Putting and Driver help

[GreenFlag]

For my handicap, here is what I know about my game. I am far below average for FIR's and far below average in putting. My short game and iron play are above average for my handicap.

FIR's 35.85% - sucktastic

GIR's 7.25 per round - pretty skippy considering the missed fairways and penalties

Putts 35.75 per round - the shame

Putts per GIR 2.26 - the bigger shame

Penalties 1.75 per round - yep, that's right

Yes, I completely blooooow at driving and putting.

When I line up a strait 6' putt, my putter is actually aimed 2 or 3 balls left of the hole. I was told to use an allignment stick in practice and it will eventually straiten out (it doesn't).

I really don't have any problem reading greens - I can tell very early in someone else's 15 ft putt is going to go in or not. The problem is when I stand over the ball. Where I think the putter is aimed is not where in fact the putter is aimed. Draw putts are far easier than fade putts. I will miss a 4' left to right putt a good 60% of the time.

Driving - I have a Ping K15 10.5 in the bag as to make it as forgiving as possible. My misses are varied - left, right. I hit my 3w very well. I am playing in our club championship tomorrow and I will use my 3w whenever I can get away with it.

My biggest concern is putting as I feel I can eventually work out the driver but any help would be appeciated. I don't know whether to just aim right with my putter or find a solution to the allignment issues.

[Motley01]

Your game sounds like mine right now. Specially the putting. My distance control is horrible right now. I used to be a better putter.

Anyways... about lining up putts.

Do you use the line on the ball, and match that up with the line on your putter?

[Motley01]

This is what I'm talking about. I find the line, then line up the ball pointing to my intended line. Then I don't worry about anything but distance control, and trust where the ball is going.

[GreenFlag]

I tried that. It was ok but it just took FOREVER to get the line on the golfball on the line of the putt. To top it off it "feels" like I'm pulling the putter across my body outside-in. It just doesn't feel right. I might just try that with the short putts this weekend. It is such a mind scramble to line up for that 3' strait putt "aimed" at the right edge of the hole. Thanks for the tip.

[Motley01]

If you think you''re pulling the putter.

I recently saw on Michael Breed's Golfix show.

On the practice green. Put some tees down, that are on the outside edge, and inside edge of the putter head. Like 3 tees on each side.

So that it's like a tunnel towards the hole.

If you pull or push your putter head, it will hit the tees.

Do it over and over and over, until it feels natural.

[coop6340]

Whenever I go to the putting green,I always use two knitting needles and string. What you do, is tie the string to the needles and place one behind the hole and one behind where you are putting, so that the sting is lined up over the ball. Then you putt trusting the string. (you might have to adjust the string for alignment). But this drill really helps with trusting the roll, getting to know the speed, consistency with putts, and it helps me stand over the ball. This is a drill Luke Donald, no. 1 player, and Aaron Baddely, best putter on tour uses.