem with a putter.

You think that wasn't attempted?

I've heard slow greens use heavier, fast use lighter......

Typed dialogue is difficult, so bear with me. I am on your side and want you to succeed. Your putter is not the problem. Your lack of distance control is the problem. While a heavier or lighter putter may perform better on faster or slower greens, unless you play on the same greens, which are cut the same, maintained the same, etc.. the equipment change will be a futile pursuit.

If you just want a new putter, get one. I am with you here and have around 20 myself. Yamada Emperor or Musashi is my suggestion if you want putter buying advice. ha ha.. Very soft feel and for me personally, this equates to better distance control. I am also a big fan of the weighted Nippon putter shafts.

But if you think buying a new putter will fix your stated issue, you are mistaken. There are three very specific things I did to improve my distance control. Upon doing so, I could for the first time in my life roll the ball to within 2-3' on almost all 30 footers, 1-2' from almost all 20 footers, etc,, I am also making more putts than ever.

1.  Get a slimmer grip that will not absorb all the vibrations coming up your putter shaft. These vibrations are feedback plain and simple. The vibrations are filed away into your subconscious and the more you practice, the more ingrained the feeling becomes. It serves like a volume control on a stereo. You turn it up (hit longer putts), you feel more vibrations. Don't use thick, soft, vibration robbing grips. Did this for a long time before I found my answer in Pingman and Iomic midsize grips.

2.  Putt with a flat left wrist. Getting rid of the wristy motion of my old putting stroke was my breakthrough. Upon doing so, I began rolling the ball very precise distances in a consistent fashion. Actually learned this reading one of the beginning chapters in Bobby Clampett's book on the full swing, "The Impact Zone". Ironically, the best putting info I ever got was in a book on the full swing. Simple put, you can't bend your wrist the same way each time. Some days the ball is short, some days long, some days you are on fire. But you can't use a wristy motion as consistently as you can a flat left wrist.

3. Spend as much time on the practice green as you do pounding range balls. 30 minutes of range balls is followed by 30 minutes of putting. There is nothing simpler than this. To get good at putting, reading putts, rolling precise distances, etc.. takes practice. The good thing is that it requires little physical energy and you can do it for hours if you keep your interest level up. Putting games, contest, some drills, etc.. are a good way to spice things up. You can't just roll balls on the green without purpose for very long without losing interest.

-Dan

Practice, practice, practice will solve your distance issues. Start from 3 ft, 6 ft, 9 ft, 12 ft, 15ft, etc etc. Putt 5 balls from each distance until you can get all of them within a foot of the hole (front and back). While accuracy is important in putting, distance is just as important in making putts and getting you into a position to make a good 2nd putt.

I'm also under the impression that a heavier weight is better for slower greens (I play an Edel Vari-Weight putter). It allows me to make the same stroke on a slower green. Before my round, I go through the 3, 6, 9ft+ drills with my putter to get the distance down with a comfortable stroke and weight.

I hear what you guys are saying about practice. I would love to spend 30 even 60 minutes on a green a day but real life gets in the way. Would a 15 foot practice putting mat be good for in home for between putting green sessions?

Would a putter fitting say at Golf Galaxy be worth the time and money?

I spend time just practicing on carpet when I can't get to the greens. I find a long hallway, put a cup down or something, and then start working on distance putting from there.

I would say that only Edel can give you a true putter fitting. You could go to a place with a SAM lab and see what putter fits your stroke the most consistently, however you want a putter that you can aim properly and is also balanced properly to give you the right distance control.

From my way of thinking it is futile. Unless you play under the same conditions all the time. I played on a course a few weeks back with greens that were like putting on concrete. Fast and huge breaks, upper and lower levels, serious 3-4 putt potential. I played the other day on a course that had greens like shag carpet. I was killing the ball to get it out to 25-30 feet. When playing on vastly different greens, various conditioning, high end courses versus local budget friendly tracks, etc.. the only way I can putt good week in and week out is to trust my technique.

If I had a putter that was better on slow greens, that is fine on only a few courses. Likewise, if I used a certain putter on super fast greens, that is great for some courses. I want to show up on any course and roll balls for 15 minutes and get a feel for it with the same putter. I realize some putter weights are better suited to some stimp meter readings. I just think there is little practical application for the vast majority of recreational golfers that play a different golf course each week.

-Dan