My putting is killing me!

[atrapasuenos]

Please help me with this issue. Seriously my putt is killing me, today I played 9 holes and shot 39 because of 3 3-putts! I had 3 birdie chances from around 10 feet and didn't make anyone. I changed my grip, stance everything and nothing seems to work. Today what I felt that was bad was my allignment, I think my ball starts where I'm aiming, but my aim is poor.

How can I work on that?

Thanks in advance. Cheers!

[saevel25]

Here you go, "STOP CHANGING YOUR PUTTING!!!!"

Your basically going crazy with changes, find something and stick with it for a while, maybe a whole golf season. You are changing something that requires alot of feel.

I changed my grip by one way, I use to extend my right index finger down the shaft, i stopped that, took me about 4-5 weeks to get in the groove putting. I also changed the ball position to slightly more forward in my stance a bit as well. But i did not suddenly change things over and over again.

Working on aim, putt on a carpet, its usually flat with little break. Set up so your only putting to a target 5 feet away or so. Then i would lay down two dowels, one on the body line (not feet, alot of people putt with open feet, i think its the shoulders and hips that matter more), and on on for the putter. Then putt out a ball with that alignment and start lining up putts using your normal routine. See if it feels off or wierd, you should be able to pick up things.

I found that i was aiming more right than normal, so i had to adjust things here and there.

[Leftygolfer]

One way to practice is with alignment aids. I use the putting tutor a bit and you know where you are aiming and starting the ball or else you hit the marbles. I personally use the line on the ball for aim and once that is set I never think about anything but speed. It helps me alot.

Are you thinking about your stroke on the course? If so, that is a big way to be sure to not make anything. When I'm playing I don't think about anything mechanical. All I do line up the putt, verify that is where I want it to start, and visualize how I want it going in then hit it. For some reason I've greatly improved my putting this year (no idea why) but keeping stroke thoughts out of my head really helps me start the ball on the line I want with the speed I desire.

[sean_miller]

Please help me with this issue. Seriously my putt is killing me, today I played 9 holes and shot 39 because of 3 3-putts! I had 3 birdie chances from around 10 feet and didn't make anyone. I changed my grip, stance everything and nothing seems to work. Today what I felt that was bad was my allignment, I think my ball starts where I'm aiming, but my aim is poor.

What's your preshot routine for hitting irons? Try practicing that - including whichever hand is dominant during a full swing. I also 3-putt too often. Last time out I tried a longer version of a "pop" stroke and actually converted some birdies for a change.

[majorchamp]

I like to do some drills like this

Set a tee in the ground 3 feet, 6 feet, 9 feet, and 12 feet from the hole. You have to make 3 consecutive putts from the closest spot before moving onto the next. If you miss a putt, you get to start over.

You can also do a drill I saw Mickelson discuss...basically set tees all the way around a hole, like 6 positions and focus on making them there.

For me, my issue is my setup. Somedays I feel really good, other days I feel like crap. I think I tend to open my shoulders when addressing the ball, so recently I focused on squaring them up and even raising my left shoulder a bit. It gave me the feeling of being more solid and a single unit over the ball then before. I felt too "loose" which I didn't like.

[TN94z]

I like to do some drills like this

The only thing I don't like about doing these types of practices are that you have to move the tees around or you get into a groove of hitting putts along the same break line. Of course this is good, if you are just practicing your stroke. But if you are trying to learn to read greens, you need to move around and putt from as many different angles as you can IMO.

[majorchamp]

The only thing I don't like about doing these types of practices are that you have to move the tees around or you get into a groove of hitting putts along the same break line. Of course this is good, if you are just practicing your stroke. But if you are trying to learn to read greens, you need to move around and putt from as many different angles as you can IMO.

had my local pro (he played in two PGA championships) tell me he would literally see a line on the green when he putted. Similar to what you saw in Bagger Vance at the end. But yea, if the goal is to learn to read better greens...just a matter of practice makes perfect. But also knowing how the sun affecs the grass, or whether there is water nearby..or whether there is a mountain range in the distance...crap like that affects it to.

[TN94z]

had my local pro (he played in two PGA championships) tell me he would literally see a line on the green when he putted. Similar to what you saw in Bagger Vance at the end. But yea, if the goal is to learn to read better greens...just a matter of practice makes perfect. But also knowing how the sun affecs the grass, or whether there is water nearby..or whether there is a mountain range in the distance...crap like that affects it to.

