Putting technique/help?

[Fore Left]

I have always known my putting was the weak part of my game,  but just recently I decided to 'track' it,  and the results are pretty sad.

I putted  "Better"  when I played a lot  (Pre-hiatus from the game)  but now I'm striking the ball much better,  and my putting is MUCH worse!

I played a par-70 course the other day,  slope/rating 72.7 /131 that was pretty darn hard for a par 70.... lots of trouble etc... and I felt like I hit the ball great,  but I my putting was TERRIBLE.

I shot an 89 with 41  (yep... 41)  putts.

I need to know the 'basics'  of what I should work on when I go out to basically "re-learn"  how to putt,  because I don't think I've ever been good at it,  even during the single-digit handicap days  (which are long over obviously!)   I want to at least break 80 this year  (shot an 81 on a par 72 already,  so I know I "can"  but again,  the putting is just killing me)   and I would like to think I'd have a lot more fun if I didn't three-jack  (or 4!) so often.

For what it's worth,  one of my 3-putts that day was from 9 feet,  which is where I put my 4i  on a 195 yard par 3

Nothing like 3-putting for a bogey....

EDIT:

I also got home in two on a very tough par 5  and three putted that!!~

[rustyredcab]

You missing your line or is speed the issue?

[Jon Robert]

There are 2 ways to putt

Linear

Non Linear

If you are having trouble with the one you are using then try the other method

Krista Dunton, Jim Hardy Plane Truth Matrix Golf Instructor  video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iU5ASyVdF6Q

[Mr. Desmond]

Starting points:

Aimpoint for greenreading:

http://www.aimpointgolf.com

http://patobriengolf.com/Instruction.aspx

Pat O'Brien DVD for $20 - He is Zach Johnson's Putting Guru and is very popular in the Dallas area, and is SeeMore's Representative.

I've used Pat's "method" - it's not really a method as much as showing you how to get neutral with your setup and alignment. He also has a grip that takes out your right hand without going left hand low.

Just a suggestion -

[saevel25]

Three putting is primarily a speed issue. Unless your mis reading your putts by 3 feet, if you got decent speed you should have gimme putts most of the time.

Speed comes with feel, feel comes from CONSISTANCY, meaning if your going to make a putting change stick with it for a while and see were it gets you. There is no magic fix.

Like for me, after reading Erik's thread on acceleration profiles of putters, and that you want to hit the ball on a slight upstroke. I decided that the easiest way for me to do this is to move the ball forward in my stance. I now putt near my front left foot, probably 2-3 inch's from the inside of my front foot. this did two things, it allowed me to have the bottom of my arc before the ball (hitting the ball on an upstroke), and second it automatically changed my acceleration profile. Keeping the same stroke i now have a longer backswing and shorter follow through.

The 2nd change i made was to choke down more on my putter, this got me leaning over a bit more and allows me to really feel like i have better control over my putter.

These two changes, i improved my putting from 18-21 putts for 9 holes, to 15-18 putts per nine holes. I feel like the ball will start on my line and go the speed i want. Now the key for me here is that i am going to stick with this and really develop a feel for it. I'm a naturally decent putter with good speed control, so for me its starting the ball on my line that was always an issue. I use to pull or push putts a ton. so this really solidified my putting stroke.

[iacas]

Originally Posted by saevel25

Like for me, after reading Erik's thread on acceleration profiles of putters, and that you want to hit the ball on a slight upstroke. I decided that the easiest way for me to do this is to move the ball forward in my stance. I now putt near my front left foot, probably 2-3 inch's from the inside of my front foot. this did two things, it allowed me to have the bottom of my arc before the ball (hitting the ball on an upstroke), and second it automatically changed my acceleration profile. Keeping the same stroke i now have a longer backswing and shorter follow through.

Very good.

Also, the weight of a putter (head weight, mid-weight, counterweight) is REALLY important to people. I've said before so I won't belabor the point again, but I like the Edel system as much for how much it changes people's ability to control distance as much as or almost more than its ability to correct aim.

