21 Handicapper - Avg. score around 98 - Avg putts per round 43!

[Shindig]

Bought a decent putting mat. Going to switch to left hand low. Concentrate on my hitting the ball consistently straight and true. THEN going to worry about reading greens etc. Steve

So, you evaluated the cause of missed putts and determined it's your grip and that this is somehow causing you to hit putts that don't start on your intended line? And you've also determined that you're capable of aiming the putter at the hole? Because otherwise, hitting it straight at the hole involves swing compensations for your missing aim. If you're consistently aiming right of your intended target, you need to ingrain a pull into your swing to hit it "consistently straight and true." Or are you just fiddling around and hoping this is the cause or that this is the priority piece?

[Stug]

I suppose I'm saying to myself, let's make sure I'm capable of putting the ball consistently in a straight line. THEN I can start working on distance control and THEN on reading greens better. I just don't want to make lots of changes and not know what is helpful and what is not. Thought starting with the very basics first i.e. Consistency of stroke in a way I can replicate THEN...

[rkim291968]

Lag vs putting straight, IMO, is not a chicken or egg decision.

You can practice both easily in comfort of your home if you have a carpeted area of some length.   I use kitchen floor to practice short putts.  It helps me with "feel" & "touch."   Without having 2x4 block handy, I set two fat books parallel to my putting line and do pendulum swing practices.   This helps with getting the putting swing path right (pendulum motion).

For lag putt, I use a stretch of my carpted living room to practice - putt one ball 5 ft, next one a foot after that, next one another foot after that, ....    This helps with distance control.

If you have a level with laser pointer (can be had for $7 from Home Depot), you can set it behind your ball and practice.   Once you play around with it, you will figure out how best to use it.

[Jeff Potts]

Last year I started ,not jabbing but not trying to follow thru on my short 5 ft or less putts improved by a ton, my buddy yelling Concentrate!! doesn't help either lol, well helps him make 20 off me

[Beachball]

My daughter and I both took an Aimpoint class last fall.  That did more for our putting than anything else I've tried.  Understanding how to read the green and how to feel the slope in my feet helped me to rapidly improve my green reading but it also helped me with my distance control.  My lag putts are a lot better and my putts between 3-6 feet have really improved.  I will still get a three putt from time to time but I have a lot more 1 putts than I ever did.  My daughter is even better than me, and she tends to 1 putt a lot more than I do.

[Stug]

Thanks again everyone. My putting mat arrived yesterday and I've had a couple of sessions on it. Excellent to practice and start to feel comfortable with my new grip without feeling self conscious. Great that it has a nap and four different speeds. Tried knocking in a lot of 2 to 4 foot putts. I think if I'm more confident at that range then next I'll practice distance control with the thought that if I can lag to three feet then direction can be worked on later.

[Stug]

Update. Things are getting a lot better! I've used my putting mat everyday and after lots of experimenting have settled on ONE position that I feel comfortable in. (You know what it's like when you are trying anything to get better, one day I would feel bent knees, crouching felt good, the next very upright with very straight arms etc.). Using the mat I have settled on an easy, reproducible stance, switched to left hand low and have been improving steadily, then I tried a sureswing, much fatter grip and it just feels sooooo good. Only been out once with new stance, new attitude and new grip, sure it wasn't perfect but only 3 three putts and two one putts. Fingers crossed, it feels RIGHT! Lots of practise to come (much more fun when you feel comfortable in yourself and the putts drop regularly) and the thought is to really try and consolidate from here. Give myself six months without any (too much) tinkering and then reassess. Thanks everyone it really helps to 'talk it through' with you. Steve

[Stug]

Further update. Shot an eight six today, not getting off the tee very well and chunked a few approaches BUT 35 putts, 6 one putts and 5 the putts on VERY, VERY tough, fast slopey greens. Really, really believed I could sink anything and lagged well. When I did chip or putt leaving 5-6 footers I sunk eighty percent of them. I really feel it's going to last! Steve

[Jeremie Boop]

Hi all

Really grateful for all your helpful advice I will look at it all.

Here's a copy of my last round.

It's soooooo tough hitting a great 7 iron 160 yds into the heart of a green and deep down knowing you can add 3 or 4 shots onto where you are now. No positive thoughts, never think HEY a birdie chance ,I think "with a bit of luck I might make a bogey".

I really sucks.

1st column PAR second colomn score and third column putts.

Edit: working on this.

Just want to say, you should never approach any shot with a negative mindset. Just like they say don't think about where you do not want to hit it, think about where you do want to hit it. The mental part of golf is pretty important too. When I have trouble with 3 putts I think about getting close enough to have a nice tap in on my second shot instead of pressuring myself to make the first one. Once I get that down, then I start thinking about holing the first putt. Anyway, that's my take on it.

[rkim291968]

Further update.

Shot an eight six today, not getting off the tee very well and chunked a few approaches BUT 35 putts, 6 one putts and 5 the putts on VERY, VERY tough, fast slopey greens.

Really, really believed I could sink anything and lagged well. When I did chip or putt leaving 5-6 footers I sunk eighty percent of them.

I really feel it's going to last!

Steve

That's 8 putts off of 43 putts in the thread's subject line.  Good job.   I am following your handicap index to see how much it is dropping since you posted this thread.   I noticed it went from 21 to 20.   What is your projection?

[Lihu]

Further update.

Shot an eight six today, not getting off the tee very well and chunked a few approaches BUT 35 putts, 6 one putts and 5 the putts on VERY, VERY tough, fast slopey greens.

Really, really believed I could sink anything and lagged well. When I did chip or putt leaving 5-6 footers I sunk eighty percent of them.

I really feel it's going to last!

Steve

What did you do to reduce your putts? Whatever it was, please put it into a can and ship it to So. Cal. . .

[Stug]

Not sure what I'm aiming for with my handicap. I guess I just want to play golf with friends etc around the 10-15 mark without being the guy who always gets given shots.I strike the ball as well or better than most yet have to suffer the embarrassment of always receiving strokes.

[Stug]

As for what have I done (let's make sure it lasts first). But it's left hand low (amazing for consistent striking), large sure stroke grip (stops either hand being too dominant), practise, practise and practise. Good practise mat meaning I can sneak a few putts everyday. Change in mindset, comes with seeing improvement, I now think I can hole anything.

[Stug]

Me again.

Just played a society match, didn't strike the ball from Tee to 100 yds out well at all, (almost embarrassingly bad at times) BUT despite one 3 putt and one 4 putt (just rushed this one and missed from a foot leaning over to tap in) I averaged 1.83 putts per hole.

Such a change, I'm already thinking "just get the ball on the green" or " I can just up and down this etc." and am now really disappointed if I don't sink every putt inside 8 feet (up until a couple of weeks ago it was more worrying about 3 and 4 putting).

I never ever thought I could or would actually enjoy this part of the game and yet today it was by far the best and most rewarding bit and I was hit by the realisation that even if I'm not playing well I can still score reasonably well. I'm now just waiting for the round where my usually really good ball striking is matched by my new found ability on and around the green. (interestingly my chipping has improved a lot in line with my putting - I think the thought that getting it closer means I can sink the putt!).

Steve