I need help with 6-15 foot putts

[Unforgiven93]

Hey guys,

This seems almost like a silly thing to post because I already know a lot about putting.  I read "Putting Out Of Your Mind" by Bob Rotella and I try to follow what he teaches.

Just a few days ago I played in a junior tournament with some very good junior golfers.  I played with the kid that won it, and after going back through our two rounds I realized that the only reason he beat me was because of his putting.  On the first hole I had a ~12 footer for birdie, missed.  Second hole, 6 footer for bird, missed.  Third hole, 10 footer for birdie, missed.   I had three 3 putts on the day, and I only made two birdies, a chip-in and a tap-in.  Now I know I can't ever expect to make an 8-15 footer EVERY time, but thinking back on my year, I rarely hit them at all.

At this point, I'm averaging anywhere from 9 to 12 greens in a round, which leads me to believe that I just need to work on my short game to take my game to the next level.

I'm just looking for anything, anything at all that can help me make these mid-range putts more often.  I don't usually have too much trouble with 3-5 footers or lag putts.   I definitely do need to practice more, but I've spent hours upon hours on the practice green already this year.  Also when I go to practice I don't really know what to do, and it feels like I'm not getting anything out of it.  Any type of tip would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[Paradox]

See your line and trust your line and above all TRUST YOUR FEEL.  I used to look at 10 footers and think "ok, this is a 2 putt" but something clicked once upon a time and I started trusting myself and a few here and there started falling in.  Keep in mind that this is coming from a "feel player" and thats especially true on the green.  I look at the line...99% go with my first instinct and rarely take practice strokes unless its an unusual putt.  I get my target on my line, I aim, I putt.

[Shindig]

Step one: figure out what the problem is. Is it a mechanical issue, a speed issue, a reading issue, or a nerves issue? On a practice green, can you set up straight 5' putts and make a good number? If so, it isn't a mechanical issue. Are you leaving them near the hole, preferably within a foot on the other side of the hole? If so, it isn't a speed issue. Are your mechanics sound and you have a good speed, but they break in ways you don't expect? If so, it's reading. Are you a good putter in casual rounds, but not in tournaments? Then it's a nerves issue. Once you have this resolved, we can figure out how to fix the pieces you're missing.

[Unforgiven93]

It definitely isn't nerves because the tournaments that I play in mean a lot to me, but not enough that I'm nervous over my putts.  My Dad is a very good putter and he putts just like you do, Paradox.  That is how I try to think.

My mechanics are good enough, not perfect, but I don't think they need to be.

I would say a combination of speed and reading would be my problem.  A lot of the time I stand up to the ball and I just can't tell which way it's going.

[anotherday]

I've been working on trusting my line and my speed trying to strengthen this area of my game as well.

Try reading the green and getting an idea of the speed the shot will require (with or without practice strokes - lately I'm without). Then step up to the ball and make your putt, but do not look up, keep your head down. You don't need to look up if you've done everything you wanted to do in your prep.

Using this technique I've found my accuracy has gone up and my misses were tap-ins.

[Fatphil]

Originally Posted by Unforgiven93

My mechanics are good enough, not perfect, but I don't think they need to be.

dont confuse mechanics with form.  you can have an open stance, close stance, or stand on your head with a finger in your nose,,,that is form...mechanics is returning the ball to the sweet spot EVERY time with the club face pointing in the same direction as address and the lie & loft angles the same as address.  If you hit the sweet spot, and all your angles match up, your distance control issues will disappear.  Once you get that down, if you have directional problems, then you may need to re visit your green reading skills or have your eyes checked.

[lumpuckeroo]

Originally Posted by Paradox

See your line and trust your line and above all TRUST YOUR FEEL.  I used to look at 10 footers and think "ok, this is a 2 putt" but something clicked once upon a time and I started trusting myself and a few here and there started falling in.  Keep in mind that this is coming from a "feel player" and thats especially true on the green.  I look at the line...99% go with my first instinct and rarely take practice strokes unless its an unusual putt.  I get my target on my line, I aim, I putt.

Same for me, on the shorter putts all my concentrate is on making a solid stroke, and making solid contact with the ball.  I rarely see an 8-10 foot putt go in the hole, I keep my head on the contact point and listen for the "plunk".

[iacas]

The world's best putters:

1. Control the distance they hit their putts really well
2. Start the ball on their intended line really well
3. Read the greens really well.

For the first, practice putting to a string from 15 feet, uphill and downhill. Then 10 feet, then 20 feet. Stop the ball on the string.

For the second, put a string above the line of a relatively straight putt, and practice starting the ball on that line, under the string. Pushes and pulls will become obvious.

For the third, take an AimPoint seminar.

Work on the ones you do the worst. Sounds like it might be all three, but especially #1.

