My Putting is terrible. Need some tips.

[chadw97]

On the Par 5's for example, I will get on the green and three shots and end up taking a 7. A freaking 4 putt. I just am not a good putter. I need some tips to help improve my putting. Thanks.

[glock35ipsc]

What is the problem?  Speed/distance, direction, pushes/pulls, reading the breaks?

[CuppedTin]

How often do you practice putting?

[MiniBlueDragon]

Originally Posted by CuppedTin

How often do you practice putting?

Practice? What's that?

[chadw97]

I do practice, and actually, when I am practicing, I will knock them down. However, I fall apart on the green when I am competing. I will sometimes hit it to soft. Sometimes, I hit it to hard.

[CuppedTin]

Listen, it sounds like it may be in between your ears man, not necessarily your putting. I suggest you try a word, rhyme, beat or something to get in your head so that your tempo is exactly the same on every putt...

[blackxpress]

Sounds mental to me. Golf is all about confidence and nowhere is that more important than on the green. I watched Colin Montgomerie on "Playing Lessons From the Pros" and he said pace is by far the most important factor in putting. I agree. The other thing he said that I agree with is that you should never be thinking about what could go wrong when you address the ball. No negative thoughts allowed. After you've planned out your shot and chosen what you think is the proper club you need to tell yourself you're going to make the shot. Not, "I think I can hit this shot" or "I hope I can hit this shot" but "I am going to hit this shot." Picture the shot in your mind, block everything else out and hit the shot. This is especially true when it comes to putting. If you're standing over a putt hoping you won't miss it you'll yip it for sure. Montgomerie's advice on putting was affirmation to me because I already do it the way he said you should. He said to walk around the green and look at the putt from both sides not only to get a feel for the break but to get a feel for the pace. Once you address the ball, visualize the putt going to the hole, take one last look down the line and then don't hesitate. Don't think about it any more. Relax and stroke the putt. You won't make all of them but you'll be surprised how many tap in two putts you'll make. And, even if and when you miss a putt you won't beat yourself up over it because you'll know you did your best. You'll make the next one for sure (at least that's the plan).

[MiniBlueDragon]

OK so your main problem is pace according to your last post. Before a round do you spend 15 mins or so on the course's putting green to get used to the pace of the greens that day? It's all very well practicing straight putts at home (good for aiming) but if you don't know how the course is playing you'll take quite a few holes to get used to it. I'd go on YouTube and search for "putting speed drill" and go through some videos looking for drills that may benefit you.

Three of my favourite speed drills (not found a video) are:

Drill #1 - Feeling the pace of your putt.

1. Take a sleeve of 3 balls.
2. Set up a small target like a coin 6ft away.
3. Address your putt.
4. Close your eyes.
5. Putt the ball.
6. With your eyes still closed estimate whether you hit the putt too long, too short or about right.
7. Open your eyes and check if your estimate was good.
8. Close your eyes again and repeat with the next two balls.

Drill #2 - Feeling small changes in pace.

1. Take around 20 balls.
2. Putt a ball out around 5ft in front of you.
3. Putt the next ball out slightly to the right of the first ball (don't hit it!) and aim to get it a fraction further than the first.
4. Putt the next ball out slightly to the left of the other balls (don't hit them!) and aim to get it a fraction further than the first.
5. Repeat 3 & 4.
6. You should end up with a "V" shaped line of balls.
7. This drill can be reversed and you can putt the first out 20 ft or so and aim to drop all the others fractionally shorter instead of longer.

Drill #3 - Similar to Drill #2 except more difficult as you don't get 2 chances at a certain distance.

1. Take around 20 balls.
2. Putt a ball out around 5ft in front of you.
3. Putt the next ball out slightly to the right of the first ball (don't hit it!) and aim to get it a fraction further than the first.
4. Putt the next ball out slightly to the left of the other balls (don't hit them!) and aim to get it a fraction further than both of the others .
5. Putt the next ball out slightly to the right of the other balls (don't hit them!) and aim to get it a fraction further than both of the others .
6. Repeat 4 & 5.
7. You should end up with a "V" shaped line of balls however with no two balls at the same distance from you.
8. This drill can be reversed and you can putt the first out 20 ft or so and aim to drop all the others fractionally shorter instead of longer.

[glock35ipsc]

Originally Posted by blackxpress

Sounds mental to me. Golf is all about confidence and nowhere is that more important than on the green. I watched Colin Montgomerie on "Playing Lessons From the Pros" and he said pace is by far the most important factor in putting. I agree. The other thing he said that I agree with is that you should never be thinking about what could go wrong when you address the ball. No negative thoughts allowed. After you've planned out your shot and chosen what you think is the proper club you need to tell yourself you're going to make the shot. Not, "I think I can hit this shot" or "I hope I can hit this shot" but "I am going to hit this shot." Picture the shot in your mind, block everything else out and hit the shot. This is especially true when it comes to putting. If you're standing over a putt hoping you won't miss it you'll yip it for sure. Montgomerie's advice on putting was affirmation to me because I already do it the way he said you should. He said to walk around the green and look at the putt from both sides not only to get a feel for the break but to get a feel for the pace. Once you address the ball, visualize the putt going to the hole, take one last look down the line and then don't hesitate. Don't think about it any more. Relax and stroke the putt. You won't make all of them but you'll be surprised how many tap in two putts you'll make. And, even if and when you miss a putt you won't beat yourself up over it because you'll know you did your best. You'll make the next one for sure (at least that's the plan).

I saw this last night, and also agree with Monty.  Some things my instructor instilled in me was to pick my line, then address that line about a half step back from the ball, then take two or three practice strokes while looking at the hole to get a feel for how I need to stroke the putt.  Then step up, address the ball, take one more look at my line and visualize the ball following the line and going in the hole.  Hell, I even hear the clunk clunk clunk of the ball dropping in the cup in my head!  Then look back down and stroke it.  The last thought I have go through my head is "stroke it and make it".

[chadw97]

Thanks. For all the tips everyone. I will definitely try them out. I appreciate all the suggestions and take them to heart.