Need Putting Help 4-8 Feet

[golfncowboy]

Hey guys, I've been struggling with the putter lately especially in the 4-8 foot range. My reads are generally good as is speed but my path is seriously in consistent. I know that putting isn't all it's cracked up to be as far as importance in scoring, in that I agree with LSW. My issue is largely that I am missing birdie and par opportunities inside of 10 feet. I'd love to be fit for a Edel putter but it's not in the cards at the moment. Can anyone recommend some drills to help me out? 

[saevel25]

2 hours ago, golfncowboy said:

Hey guys, I've been struggling with the putter lately especially in the 4-8 foot range. My reads are generally good as is speed but my path is seriously in consistent. I know that putting isn't all it's cracked up to be as far as importance in scoring, in that I agree with LSW. My issue is largely that I am missing birdie and par opportunities inside of 10 feet. I'd love to be fit for a Edel putter but it's not in the cards at the moment. Can anyone recommend some drills to help me out? 

Work on consistently hitting a start line. I would use the goalpost drill. Set up two tees about 3 inches apart and try to hit your putts consistently through that. Don't guide the putts, just find the alignment and stroke that gets you to hit the putts through the tees with out forcing the direction of the putt. 

[Jakester23]

2 hours ago, golfncowboy said:

Hey guys, I've been struggling with the putter lately especially in the 4-8 foot range. My reads are generally good as is speed but my path is seriously in consistent. I know that putting isn't all it's cracked up to be as far as importance in scoring, in that I agree with LSW. My issue is largely that I am missing birdie and par opportunities inside of 10 feet. I'd love to be fit for a Edel putter but it's not in the cards at the moment. Can anyone recommend some drills to help me out? 

I like the 4-8-12 drill in LWS. It builds confidence.  I also like the drill Matt said above.  If I'm going to be honest I just went for a Edel fitting.   Just spend the money and get one it was eye opening. I know its a lot of money but you at least know its the indian not the arrow.

[iacas]

2 hours ago, Jakester23 said:

I know its a lot of money but you at least know its the indian not the arrow.

That's one of the best things about it - it removes a variable, as you know you're aimed properly (if your fitting was good).

[MasonAsher2014]

What I do on any putt inside 10 feet is look at the hole, especially on the 5 feet and in, it works for me and more often than not I know I'm going to make it as soon as I get over the putt.

[Buckeyebowman]

7 hours ago, golfncowboy said:

Hey guys, I've been struggling with the putter lately especially in the 4-8 foot range. My reads are generally good as is speed but my path is seriously in consistent. I know that putting isn't all it's cracked up to be as far as importance in scoring, in that I agree with LSW. My issue is largely that I am missing birdie and par opportunities inside of 10 feet. I'd love to be fit for a Edel putter but it's not in the cards at the moment. Can anyone recommend some drills to help me out? 

Maybe it's me, but I have a serious problem understanding your post. In one sentence you intimate that putting isn't really all that important, then in the next sentence state that you're missing birdie and par opportunities inside 10 feet. And yet, PUTTING ISN'T ALL IT'S CRACKED UP TO BE"?! And then you seem to blame it on your current putter because you're wanting another one.

You suggest that you have problem lining up. Where do you miss? Is it on the high or low side? You say your reads are generally good, so that suggests that you're not starting the putt on the line you have seen, which brings saevel's comment into play.

A glamorous, more expensive putter may not cure your woes. I use a putter I found years ago for about $20! At 63 I putt better than I did 40 years ago! You don't necessarily need a new putter, you just need to learn how to line up correctly.

[boogielicious]

15 hours ago, golfncowboy said:

Hey guys, I've been struggling with the putter lately especially in the 4-8 foot range. My reads are generally good as is speed but my path is seriously in consistent. I know that putting isn't all it's cracked up to be as far as importance in scoring, in that I agree with LSW. My issue is largely that I am missing birdie and par opportunities inside of 10 feet. I'd love to be fit for a Edel putter but it's not in the cards at the moment. Can anyone recommend some drills to help me out? 

 

13 hours ago, saevel25 said:

Work on consistently hitting a start line. I would use the goalpost drill. Set up two tees about 3 inches apart and try to hit your putts consistently through that. Don't guide the putts, just find the alignment and stroke that gets you to hit the putts through the tees with out forcing the direction of the putt. 

Another other drill I do is play pool with golf balls. Put a ball 3 feet away on a flat section, or slightly uphill and putt to hit the ball dead center. This helps both aim and start line. You can increase your stroke speed too to simulate longer putts instead of needing a longer putting area. I do this drill in the winter on a golf mat I have in the basement.

BTW, I know my aim is good because of a fitting I got a couple of years back.

[iacas]

19 hours ago, Buckeyebowman said:

Maybe it's me, but I have a serious problem understanding your post. In one sentence you intimate that putting isn't really all that important, then in the next sentence state that you're missing birdie and par opportunities inside 10 feet. And yet, PUTTING ISN'T ALL IT'S CRACKED UP TO BE"?! And then you seem to blame it on your current putter because you're wanting another one.

Putting isn't the most important skill in golf. That's all the person was saying. That said, of course, if you're only making 20% of your ten-footers, there's room for improvement, and it may be a glaring weakness.

19 hours ago, Buckeyebowman said:

A glamorous, more expensive putter may not cure your woes. I use a putter I found years ago for about $20! At 63 I putt better than I did 40 years ago! You don't necessarily need a new putter, you just need to learn how to line up correctly.

An Edel putter is fit for your aim. A lot of people can't aim the putter they own now.

[Golfingdad]

12 hours ago, boogielicious said:

BTW, I know my aim is good because of a fitting I got a couple of years back.

My confidence in my aim came, not from the fitting itself, but from the results since.  It is extremely rare for me to miss a short putt (<6' and in or so) because of bad aim.

[boogielicious]

11 hours ago, Golfingdad said:

My confidence in my aim came, not from the fitting itself, but from the results since.  It is extremely rare for me to miss a short putt (<6' and in or so) because of bad aim.

I didn't practice putting at all in the off season other than grabbing putters at Golfsmith and doing a few. I've played two 9 hole rounds. The last round I had 5 one putts (a couple >10 feet) and a chip in (I left the flag in ). So I agree, once you know your aim is good from a fitting, all you worry about it speed and bead!

[saevel25]

11 hours ago, Golfingdad said:

My confidence in my aim came, not from the fitting itself, but from the results since.  It is extremely rare for me to miss a short putt (<6' and in or so) because of bad aim.

Yep. If I miss a short putt it's because of a misread or I push or pull a putt.