Putting grip .... develop feel for Lag Putts ?

[Gerald]

I switched hands about 25 years ago (left hand low) in my putting grip, but have the grip more or less in the fingers (like in a normal iron grip) and I have lots of difficulties with feeling the distance of a longer putt ...... best for me would be a button on the grip, that you could push in for a certain distance ...... LOL.

For longer putts I just basicly try to get it close, let's say within 3 ft. ..... of course you can miss a few 3 footers, but normally they go in for sure.

But somehow I hit these longer putts too short or too long. But the next day I roll them close, or even in, but it is just not consistently enough and it feels terrible if you focus a let's say 18 ft. put and you hope to get it close, instead of being sure you will get it close.

So I searched here and there for help to improve on these long ones, Stan Utley says it is fundamentals first, and the Stan Utley grip means more feel since the grip is more in the palms, being more an extension of your arms.

So I tried his grip style and put my right hand on the grip and it sits perfectly inline with my fore arm, rigth side of the grip (Scotty Cameron) resting in the palm of the right hand, fingers at the left side, just like in his book. But then Stan says to loosen the grip a bit to place the left hand inside the right hand, but when doing that the right palm moves up from the grip to rest against the left thumb and gone is the nice feeling position of having the grip in the palms.

Anyway my current grip has little feel, and the Utley grip can not really be performed or I am doing it wrong ?

So I incorporated the right hand grip part of the Utley putting grip and hold the putter more in my palm, and the left hand under.... as I was used to...... and I must admit I can hold the club less firm, I have a bit more feel and the putter can swing more natural instead of mechanic.

Well as putting is sooooooo personal, I don't think there is a right or wrong ..... but I would like to improve feel in my grip/putting and develop a feel for distance control.

Any Tips on developing better lag putts is very Welcome !

[TourSpoon]

I believe that the key is to use the big muscles to control the distance. I rock my shoulders and try to keep everything solid through impact with no hitting at the ball. This tends to give more predictable distance to my putts. I just switched to left low, but the concept is the same.

[iacas]

Something that's key to consistent distance control that nobody really talks about much: having a putter that's weighted (head and grip ends) in a way that you can putt consistently.

[Gerald]

Quote:

Something that's key to consistent distance control that nobody really talks about much: having a putter that's weighted (head and grip ends) in a way that you can putt consistently.

Now we want to hear the depths of this ......

[jshots]

I was messing around on a humongous practice putting green about a month ago. I found that the only way I could roll huge like 100 foot putts with any consistency was by using my wrists which goes against everything you learn bout putting. I was rolling them really well though. They were putts you should probably never come across in a round but still.

Also this has nothing to do with the OP.

[Late4ttime]

Here is my .02

I think if you have lagged within 3ft in the past- you already know how to do it- just reinforce it, here is a couple of ideas I read that might help-

Putt 4-5 balls towards the fringe- but after striking the ball, try to determine if the putt is short, long or just right before you look up at it, helps to ingrain feel.

And don't putt to a 3ft circle- putt to the hole- missing the cup by 3ft still accomplishes your goal, but if you putt to 3ft, and miss by 3ft, you've just compounded your situation, let alone hurting your confidence, which I think is most important.

Late-

[rossvanwyk]

The way I've started to consistently learn how to hit lag putts close is using my follow through to control distance.

I use a very short backswing and control distance with follow through.

I size up the putt and take 2 practice strokes that to my brain, seem like the perfect follow through to get the ball close.

Without being all scientific, I believe your brain can take tons of factors into account that you're unaware of an you just need to trust it really.

Then i take my short backswing and make the exact same follow through thta I used in my practice stroke.

This has been working really well for me as of late.