[Fore Left]

Originally Posted by rustyredcab

You missing your line or is speed the issue?

I would say that most of the time it's certainly a speed issue.....  man,   I lag some SERIOUSLY short putts,  but also blast them way  (10 feet!)  past some times.

As someone else mentioned the "upswing"  I'm definitely intrigued by those links now,  as I know I play the ball fairly far back in my stance/in the middle of my stance.

I have gone through various  "attempts"  at corrections  (how far up/down the grip I hold the putter etc)  with no change,  so perhaps playing the ball further up,  and looking at other tips from those links that deal more with the contact/speed/etc.  will help.

I'll be sure to report back.   Going out of town tomorrow,  and my sticks are coming with me!

[Mr. Desmond]

Originally Posted by Fore Left

I would say that most of the time it's certainly a speed issue.....  man,   I lag some SERIOUSLY short putts,  but also blast them way  (10 feet!)  past some times.

As someone else mentioned the "upswing"  I'm definitely intrigued by those links now,  as I know I play the ball fairly far back in my stance/in the middle of my stance.

I have gone through various  "attempts"  at corrections  (how far up/down the grip I hold the putter etc)  with no change,  so perhaps playing the ball further up,  and looking at other tips from those links that deal more with the contact/speed/etc.  will help.

I'll be sure to report back.   Going out of town tomorrow,  and my sticks are coming with me!

Sounds like a setup issue, which is why I like O'Brien. He doesn't tell you how to swing the putter, up-down, or around - he sets you up neutral so you are not compensating...

[Pablo68]

First things first...................are you hitting the sweet spot? All else is secondary to solid contact each time you stroke the putter.

[rustyredcab]

Dr. Bob Rotella's "Putting Out Of Your Mind" helped me instantly putt better. Whatever mental stuff is causing your 3-putts can be helped with this book. I have the audio book downloaded on my phone and listen to it every few months. The author is the reader, which I think is cool.

[dsc123]

To control my speed, I found success with a metronome.  Start the putter on the tick and hit the ball on the tock (Pelz describes it differently).  That gets you a consistent tempo.  Then hit putts with that tempo, bringing the putter back just inside the back foot, and count how many paces the ball went.  Then do the same with a longer backstroke, just outside my back foot.  Maybe another distance that you can ingrain too.  Then you know, for example, that a stroke that goes back just inside you back foot will hit the ball 3 paces (about 7-8 feet) and if you go just outside you back foot, the ball will go 5 paces (about 12-13 feet).  Anything other distance becomes an adjustment to those pre-set distances; 20 footer?  go a bit further than outside the foot.  Its not exact but you'll be close.

I don't really use this method anymore, but it worked when I did and I think I now am able to do without only because it helped me develop a better feel for tempo and distance control.

[Mr. Desmond]

If you want to get into the "zone", try this app

seeitgolf

[Fore Left]

Sorry,  been out of town.

Moving the ball up in my stance made an IMMEDIATE difference in my putting,  but I stayed out there for 4 hours working on it nonetheless.    Eager to get back out for another 18,  and see how I do under "normal" conditions.

[TJBam]

Was doing some thread research on putting and came across this.  I was given the same advice from a guy on the course to move my ball up in my stance when putting.  It helped a lot.

He said the reason was to catch the ball on the upswing, and also because my Scotty is slightly lofted (maybe all putters are-I don't know).  I found the after moving the ball up in my stance I had more consistent rolls and less "hops" on long putts.

[rustyredcab]

Pat O'Brien's setup and technique along with a Seemore putter have helped me become more consistent. I now have a model in my mind and a putter that aids in making sure my setup is the same every putt and every round. Seemore is new to me but I am convinced that it will be a huge aid over time. I have not switched to his grip. I think my grip is pretty good and pretty consistent. But I did change my stance to be upright (like he recommends) and allow my arms to hang freely. If, like I was, you are finding the correct ball position each week on the practice green, consider embracing Seemore and their system.