Putting Practice

[SamCreamer]

My putting is horrific and its not uncommon for me to have ~45 putts in a round. I really need a lot of practice. When it's raining outside, is it worth it to practice on the carpet in my house? Or will this give me bad ideas and habits about the weight of equivalent distance putts on a real green?

Thanks

Sam

[rustyredcab]

Practice is good. If indoor is all you have on a rainy day, then it can be good. I have a ball return in my office and drew a line on it. I practice hitting straight putts. I'm a Straight Back Straight through guy. Having a line on the "carpet" really helps me groove the proper club head movement. It will not help your lag putting but can give you confidence that you can start the ball on the line you wish.

[carrx]

I'd probably agree with the previous poster.  Any practice is better than none.  That said, 45 putts a round is an awful lot, even if you hit 18 GIR per round.  What do you think is the biggest problem with your putting (other than "not making anything")?

[SamCreamer]

I'd need someone better to diagnose this for me but I think it's just my lack of experience. I see a 12 20 or 15 foot putt whatever it may be, and I biologically have NO idea how hard I have to hit it to leave it within a foot. Sometimes I'll start off putting way too hard, then I'll try and compromise by hitting it softer and then all of a sudden I'm 6 feet short and end up with a 3 putt so I think I need more experience and get some reps in to dial in distances etc but I'd need a pro to confirm that it's my problem.

There could also be things wrong with my putting stroke I'm not really sure about that either

Edit: Thanks for the tip by the way, I'll be putting all day :D Even though it seems like my floor isn't perfectly aligned and there's a slight right to left

[The Recreational Golfer]

Putting practice at home will help you learn hit the ball where you want it to go. It won't affect your sense of speed at all because the putts you'll be practicing, from six feet and in, aren't really speed putts in most cases.

I use a lid from a 28-oz. can of tomatoes for a target. It's about the same size as a golf hole. You can practice short putts to it, and you can practice longer putts, too, if you set up a backstop. Just give the ball what feels like a 30' stroke see if the ball rolls straight over the lid.

When you're on the green and practicing approach putting, this drill dials me in pretty fast. Drop four balls starting 20' from the hole and at five-foot intervals from there. Lag them all to the hole. After a while you get pretty good. Mix it up every few times by not putting the balls sequentially. For example, putt the balls is this order: 30', 20', 35', and 25'. That give you a distinct difference in distance between each putt that you have to adjust to every time, and you can't just hit each ball a little bit harder than the last one. From what you have said, you might want to drop balls starting at fifteen feet.

[SamCreamer]

That's a really good idea, and I will do so next time I play. My goal right now is to be able to two putt every time I'm on the green. I think if I can do that, I can achieve bogey golf pretty easily. Learning to get the ball close and not leaving myself with a tester on my second putt is really important.

I'll try this distance drill tonight, thanks

[Mr3Wiggle]

I've been thinking about this product:

http://www.p3proswing.com/how-to-putt-PuttingShark.htm

Anyone have any experience with it.  Seems like it could be helpful.

[rustyredcab]

Buy a putting strip or ball return and put a line on it. Practice indoors for line, setup, form... Indoors can help you get a good and repeatable stroke and learn to start the ball on your intended line. teach yourself to hit straight putts inside. Practice outside for distance.

My tip for better distance control? Stop thinking about distance and just look at where you want the ball to go. If you've played any other sports, you know that you do not think about mechanics of distance before you shoot a ball, throw a ball, or hit a ball in tennis. You simply think about where you want the ball to go. In golf, we have a ball sitting still on the green and we often spend too much energy thinking about how long or short our backswing should be, and if we are accelerating through the ball, and if... instead of just hitting the putt like you'd shoot a basketball. Wad up a piece of paper and toss it in a trash can. Did you miss your distance by three feet? Move back six feet and try again. How bad was your distance? Did you think about your arm speed and wrist flick intensity? Or did you just look at the can and shoot?

If you have 45 putts per round, you WILL do better just thinking about the target and letting your sub conscience take over the mechanics.

I'm sure there are things you are doing wrong mechanically. Even Tiger struggles with his mechanics and at one time he may have been the best putter in the world. But I promise you that 45 putts per round is as much in your head as in your mechanics.

Listen to Dr. Bob Rotell's audio book "Putting Out Of Your Mind."

[rustyredcab]

Originally Posted by Mr3Wiggle

I've been thinking about this product:

http://www.p3proswing.com/how-to-putt-PuttingShark.htm

Anyone have any experience with it.  Seems like it could be helpful.

Cool looking tool but for $300+ I'd get a putting lesson, or three, or four.