You are right about that and those things you mentioned often slip my mind when I'm reading a putt. I think of the water, but that's about it

[soloredd]

I'm in the same boat. I had a 3-putt today that crushed my heart. Par 3 178 and I hit a beautiful 6 iron right on the middle of the green. This green slopes pretty good from back to front and pin was middle right. If I didn't make the birdie I just needed to leave the putt within 3 feet below the hole and take par. I did exactly that and I pushed my putt burning the edge. Pissed me off so bad. I had five 3-putt holes today, it's by far the weakest link in my game.

What kills me is my lines are fine. I read the greens great, it's getting proper contact back and through to get the right speed. I tried taking a little more time, which seemed to help. Just need to ingrain a nice pre-putt routine.

[ks8829]

I just watched these two video that might help your putting confidence

enjoy and good luck

[Deryck Griffith]

How are you as a lag putter? Sure, you missed three 3 footers which can happen..but when you are futher away from the hole on the green, are you lagging close to the hole for a two putt tap in or, are you lagging poorly and leaving yourself long second putts in whcih you miss and cause you to 3 putt? If this is the case, then you should really practice your lag putting while you practice. Practice with only 1 ball on the green and putt from hole to hole on the practice green from at least 20 feet away and see how long you can go without 3 putting any of the practice holes. With only using 1 ball, you aren't giving yourself "multiple" chances to lag the putt and it'll force you to lag your putts much better.

[Stretch]

Chiming in here as a truly crappy putter myself. How crappy you ask? I'm averaging 38 putts a round. I've hit around 50% GIR over my last half dozen rounds and haven't made a single birdie. Every one of those rounds has included at least one three jack, and most have included several.

Have to say, it really sucks the joy out of the game. Nothing like watching your well-struck second shot settle into the heart of the green and thinking: "Hey, at least I'll make 5."

Anyway, I'm trying to spend an hour a day on the practice green to improve matters. I've sucked it up and gone to a belly putter and am using the clock drill for short ones and practicing lag putts by laying down a 2 ft. radius string circle and hitting into that from all over. Can get apparently quite solid out there, but the minute I take it to the course it all falls apart again.

Obviously there's a big mental component here. Any thoughts on that? (Besides "Just put yourself out of your misery.")

[ks8829]

I used Lee Scarbrow's putting line and it works especially the first video above, He lowers the string and on the backswing you keep the putter head low to the ground and on the follow through you keep the line and touch the string above. It helps keep the putter face square to the target.

[majorchamp]

I made one single change to my putting yesterday...and it helped IMMENSELY. I had 25 putts in my round (11 front nine, 14 backnine).

I simply moved farther from the ball. I was wondering if I was crowding it a bit, but I never felt comfortable with swinging the club back and forth..it just seemed some days felt good, others felt bad. But yesterday, I focused on getting the putter aligned, and making sure my arms were hanging comfortably, all while I was tilted over to where my eyes were over the ball or close. The typical drill is to drop a blal from your left eye..it should hit the ball on the ground dead on.

Anyways, moving farther from the ball increased my confidence and my stroke just felt smoother.

[The Recreational Golfer]

Two thoughts. On those 10-footers, were you getting the ball to the hole, or leaving them short? If it was a bogey putt, I'm sure you would run it right up there.

Check the alignment of your putter face. It might not be square to the rubber grip.

Bonus thought: figure out which putt is killing you and practice it to death.

[atrapasuenos]

On Friday I went with a friend of mine at my local course, he is the local Pro and he helped me with my putter. We made simple changes and now I'm really hitting the ball well. I was kind of trying to control too much with my hands wich leaded to pulling my putts. That day I hit around 500 balls on the green, wow that felt really nice, and applied it throughout the weekend and had a great putting rounds. Confidence is back where I need!

Thanks a lot for your help!

Greetings!

[Bigtank]

I used my alignment aids (Tour Sticks) really helped with my alignment.

I also use the "cup back method" - I see my line, from the cup and track it back to my ball.

I aslo started using something I saw Mickelson using. On those breaking putts, I go to the break (half the distance from the cup) and take a few practice strokes to see the break, and then then try and put my ball on that break line.

And that is offically my 100th post...wohoo!