[Shindig]

I would say a combination of speed and reading would be my problem.  A lot of the time I stand up to the ball and I just can't tell which way it's going.

What do you do before the round to get a feel for pace? I like the idea of hitting 5', 10', and 15' foot uphill and downhill putts , either to a hole or to a marker or tee or something. Now reading... I don't know what your budget is, but AimPoint helped me immensely. Even if you don't use the booklet, just identifying the zero lines and knowing they break towards that, plus approximating the angle, has already been very useful to me.

[mkdrep]

I agree with iacas, take an Aimpoint Clinic asap.  You should like I used to putt and most of it was because I couldn't pick out the proper break.  Before you say "I read the greens well", I used to think I did as well but was continually frustrated because I was missing too many 10' to 15' putts that you need to make to turn in a decent score into a great score. I took an Aimpoint clinic in May and while it at first seemed very cumbersome, within three rounds I was wondering why I resisted taking the clinic for so long.  It's worth the money....(my clinic only cost $100)

All the PGA pros seem to be turning to Dave Stockton for putting advice these days.  One of his biggest keys is to focus on a consistent routine, right down to the number of steps you take into the ball, when you put the putter behind the ball, how many times you look at the hole before you hit the putt....etc.  He makes you work on your routine so that it is EXACTLY the same each time you try a putt.  This "dulls" your mind into thinking every putt is the same, no matter the situation.  This will help you make your putting more natural and less stroke oriented.....

Finally, both Stockton and Aimpoint teaches that PACE of the putt is the key.  Every putt should be hit like it's only going to roll 8" to 10" past the cup.

Have fun!

[garrettdennert]

Maybe I shouldn't be this way, but I'm very anti-spending when it comes to things you should be able to figure out on your own through practice.  Sure, some pros have slightly different things to say, but really, did someone before Dave Stockton harp on getting your routine down?  I'm sure someone did.  Therefore, you need to understand that the problem is you, and only you.  Dave Stockton isn't looking over your shoulder, but try to actually approach your putt(s) like he is.  Putting is mostly about confidence, which you say you have when you're putting.  Great, you've won half the battle.  My question to you is: how much are you missing your putts by?  A couple inches?  A few feet?  That will help you determine if it's a combination of mechanics and/or bad reads.  If it's mechanics, it's the inches and if it's the feet, it's the read.  I still struggle reading putts because there is so much that goes into it, which is why I'd recommend you just go with your gut if you're struggling in that department.  As for mechanics, you may be having much ease with the short putts because you don't take the putter back as far.  And when you're hitting a lag putt, anything from 3 feet and in is considered a good putt, so even if you waver the clubhead around during your backswing and end up fairly close, you've won that little confidence battle within yourself.  With medium-length putts, it's a little different because you absolutely should expect to make them.  If you're reading the greens correctly I'd recommend implementing the "Tight=Success" theory that many pros use today.  What it means is that you take the putter back a shorter distance, and accelerate through further than you took it back.  It might take some getting used to, but it tries to eliminate the wavering hands and clubhead on the backswing.  As with any part of golf, especially with putting, you need the clubhead to be square at impact, and the "Tight=Success" theory promotes that.  Other than that, make sure you do have your routine down.  A practice drill you can use is: The Tee Drill (usually meant for shorter putts, but you stick a tee in the ground in a circle around the hole-- 6 tees to be exact, at whatever distance you want to practice, and place a ball at each tee, then work your way around the circle using the same routine and same stroke, but hitting the putts on different lines.)  It's a real simple drill, but it may add a little excitement.  Hope this helps.

Garrett Dennert

[Unforgiven93]

Thanks for all the responses guys. I'm definitely going try a lot of this stuff. I have a consistent routine already. I read the putt, step up to it and take 2 practice strokes, the first looking at the hole and the second looking at the ball. It definitely isn't THAT precise though. [QUOTE] What do you do before the round to get a feel for pace? I like the idea of hitting 5', 10', and 15' foot uphill and downhill putts , either to a hole or to a marker or tee or something [/QUOTE] This is definitely something I need to do better/more. These junior tournaments that I play in usually have over 100 players, so the little practice greens get absolutely packed, as you could imagine. I usually just hit a few putts to get a feel and then leave. What exactly is AimPoint? I've never even heard of it.

[iacas]

Originally Posted by Unforgiven93

What exactly is AimPoint? I've never even heard of it.

Predictable, physics based green reading. Several threads here about it - look at http://www.google.com/search?q=aimpoint+site:thesandtrap.com .

[FLOG4]

Here is a tip that helps me.  When you initiate your stroke, first pull the putter up just a tad so the stroke initiates from a point with the club in the air rather than grounded.  Try it you may find you will be making a purer stroke.