Please help diagnose putting woes

[albatross]

I've been working REALLY hard on my putting (put in 2 hours this morning) but I'm still not getting the results I want.

Here are the two biggest faults and I want to know some common causes. So I built myself the Snake Eyes Tour Platinum 7801. Amazing putter. Great feel when I hit it solid.

On lag putts, I'm constantly scuffing it on the green before I hit the ball, which of course results in the putt coming up way short. This only happens on long lag putts.

Is the putter just too long? It shouldn't be. I built it to 35" and I'm 6'3. What else could cause scuffing it on the ground before I hit the ball?

The other issue is when I miss a putt, it's always getting pushed out to the left. What in my technique could consistently cause me to push putts out to the left. I'm a right handed player.

Thanks!

[ugottabjoshinme]

I had the same problem on long putts. I believe my issue was lifting the putter too high on a "straight" line instead of having more arc in my backstroke and keeping the putter head close to the ground. With the pulling putts left, i would focus on making sure your stance is square. If your stance is open (and you are putting with your shoulders) the club is going to follow your shoulder line and the ball will come out left.

[jamo]

I've got the same problem. I think it comes from the fact that on long putts, you try to power up, and you/I extemd the arms and scuff the ground. just my guess but i think it makes sense.

[CarlSpackler]

Others may have better ideas to help, but I would try practicing putts without looking up after you strike the ball. Wait 20 seconds or so and then look up to see how it turned out. I hate using the phrase "you looked up" but I know that will cause me push putts or hit the big ball before the little one. The other thing I started doing is hovering the putter slightly above the ground instead of grounding it. Doing this drill helped me with those two things, but also helped me get a better feel for length. I will guess if the putt is short or long before I look up. The more I do this, the less I am surprised.

[ks8829]

the putting stroke has a somewhat of a circular arc and the low point of the circle is hitting behind the ball. if you visualize this in your mind you can make the necessary correction to prevent this from happening during your stroke with your hands position, ball position or way you take the putter back etc.

some players hover the putter slightly off the ground before they begin their backstroke, sometime a slight forward press might help, do not be afraid to try different things to help eliminate hitting it fat on your putts.

how is your weight during putting, have you tried shifting your weight toward the front foot more?

[ks8829]

When you get into your putting stance, one of the first things you should check is how far you are standing from the ball. The best way is to either drop a ball from your eyes and see if it hits on top of the ball you are about to putt or dangle a putter from your eyes to see where it hands in relations to the ball.

You can pull or push putts with the incorrect distance from the ball without knowing it for a long time.