Putting - how did you get better?

[gsu_paintballer]

I am getting a TON better. I'm 2 putting almost every green, which is a major improvement for me. I have about one 3-putt per side now as opposed to 2 or 3. My main change has been moving from a slap style stroke to more of a "push the ball" style stroke. It's helped me to not over power the ball.

Any advice to get to that next level?

[Fourputt]

A lot of it is just hitting approach shots closer to the hole. That is if you are already hitting a lot of greens, but are outside of 20 feet, than you can't really expect much better than 2 putts from that distance most of the time. If you are missing greens, and still needing 2 putts per hole,then you need to be a better chipper, as well as working on your approaches. If your first putt is typically from beyond 10 feet regardless of how you got there then it may not be the putting that's the problem.

Putting success has to be evaluated with consideration for what is happening in your game before you hit that first putt.

[flopdarock]

practice alot from all different spots on a practice green... try to find one that isnt flat and has different reads

[gsu_paintballer]

A lot of it is just hitting approach shots closer to the hole. That is if you are already hitting a lot of greens, but are outside of 20 feet, than you can't really expect much better than 2 putts from that distance most of the time. If you are missing greens, and still needing 2 putts per hole,then you need to be a better chipper, as well as working on your approaches. If your first putt is typically from beyond 10 feet regardless of how you got there then it may not be the putting that's the problem.

True. My approach is usually a good distance. I usually get on in GIR+1

[Chief Broom]

Putting has always struck me as being very analogous with shooting baskets in basketball. Short tap-in/under the basket lay-up; freethrows/4-5 footers; 10-15 footers/three pointers; half court shots/20-40 footers; etc. The key to shooting baskets is good form and practice, and I always felt the same metric applied to putting. Make sure your form is solid (putting as a hand-arms-shoulders unit) with a good backstroke and follow through pushing towards the hole/target line. Once you've got the form that works for you down, then it all comes down to time spent practicing. The guys that are deadly shooting a basketball spend hours a day shooting hoops, so I guess what I'm saying is that if you want to consistantly make putts and be able to rely upon that talent you need to spend a lot of time on a regular basis putting. And just like basketball this isn't a talent you can learn and then be able to rely upon it when needed. You've got to put the time in practicing on a regular basis to have the skill. When you stop spending a lot of time practicing expect to see your putting skills suffer. That's just how this kind of things works...

[RocktimusPryme]

Well I tend to punish my scotty by using my Yes! putter for a couple rounds when the scotty acts up. Then when I go back to the Scotty its ussually got its act together again. You just have to show them whos boss now and again.

I find when Im putting bad, I almost always walk up to the put feeling like Im not going to make it. Bad thoughts lead to bad results. Mechanically latley Ive been concentrating on keeping my left arm stiff, and the right one seems to just coincinde with the left one.

[ks8829]

Show us your putting stroke! its interesting that we see alot of full swings videos but never video of putting, and putting is almost half your score.

[ks8829]

I changed my putting arc similar to Paddy's take away and follow through.

[pshizz]

i switched my grip to left hand low, which helps alot because it makes you use your big muscles rather than being handsy. i also filmed my putting stroke and changed it that way.

[LottaBalata]

Arms move together like a pendulum. NO WRISTING THE BALL. And have a swing arc like you would with any other club. You must practice with the putter a lot, its really the most used club in your bag.

Do you have a problem with alignment more, or speed?

Lining your feet PARALLEL to the hole--parallel to your target line. Many ams have a tendency to line their feet right at the hole, leaving the ball out right or left.

Tons and tons of practice. Until the putter just feels like right.

[gsu_paintballer]

Speed. I'm getting a pretty good line but dying out 1-4 feet from the hole

[uttexas]

1. switched to belly putter. Sets the pendulum at a fixed point, eliminating some error.
2. practiced a ton. I spent 6 months practicing nothing but puts (this is also inexpensive)
3. learned that putting is 95% mental/feel 5% technique-just look at all the different styles by great putters.
4. Read and reread Tom Watson's getting up and down
5. Learned to trust and commit to the line
6. Visualize the ball going in the hole many, many times before hitting the putt.
7. Speed is more important than line. With practice, our eyes and brains get very good at optical triangulation. Learn the correct speed. Your line is probably pretty good already.
8. Be positive all the time on the golf course (and in life). Be happy, make jokes, etc.
9. When you have a long putt, allow for a little more break. Trust your line
10. always look at the putt from behind the ball, lowest point on the intended path, and behind the hole. Time allowing, of course

[LottaBalata]

Speed. I'm getting a pretty good line but dying out 1-4 feet from the hole

Move both arms in unison. Get used to the pendulum idea and don't hit the ball but stroke thru it.

Does your putter feel too light to you? A putter that's too light is going to force you to lose control because you're simply trying to hit the ball to hard.

[ks8829]

Practice distance control with 100 balls a day so that you can repeat the distance consistently will most of your balls. This will test your tempo, solid contact and backswing path and distance control.

Practice 3 -5 footers will 50 balls every day.

If you can make the 3 to 5 footers almost everytime you will save lots of par and make lots of birdies. This will test your grip pressure, swing mechanics, and improve your putting.

In fact I need to do this myself everyday.

[Jay-Bird]

Determine the Speed . first figure out the speed at which you want the ball to go in the hole. Speed determines line .
Line up feet parallel to target line. Eyes almost directly over the ball.
Think positive thoughts. I will make this putt.
smoothly swing the putter.

[Fourputt]

Determine the

Or you could also say that in some cases line determines speed... (just yanking your chain a bit ) Since I putt with a slightly open stance my feet are never parallel to the line of the putt. Just a habit I got into a long time ago and it works for me. Worked pretty good for a little known player named Nicklaus too. I am always positive about my stroke. Even when I'm unsure of the read, I still try to make a point of committing to the stroke I decide on. This is when being dogmatic about your putting fundamentals comes into play... light grip, smooth takeaway, accelerate through impact, follow through, keep head still. Even if you aren't sure of the line, at least you will roll the ball on the line you decide to take, and who knows... it might even be the right one.

[wachesawgolfer]

A lot of it is just hitting approach shots closer to the hole. That is if you are already hitting a lot of greens, but are outside of 20 feet, than you can't really expect much better than 2 putts from that distance most of the time. If you are missing greens, and still needing 2 putts per hole,then you need to be a better chipper, as well as working on your approaches. If your first putt is typically from beyond 10 feet regardless of how you got there then it may not be the putting that's the problem.

Excellent post. When I am putting well, I am taking putting out of play. I don't care how good a putter you are, if your 50 plus feet out all the time you will have three putts or worse. Put those shots on the green close and the three putts go away and a lot more one putts emerge. Otherwise do line drills into the practice holes and run the practice green from hole to hole with one ball trying to get up and in to each hole in two or less around the entire green, then reverse and come back. Our practice green has 9 holes so I aim to break 36

[klaymon]

My putting has improved since I've adopted a faster tempo. I was moving too slowly back and through and it really killed my distance control. A faster stroke has helped me. I only had one 3-putt Sunday.