Putt Ball into hole or not?

[stricklerlee]

I have gotten into the habit of not putting the ball into the hole as if I could make the putt. Not as much as some people on the golf course do, but I caught this trend a while ago and this is why I got this habit. So, when I got out there and play golf, I will always remind myself that I will putt that ball into the hole(even if it is 1/18 inch away from the hole). Why? Because it gives me extra confidence and extra motivation to get the ball into the hole. If I don't putt into the hole, what is the sense to come out and play golf?

[breakout89]

is this a rhetorical question?

[bigoak]

Its fun to give the 3-4 footers for the first 14 holes and then get lock jaw.

[stricklerlee]

is this a rhetorical question?

You think?

[bwdial]

I just like to hear the ball rattle around in the bottom of the cup.

[Joeyvee]

Yeah. I love that sound. Even at the range if I'm close I'll finish it just to see it actually dorp. Mental thing I guess.

[MJP]

Never underestimate the 3 footer. Tiger used to end his putting practice as a kid by putting 3 footers into the hole, as many as he could in a row.

If you want to work on your 3 footers as well as the squareness of the stroke at impact, stick two tees like field goal posts in the green infront of the cup (nearly touch the cup edges) about a ball and a half apart.

If you can't make it, either your aimed wrong (3 footers are straight for the most part) or you made a poor stroke. It's the easiest way to see the feed back of your stroke. Plus, makes putting 3 footers more fun.

I generally do this from a very straight line at 5 feet, however. You'll get more feedback the closer you are and the closer together the tees are.

[soloredd]

I've missed enough 3-4 footers this year, some for birdie, that I ALWAYS hole out now. I've even jumped on some of my partner's backs for not doing so. You never know, and to just assume a score seems wrong to me.

[Zeph]

The point with golf is to get the ball from 100 to 500+ yards from tee to green, and then in the cup. If you hit it those 499 yards and 2 feet, why the heck would you not get it in the hole? To save time? Hardly. I just don't understand the point of doing it. If you struggle with a bad back, fine, but then there is the option of those rubber things you attach to the end of the putter grip.

I putt it out all the time, except if I'm playing a match play or something perhaps. If someone give me a putt, I still go ahead and hit it. It is my privilege to be allowed to hit the ball in the hole. If someone knock it away or pick it up, I'll ask them kindly not to do this, since I want to putt everything out.

[Beady]

Never underestimate the 3 footer. Tiger used to end his putting practice as a kid by putting 3 footers into the hole, as many as he could in a row.

I do a similar drill, but use golf balls. As I make the putts I slowly move them closer and closer together.

I have to sink every putt. Even if we are out for fun and I have the ball inches from the hole I like to hear the ball in the hole. It closes the hole for me mentally I guess.

[redsox98]

I just like to hear the ball rattle around in the bottom of the cup.

Sometimes when I play they will give you a "gimmie" but there is something about that rattle that gives me more confidence as well. It makes me feel more sure in my swing even driving on the next hole.

[Varsity_Golf]

In Nicklaus' Golf My Way he says he always used to putt to a tee. then the cup looked huge when he got on the green, and made him a better putter.