Pushing Putts

[toyotajon93]

If I push alot of putts what would be the best type of putter for me? I read somewhere where a center shafted putter would be best. I am also using a belly putter now which I plan on getting rid of because I just cannot put consistently with it. I think I could honestly shoot even par if it wasnt for putting. Any advice would be great!

[leebev]

Re: Pushing Putts

When it comes to recommending putters, I always think it is very difficult as putters are very individual to each player. The perfect putter will feel right when you find it. It will feel the right weight, balance, etc, but you will need to experiment. Some people prefer mallet putters, some belly putters. Myself, I prefer the old fashioned bladed putter. In fact, I have a full bag of high quality taylor made clubs, but my putter cost me £10.00. It's a hippo, and it feels perfect for me. I rarely 3 putt from anywhere on the green, and this is due to my putter and my mental attitude. Believing in your putts will make a big difference. Why is it when you stand there thinking to yourself "this putt is going in", and inevitably it does. Jack Nicklaus states that you should never putt until you have that feeling. However, how many of us stand there thinking "I hope this gets close" or " I hope I don't over hit / under hit".

Anyway, to save yourself purchasing a putter you don't get on with. Borrow several different types of your playing partners and see feels right for you.

Also check out this link for a bit of fun.

http://www.rossaputters.com

Cheers.
Lee.

[SIRCHOPALOT]

Re: Pushing Putts

Most of the time a pushed putt (missing to right side of hole) happens because you have moved your eyes off the ball prior to putter impact. Try watching the putter hit the ball, look at the ground where the ball was at & listen for the sound of the ball falling in the cup. Start with 3 footers & move back a foot when you make 2 in a row.

[TeachingPro]

Re: Pushing Putts

There are 2 ways to solve this problem: the scientific way or the experimental way.

Scientific Way
Go to a fitment centre with a P3Pro system and have your putting stroke analysed on the system. This analysis will tell you among other things: your putter face alignment, the height of the putter at address and at impact and the bottom of your putting swing arc. Based on this info, we'll be able to see whether the problem is:
1. A putter problem (equipment)
2. A putting stroke problem (see above)
3. An alignment problem (if it is not 1 or 2)

If the problem is 1 or 2 then we can solve it easily.

It might be that you are not pushing your puts but you are aligning slightly too far right. With a putt, you need only align to the right by 1" and you'll piss the putt.

Experimental Way
You can try different putters with different offsets, different shaft positions, etc. Go through every putter you can get your hands on and see if one of them helps you.

Also, you can try getting a friend to help you. Go to the putting green and setup to a putt, aligning yourself the way you feel is correct. Get your friend to get a piece of string and attach it to the centre of your putter and walk towards the hole. You may find the string ends on the right side of where you align to, which results in an effective push.


Of the two, I'd say save yourself a lot of hours experimenting and find a pro or fitment centre with a P3Pro system. An hour session normally costs $40-$60.

[ubizmo]

Re: Pushing Putts

For me, the problem is perceptual. If I stand behind the ball and pick an intermediate point on the green to aim at, a foot or two along the line to the hole, when I step to the side and take my stance, that mark ALWAYS looks as it it'd take the ball left of the hole. Always. This is actually true of all shots, not just putts. If I choose an intermediate target, it looks too left when I address the ball.

It's harder to trust the intermediate target when putting, for some reason.

[chessbum]

Re: Pushing Putts

Quoting one of the greats from his appearance on "Playing Lessons with the Pros" (A great show in it's own rite), Gary Player:

"When you putt your ball, keep you head so still and don't look up to see if the ball made it but listen with your ears to hear if it drops in. If members would use this tip they would save themselves SO MANY STROKES, but they can't do it..haha". I try not to look up until I hear the ball drop in the hole.

Check Tiger Woods head out next time. You will see how still he keeps it.

Chessbum....

[pinyo8]

Re: Pushing Putts

Chessbum,

Completely agreed! As easy as it sounds to just keep your head still when putting, its not!

A lot inconsistent putts come from this very little action that you do with the slight movement of the head and even moving your eyes. If you can control this, your putt (either it be push or pull) will be a LOT more consistent and predictable. By just working on this one thing, you will definitely save a lot of strokes.

I do keep my head fairly still but definitely still have trouble keeping the eye still.
Working on it though.

[Kenisu]

Re: Pushing Putts

I agree with all, but first you should check if your hands work together. When I push the ball this is because my right hand is dominating and when I pull this is my left hand that dominates the putt swing. Let the shoulders do the work and no wrist action.

This could simplify your cure.

[Yggdrasil]

Re: Pushing Putts

The anwser is Dave Pelz.

If you do what he says, you putt better. If you don't, you pay in strokes. I've been terrible at putting, tried everything including belly putter I use now. I read Pelz' Putting Bible several times, but sort of resisted putting it in action (aim 3 times higher than the apparent ball break? Too much! I'll try 2/3... and miss).
He isn't joking calling it the Putting Bible, because everything in it is True. Now when don't do as Dave says, and miss, I call it "paying Dave". When I make a 20 footer (which actually happened yesterday, again) or go another round with No 3-putts, I just tell my friends "You gotta obey the Dave"....
Seriously, do what he says, and you will putt well. My "ah-ha" came from his visualization of hips poured in concrete,and I realized I was rotating my hips somewhat, and moving my head a little. Impossible to putt consistently well. As the Dave says. My next ah-ha came when I realized you Do have to aim 3 times the apparent break above the hole. Seems ridiculously high, but over and over it proves right.
So if my friend are calling me good at putting, AnyBody can putt well, if they "do as the Dave says". I thought the putter was important, but now I don't care if I use a belly putter or not. That's not what it's about, though I'm sure many will argue for a putter you like. Use a coke bottle and Do As Dave Says, and you'll putt well....