Great shots, horrible putting - help!

[kehanra99]

I need a little help here...

I went out and decided to count my strokes to the green, then record my final score to see the number of putts I need in a round. I finished with a 97, but I putted 25 times on the front 9. I didn't record the back but I had nothing but 2 and 3 putts. The worst is that I had 15 foot birdie putt on a par 4, and I 4-putted. I need tips bad. My score could get respectable if I could putt right now.

[Wisco-Kid]

I went through the same thing the last couple of years. Tee to green I was great and would usually be waiting for my partners to get on the green. But then my putting was so bad that when we walked off the green my score was almost always a stroke or two higher then my partners. It was very discouraging. I went out and got an 8 foot putting carpet/cup and worked all winter everyday for about 15-30 minutes on my stroke. Take the time to figure out the basics first:

Are you using the right putter for you? (mallet or blade)
Is it the correct length for you?
Are you using the right grip for you? (overlap, reverse overlap, left hand low etc)?
When you address the putt are your eyes directly on top of the ball?
Are you left eye or right eye dominant?
Do you swing open gate/ close gate or straight back and straight through?Keep your head still do not look at the ball until it is well on its way to the cup.

Eventually you will find that you become more comfortable standing over the ball and confident in your putting ability because you have a stroke that you can rely on. It takes practice though, and alot of it.

[OHS1Golfer]

make sure ur eyes are over the ball. and loosen up ur grip pressure

[Franco!]

Practice.
You're not going to get better at putting without practice.

[ripsid]

Something that has worked with me and it's something that I used saturday, when I realized on like the 3rd hole what I was doing wrong. this is something I got from Tiger himself (ok maybe it was a magazine where I got it from him, but I did get it from him)..

I'm righty, and I use my right hand as the dominant hand! And man has it made a HUGE change in my putting! I was rolling them like I haven't before.. 1 3 putt, and that was before I started putting this way, and I had nothing but 1's and 2's after that, and I had a few lengthy putts..

Pete

[Matt10]

My method of putting is really why my handicap has lowered this year.

1. squat behind the ball - align the putter behind the ball so hold the grip to make the face aimed at your intended target.

2. After doing so, and finding your aim, stand up and make sure the club is in the same position (so all you are really doing is standing up instead of squatting behind the ball) and take your putting stance - knowing that the face is already aimed at your target.

3. Putt the ball with top-spin. This part might be tricky for some - but I've found that doing this has helped me keep the ball rolling true and on the target line. It takes some practice to get used to - but man, if you stick with it, it'll yield results.

There - that is my routine, I do include one other way to judge putting distances, but I think that depends more on the type of player you are. I used to be a feel putter, but now I'm a technical putter - with a tad feel :)

[atrapasuenos]

I was having that problem, so I bought a hole, those that Galaxy golf sells, and I putt it over the carpet of my room. And evreyday I practice my putting. It worked for me because I get the sensation of my stroke. Now I'm putting better.

Regards.

[CG031]

Don't worry about making the putts, just getting them close within 3 feet everytime.

[sonicblue]

With all due respect, if you don't get that putting is merely a mental exercise, you're missing the forest through the trees. I mean, a 275 yard drive has angles, wind, ball flight/spin, blink-of-an-eye club speed to control. A putt is simply pushing a ball to roll toward a target. It is the simplest thing in golf, don't overcomplicate it (right hand pressure, square-square vs. "gate," eyes over ball.....yeesh...).

IMHO, and this is coming from a person who has gotten MUCH better with his putting with this exact revelation, your poor putts are a result of one pervasive, overriding, consistent problem: you change your mind in the middle of your putting stroke. Whether you question your alignment, or suddenly think you're going to hit it too hard, or just doubt whether you've even read the line right....you attempt to change something mid-stroke. IT WILL LEAD TO POORER RESULTS. Try this simple procedure:

1) Foremost, simply, believe that you can make every putt. With few exceptions, every putt is, in fact, makeable. Who's to say your ball can't roll on that line? Like any shot, you have to understand the "miss potential" - e.g. steep downhill may roll 20 feet by - but you can't live in fear of it, especially on putts.

2) Read your putt. Trust the power of your mind to envision a line. Few people in the world benefit from a ten-minute read. Pay attention to approach shots as they roll, or a partner's putt, but when you read yours, trust your gut and pick a line. Then envision the speed it needs to start its roll with; simply, just imagine you had to roll it with your hand. That's the speed you'll swing your putter.

3) Address the ball, align to your chosen line, feel your speed. At this point, you CANNOT CHANGE YOUR MIND. If you really want to, back off. Otherwise, make the stroke you trust! I can't emphasize it enough - your power to believe you are about to make the right, best, proper putt is 99% of the battle toward actually doing it. It is not physical. ANYONE can tap a golf ball and roll it into a hole. You can do it standing backwards, sideways, one-handed, wrong-handed. You can certainly do it while standing "normally," and once you really believe that, you will start hitting better putts. Your misses will be closer and you will make a bunch more.

[Franco!]

Don't worry about making the putts, just getting them close within 3 feet everytime.

I find that to be stupid.

If you want to lower your scores, why wouldn't you try to make the putt?

[CG031]

I find that to be stupid.

No, I'm talking about 15 footers. If you have a 15 footer for birdie, and you're having trouble three putting and four putting from that distance, focus on getting out of their with par...then once you master the feel of that, you can start going for them.

[Franco!]

No, I'm talking about 15 footers. If you have a 15 footer for birdie, and you're having trouble three putting and four putting from that distance, focus on getting out of their with par...then once you master the feel of that, you can start going for them.

True.

I understand. I just know people that from 8 feet try to put it to 3 feet. It just doesn't make sense. They're good golfers also.

[kehanra99]

I'm leaning towards mental here. Puttin had been one of my strong suits prior to this year. My last two or three rounds have proven otherwise. I think I just need to go out and practive a few times this week and end on a good day.

I was thinking about getting a new putter this summer. Maybe I should do it sooner...