Fundamentals of Putting

[iacas]

I have an answer, but I want to ask this question and get some answers before I share my thoughts, because I'm curious to see what everyone says.

Here's the question:

What are the fundamentals of putting?

That's all I'll say for now. Open ended question. List your fundamentals and, if you'd like, explain why you listed them.

Thanks.

[allin]

To me the fundamental should lead to repeatability.  I believe this means choosing a body posture, grip, and motion which minimize manipulaton, and encourage a stroke with rythym.  Stance needs to allow you to see the line, for most this is square, for me it is somewhat open. My right elbow is damaged, and I have poor vision in my left eye.  Unlike most my right arm  and hand are in control.  I rock my shoulders and my motion resembles and underhand toss withough minimal hand and wrist action. My grip keeps the palms oposed.  If you look at your hands hanging naturally at your sides you can probably get a good idea which grip style will work..  So even though my method differs from the norm, I understand it and feel it is my strength.  I probably only average  3-4  GIR excluding par 3s a round yet consitently shoot in the 83-88 range.

[Stretch]

Finding the right line and rolling the ball straight down it at the right speed. The end.

[mvmac]

- finding the zero line

- striking the putt with 3-4* of loft

- Controlling the speed

[colin007]

"for me, the fundamental of putting is Scotty Cameron.  if you dont have a scotty, youre not a good putter..."

oh wait, wrong thread...lol

ok, so im not really sure, not a good putter myself, but for me most of my troubles come in the backswing.  quite often, i will have this horrible jim furyk-like loop in the backswing, which throws everything off.

[jamo]

I would have to say speed and consistency in alignment. Speed is obvious. You can't be a goof lag putt without being good with speed, and if you aren't a god lag putter you are just begging for 3-putts. With consistency in alignment I don't necessarily mean perfect alignment. I believe it was Lee Trevino who putter his whole career with his putter a good degree open, but when your alignment is consistent, like Trevino's you make the necessary adjustments over time.

Then again, I suck at putting, so....

EDIT: And that Scotty thing. Duh.

[Bo the Golfer]

Keeping a flat left wrist (for righties) in my opinion is the most important fundamental. This is followed by speed an line (I count them equally as if one or the other is off your screwed).

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by Stretch

Finding the right line and rolling the ball straight down it at the right speed. The end.

PS. and not giving up if the ball still doesn't fall.

[Aquaguru]

I would have to go with confidence.  When I'm confident and believe that everything will fall I roll it 20x better.  Also routine is important, its like a free throw in basketball when you find what setup is comfortable for you stick with it that way when you get into pressure situations there is always one constant.

[Elvisliveson]

Firm wrists, a steady head and quiet lower body are the fundamentals to making a solid stroke. IMO, distance control is the most important end which you accomplish through sound fundamentals but is not a fundamental in and of itself. You can think distance control all you want, but if you don't have decent stroke, it's not going to happen consistently.

[JetFan1983]

My only real putting key right now (besides making good contact with the sweet spot) is making sure I strike the ball at or around its equator. Previously, I've had a tendency to hit the ball too much so on the lower hemisphere which led to skidding and pushing the putt off its line right from the start. I'd be interested to hear people's thoughts on this. This move seems to get the putt rolling immediately, and my green reading efforts are no longer for naught.

As far as fundamentals go, the only thing that's possibly universal about my stroke is probably my grip, which is a standard life-line grip. Gripping the putter like an iron certainly wasn't working for me in those early days.

I'm enjoying everyone's responses so far.

[johnthejoiner]

My list could be long but i'll start with find a putter that looks and feels good to you

[saevel25]

Fundamentals of putting, Get the ball into the hole..

But if i had to list my to priorities,

Keep your head still, even more so if you use a long (extended shaft like Couples uses) putter since your now attaching that putter to your upper center and any head movement is exagerated in the miss.

IF you got a consistant putting stroke you know what the ball will do, doesn't matter to me.

I know for me, i use a blade putter, so i am an arc putter. I keep my head pretty still, i usually wait a second or two before looking at the putt going to the hole to make sure. I use an overlapping grip, same one i use for all other shots. I try to keep my elbows the same distance apart and use my shoulders and my upper body to dictate the pace. I like to concentrate on my left hand staying solid through the shot. I am right hand dominant, so i like to keep that hand quiet as possible and concentrate on the left.

[Aquaguru]

Originally Posted by saevel25

I know for me, i use a blade putter, so i am an arc putter. I keep my head pretty still, i usually wait a second or two before looking at the putt going to the hole to make sure. I use an overlapping grip, same one i use for all other shots. I try to keep my elbows the same distance apart and use my shoulders and my upper body to dictate the pace. I like to concentrate on my left hand staying solid through the shot. I am right hand dominant, so i like to keep that hand quiet as possible and concentrate on the left.

I do the opposite I look at the hole the entire time through my putting stroke.  Works alot better for me I see the line and my accuracy has improved three fold.  I don't mis-hit it either.

[tristanhilton85]

Going along with the idea that the fundamentals of a good full swing are 1) Hitting the ball consistently, 2) Being long enough to play the course and 3) Controlling the shape of the shot then I would say that the fundamentals of putting are 1) Being able to roll the ball consistently, 2) Being able to effectively control distance and 3) Being able to read the green.

[Krikan]

Get the ball into the hole.

[saevel25]

Quote:

I do the opposite I look at the hole the entire time through my putting stroke.  Works alot better for me I see the line and my accuracy has improved three fold.  I don't mis-hit it either.

Well let me ask, when you do this you look at the hole till the ball gets there or after a certain after the ball has been hit. Thats more or less what i am going at. You don't look at the hole, when right before you hit the ball, during your stroke, you move your head. Thats the concept i am talking about. If you have the same swing with ever stroke, then it doesn't matter were you look as long as your head doesn't move to cause a shift in the swing.

[LongballGer]

Distance and directional control.

Path is not super important. 85% of the initial starting direction is determined by where the clubface is aiming at impact, so make sure to have a repeatable impact position.

Hitting the sweetspot consistently for distance control.

Reading the green properly.