Putting Theory

[ChappyEight]

This will be my 2nd full season playing and I've taken in many books, magazines, TV shows, a few lessons, etc. just trying to learn the basics of the game to build a solid foundation.

I tend to be a "thinker" and got to thinking about a certain theory of putting that I hear quite often.

It seem as though it's common knowledge/practice that if you're, let's say, 25' from the hole you should not try and hit the putt, rather lag it close. Honestly, if you're aiming at the cup, wouldn't you think that even if you miss, you'll be close? Conversely, if you just intend to try and lag it somewhere near the hole, say within an 18" radius, and you miss that imagined, larger hole, wouldn't you then be further away than if you'd have just tried to make the putt in the first place?

Not trying to be difficult, but I find myself questioning all conventional wisdom and thought processes just to make sure that I truly believe them.

Any thoughts?

[CarlSpackler]

I visualize all my short game shots going in whether it is a 30' putt, chip, pitch. This does 2 things for me, it helps me pick my target for chips and pitches (I see the ball hitting the green in a certain spot and rolling to the hole). It also helps build confidence that the shot is makeable. Granted, I may see the ball trickling in the hole if it is a severe downhill roll to the hole. I guess I come from the school of "try to make them all, but don't give up the ship."

[MiniMoe]

I try to make every putt and every chip. The difference between a long put and a short putt is speed control. Long putts I am trying to make it so that the ball just gets to the hole, and on short ones, I am trying to match the speed to the line I want to play. Sometimes that is less break with more speed, and sometimes not, but it is OK to be more aggressive with shorter putts.

[chriskzoo]

Depends a lot on the slope of the green around the hole. If I have a 30 foot sidehiller, my focus is on leaving it below the hole. I would much rather have 5 feet straight up the slope than a 2 footer with 6 inches of break.

[jonnythan]

I do much better, especially on longer putts, when I focus on setting myself up for a 2-putt as opposed to triyng to put it in the hole.

[Slim 11]

I would say it all depends on the difficulty of the putt. I always try to give myself a chance to make them but speed is my main concern on long putts. I don't think the experts are saying don't shoot for it, they're just saying not to be overly aggressive and end up not having something fairly easy for your second putt.

[iacas]

  ChappyEight said:

It seem as though it's common knowledge/practice that if you're, let's say, 25' from the hole you should not try and hit the putt, rather lag it close.

I agree, that's probably the common thought. I don't think it's the best thought, though.

I, like a few others who have already responded, try to make every putt. I wrote this awhile ago, but it says the same thing: http://thesandtrap.com/playing_tips/...t_making_putts Everyone I've ever seen who putts better when they think "lag" instead of "make" hits the ball too hard when they try to "make" the putt. When they lag, their speed is better. My speed doesn't change - I know that in order to give myself the best chance to make the putt I'm going to roll the ball just past the hole but still within tap-in range (12-18 inches). So "make" and "lag" become the same exact thing, but "make" is simply a better thought to have than "miss it, but close" i.e. "lag."

  CarlSpackler said:

I visualize all my short game shots going in whether it is a 30' putt, chip, pitch.

Yeah, I'm almost always trying to make every shot inside of 100 yards or so. The only times I won't is when I'll err to a side a little bit. Say a pin tucked just over a bunker, or against the edge of a green with a creek on the short side.

[lumpuckeroo]

  MiniMoe said:

I try to make every putt and every chip. The difference between a long put and a short putt is speed control. Long putts I am trying to make it so that the ball just gets to the hole, and on short ones, I am trying to match the speed to the line I want to play. Sometimes that is less break with more speed, and sometimes not, but it is OK to be more aggressive with shorter putts.

I subscribe to this method also, I try and make them all.

[golferkid13]

I was always taught that you just want to get up and down. If i miss a green whether it be in a greenside bunker or airmail the green to the next teebox, just get up and down. On putting though i try to make everything, i spend about about 4 to 5 hours a day working on my short game so i don't have a lot of three puts.