Putting ?

[golfshooter]

Re:Stableford

T-h-a-n-k-y-o-u!
That makes sense. I have had sooooo many explanations but they were as clear as mud.
Thanks Brian
Regards Peter

[Mox]

Re: Putting ?

On the putting question, I recommend adding "Putting out of your mind", by Bob Rotella to the previous recommendations of Pelz' putting bible.

Read a bit of Rotella, when you get bored with Pelz's mathematics. :-)

[golfshooter]

Re: stableford

I everyone,
Just wanted to know . For those on a handycap of say 15 do they simply score their handycap allowance on the first 15 holes or mix it up according to the indexing?


Regards, Peter

[golfshooter]

Re: Putting ?

HI Mox,
Yes I do to find Pelz to be usefull but heavy going sometimes

Thanks,Peter.

[golfshooter]

Re:Back to Putting

Hi guys,
I have bought a little tool that allows me to draw a complete circle in permanent ink around my ball.It is quite amazing how the brain immediatly zeros in the mark on the putter with the line on the ball without any major extra effort by me.Not only that you get immediate feedback on how you have stroked it by the circle rotation on the way to the hole.It has definately improved my putting.I have a question though,how does one read the grain of the grass on the green and accurately read the slope?.What bias does the grain effect the ball? For you drawers out there a diagram would be usefull. I is a complete mystery to me.
Regards
Peter

[rotator]

Re: Back to Putting

Hi guys,
I have bought a little tool that allows me to draw a complete circle in permanent ink around my ball.It is quite amazing how the brain immediatly zeros in the mark on the putter with the line on the ball without any major extra effort by me.Not only that you get immediate feedback on how you have stroked it by the circle rotation on the way to the hole.It has definately improved my putting.I have a question though,how does one read the grain of the grass on the green and accurately read the slope?.What bias does the grain effect the ball? For you drawers out there a diagram would be usefull. I is a complete mystery to me.
Regards
Peter

Hi Peter,

I believe in OZ there is a lot of grain.

The grain runs (grass blades leans) predominately towards the setting sun. So, see where your shadow falls. If your shadow is cast to the left (in the afternoon), the grain is running to the right.

When you look down the direction of the putt and the surface of the green looks a darker shade and "rougher", you are going against the grain. This is because you are looking "into" the grass blades which are growing towards you. If the surface looks lighter and "shinier", you are going down grain.

You can look into the hole and check the grass at the fringe of the opening. You will see one side of the hole will have the grass blades overhanging the hole, in which case the grain is running in the direction of the overhang into the hole. On the opposite side of the hole, you will see no grass overhang and the fringe actually looks worn and you can see the grass roots and the earth, which confirms the reading on the other side.

The ball will break in the direction of the grain. Also, if the grain runs away from you, the ball will run quicker, and the opposite for putts against the grain.

As well as grain, you have to check the slopes on the green. As you approach the green, you should observe where ithe green sits in the surrounding landscape. For instance, is there a hill on the right and a creek on the left, which may suggest the green although it seems to be level, will still have an overriding bias to run water off the hill and into the creek. At many courses, the broader topography has the same hidden influence. The whole course may sit in an area where the terrain slopes from mountains miles away in one direction down to a valley miles away in the opposite direction.

Ted

[golfshooter]

Re: Putting ?

Ted, Thank you for the detailed explanation.I had asked a few people at the club but their views were many to say the least.Yours makes sense.As I have said ,it has been a steep learning curve,but I have enjoyed the journey thanks to you and others in this forum.Thank you all for your time and patience
Peter

[rotator]

Re: Putting ?

Your welcome, Peter.

When you are on the practice green, or when it's not a distraction to others while you are on the course, make observations using the basic knowledge. You will soon become familiar with the knack of reading greens.

Regarding the effect of the surrounding topography, you will knotice this on certain greens. I play on several courses which have high escarpments along one side of the courses. The escarpment influences every putt, be it breaking left or right, and faster or slower than the putt looks. This phenonemon is often commented on by the announcers of televised tournament, where they would say "That putt missed because the ball always breaks more towards Scottsdale (or wherever)".

Have a good Summer.

Ted