Putting problems

[gfd66]

Where should the ball be in the swing, upswing? bottom? 90% of my putts I get the "tink" sound off the putter and then I get a ball hop. I am NOT rolling the ball. It's almost like a mini chip shot. I was using an Oddessy 2 ball putter, I have for the last 2 weeks switched back to my old Carbite putter since I have noticed that I don't tend to try to steer the ball as much with it.

[gfd66]

bump

[ggolokin]

add weights to your putter, keep your head down through the putt and if all else fails, use a long putter or a belly putter as it helps you get a consistent pendulum action.

[awmgolfer]

I hit mine as I start on the upswing. I also play with a putter that gives me pretty much a natural forward press, like Mickelson used to do. To get the hop you are either hitting down on it too much so it drives into the green and bounces up or you are hitting the ball with more loft on your putter through the swing. Which if the second one is the case you might be letting the putter head get too far ahead of your hands which would add loft to it. Hard to say for sure but just some options to check out.

[GaijinGolfer]

I hit mine on the upswing.  Sounds like you are either hitting down on the ball or having it so far foreward in your stance that you are hitting up at the ball too much.  Try playing the ball about 3 balls ahead of the middle of your stance.  Also, make sure that you arent releasing your wrists and are making a nice pendulum stroke.

[MiniBlueDragon]

Could be various things:

- Hitting the ball on the upswing.

- Backward shaft lean at impact (sometimes clubs give an optical illusion and look vertical but actually aren't)

- Too much loft on your putter for the angle you're approaching the ball at.

I set up with the ball directly under my front eye so that the ball is a fraction after the low point in my swing. I then press the handle forward (toward target) a fraction before I make my stroke to take a little off the loft and to make sure I'm not hitting up into the ball; I like to feel like the putter shaft when viewed from face-on is perfectly vertical at impact.

The feeling I have in my shoulders is a rocking feeling; the feeling of my front should lifting upward during the swing to bring the club through.

[Fatphil]

I think you are a bit ahead of yourself worrying about upswing or square.  The critical part of putting is hitting the sweet spot.  To do that there are two or three angles between the shaft, club head, hands and wrists that need to be maintained without so much as a millimeter of movement.

Once you get that down you may want to delve into the lie & loft of your putter.  If you hands and wrists are flopping around like spagetti you will never have the same stroke twice, therefore kind of a waste of energy trying to figure out upswing or square.

[gfd66]

Thanks for all the info, I didn't think that I was "handsie" with my putter, but I had my wife video me with my iPhone and noticed that I am a little bit "handsie", it looks as if I am unconciously trying to steer the ball into the hole. I also have a lot of head movement and I am definitely hitting late in the upswing. Any recommended drills to  combat this?

[ggolokin]

if you are on a practice green, putt from 3 feet out, keep your eyes on the ground until you hear the ball drop in, then do that from 6 feet etc etc etc...