[handlez42]

I haven't been golfing for long but I was able to pick the game up relatively quickly. The best attribute I had before ruining my game with worries of trying to hit down on the ball properly or ball alignment was easily short game and pitch shots. My then ram tom Watson 60 "rake" wedge and I were a finely tuned duo from a variety of lies. Recently I switch from a yes! Carolyn to a Wilson staff tour special I forged blade. These two were complete opposites. Center shafted vs. Heel shafted. Face balanced vs. Toe-down. The grips were dramatic in differences. The yes! Had a tacki mac itomic had large flat area for the thumbs. The Wilson has the original "pecan" leather grip that has a very thin flattened area for thumbs as well as this grip in general. It feels like if I took the grip off and putted gripping the shaft that there would be no difference in feel. I like this grip (better if it were slightly thicker and softer) would want to make this putter my gamer but the big issues im having are getting used to the arc path this putter favors. I find myself constantly leading with the heel end of the putter face and hitting far inside causing an abruptly terribly feeling putt. I even do the same with the high tech yes! Also might throw some lead tape on it...by some i mean ALOT.

have some issues with short putts. Face will most likely stay open unless i slow my stroke down for the distance. i can see what occasionally Phil would jam putts into the corners and they'd lip. This thing is a pain on short putts. Also can't seem to find the sweet spot. The feel is sporatic. Im sure the shorter in height face is suspect to this issue. But here i thought my "feel" for putting and short game was tops.

I guess what i want to ask Is exactly is "feel" with putting???

I used to think it was as simple as knowing a putt just by seeing and feeling its characteristics time and time again...but I constantly see people writing reviews on putters or putter talk on how a blade is back to the golden era of feel around the green. And takes much time to master with something like this wonderful blade I have.

And how does feel differ from old blades to today's forged putters from Scotty's to pings and even Yes! Putters? I can't seem to find the fine line of difference since putters are now built to feel good everytime you hit the ball.

[golfteacher]

Good post Gerald, good questions.  I don't know much about the Stan Utley putting style or grip but I can give you my thoughts.  Like you I have used a left hand low grip for many years, in fact almost since I started playing golf about 18 years ago.  To say I am an advocate for left hand low is an understatement.  My first thought when reading your post was 'only use something that works and if it doesn't, try something else'.  Looking for some kind of a change is probably a good idea if you are having feel and consistency problems.  You must be really frustrated to make a big switch like changing hand position.

Here are some things that have assisted me in the past: Like Utley, I like the fundamentals.  One of the big fundamentals for me is to have a near pendulum motion.  I say 'near' because I try to have a slightly longer follow through than backstroke.  This key reminds me to accelerate through impact and I believe helps with consistency.  Another thing that helps me with a one piece pendulum is to feel like my left elbow (right elbow for a left handed putter) is attached to the body.  I think this attachment enforces the center point of the pendulum being in the center of the shoulder blades.  Also with the left elbow loose from the body your upper body can get out of sync which will hinder consistency.

Whether you try these tips or something else I think the key to consistent feel is to find something that works for you.  So try until that one things clicks and works for you.

Hope this helps.

Oh, one last thing...I know what you mean about having the feel of the putter in your palms, that is the way I am most comfortable too.

[apgolf]

Hi Gerald,

Mate, if you want to knock those long putts close and sometimes in the hole, you must take your mind off your putting stroke, the putter, grip pressure, your hands and all that physical stuff.

When a reporter asked Michael Jordon what he thought about when he was at the free throw line (free throws are a closed-skill like golf is..or pitching...or darts ...or archery..or kicking for goal from a penalty) he said "I concentrate on chewing gum" - much to the reporters annoyance. He didn't think about his hand release or his arms, he was on auto pilot and that is the purist way to be.

Act like the athlete you are Gerald, get orientated towards the target. what do you do when you have to throw a ball to someone? ...You aim and throw.

Okay...1. read the putt, imagine the speed of the putt (helps looking back to the ball from the hole on fast putts), follow the balls path along over the pitch mark, past the ball marker, past the brown patch before the balls slows and bends into the hole, imagine the speed as it goes along all those markers. Now take that feel and apply it immediately.

This takes effort but if you go through the process you will put the ball next to the hole all the time and sometimes...you will make a lot of putts. You need to re-work what you think about when you are on the greens. This will be different for you - but liberating. Trust me on that one.

I have just written some free blog posts over at The Truth About Putting Blog  (click on my profile for the URL) that go into the process even further.

If I had just done what I just explained to you just one more time on the 18th on Saturday (here in Sydney, Aus), I would have shot 4-under. I three putted!

Read my posts and let me know how you go.

Cheers

Anthony