Putting Pace - Avoid 3 Putts

[bill reed]

Re: Putting Pace - Avoid 3 Putts

hi Neil
what you say about looking at the hole and getting how the ball runs to the hole into you mind and then trusting the body to make the shot without really trying to do anything with the body to help the shot does seem to work so well. i sidesaddle putt with a broomhandled putter and i look at the hole all the time as i swing back and through as i putt, i think having both eyes looking at the hole helps me visualize the shot.
sometimes if there is a huge slope you have to putt across then the hole is not where i am aiming but somewhere within 16 inches around the hole, if i find i have a lot of brake on a putt i always aim higher so i give the ball a chance to drop in the hole as if the putt on the low side it will never have a chance to drop. if i have an uphill putt i aim not at the hole but a few feet past depending on how much its uphill, the same with a big downhill putt i aim short of the hole and try to putt to that spot. it works for me in judging distance.
bill

[Neil18]

Re: Putting Pace - Avoid 3 Putts

I do that with severe downhill and uphillers.

It kinda gives you a positive spot to aim at rather than trickling it down the hill or giving it an aimless bash up it.

A good tip Bill.

[kbp]

Re: Putting Pace - Avoid 3 Putts

The best advice I can give is to look at the hole while making your practice strokes. Focus on how it feels to make that stroke, with the right pace, and then step up to the ball and putt it by making the same feeling without any other thoughts or adjustments.

[boof]

Re: Putting Pace - Avoid 3 Putts

i had the same problem and fixed it by starting the putting stroke at the limit of my backswing i.e 2foot putt putter 6 inches behind ball 10 foot putt - 2 foot behind ball and follow through the same distance, once you practice it gets easy as you have the same speed of putt for all putts its just the length of swing that differs

[BrianW]

Re: Putting Pace - Avoid 3 Putts

This is something that helps me for what it's worth!

I take a look back to my ball from behind the hole if it is more than 3 feet away, I can read breaks better this way. As I walk back to the ball I Take a look at the line from the low side of the break. I then stand behind the ball facing the hole and pretend roll the ball to the hole with an underhand toss, this gives me a good feel for length of swing and a visual image of the balls path. I then stand to the ball and take my putt.

I always swing at the same tempo no matter how long the putt, I only alter the length of the swing, just like the practice roll.

[SuperGolferMan]

Re: Putting Pace - Avoid 3 Putts

I would say work on the rhythm of your stroke and make it the same length back and through. I say in my head TICK...TOCK like a grandfather clock. That is a perfect tempo for most of us and will help take the "HIT" out of your stroke which is why you are smacking them 6+ past the hole with your short jabby stroke. I have a lot of good advice on it in my blog Putting as well! Hope it helps!

[jambalaya]

Re: Putting Pace - Avoid 3 Putts

Hi all,

I've been busy this week trying as many drills as reasonably possible leading to a round on Thursday.

I've tried greg's putting drill, semi success. The main problem I had is trying to generate enough pace on shorter backswings but it did/does focus the mind and helped me gauge the length required for the pace. Thankx

I think the biggest effect came from looking at the hole and practice swining the putter until I felt I had the pace. This did work....as long as I committed to the feel of the pace I had agreed on and didn't slow down.

I've realised through doing this that I feel the right pace but then when it comes to the stroke it doesn't feel the same. I have to commit to the pace I agreed on in my head.

I got it wrong a couple of times by not taking into account a downslope but I was please with a few long putts, one of about 60ft ending up about 5ft short (i missed the second though) and another of about 40ft on the top terrace to the hole on the lower terrace. I had the pace perfect to the top of the slope, over it went and ended up 4ft past and holed out. I don't think there was anyway of getting closer without picking the ball up and placing it there.

I had 28 putts on the day - just the one 3 putt as described above. I did though have a run of 1 putts to help my stats out.

All in all pleased but know there's more work to be done here.

Back to working on Gregs drill, practice swinging and repeating the practice swing n the real swing - committing

As is usual in golf when you make progress on one area my round was marred by appalling pitching. I counted 11 approach shots, including pitches/chips from 30/40 yards in that I left way short - 3 of which went straight into bunkers! Doh!

That's for another post though!

Thanks for the debate guys.

28 putts is a good day. Give yourself a little pat on the back and be encouraged. Confidence will grow and putting will improve.

[jambalaya]

Re: Putting Pace - Avoid 3 Putts

I play lawn bowling when I am not playing golf.The technique is very similar to putting . Its visual, you are sending a massage to the brain,,the massage is of muscle memory feel and of course experience.
Study the putt and let you're imagination do the rest.Taking in all the information that you're eyes see.,,uphill downhill..etc,etc.

That is basically the way I putt. Examine the line, slope and distance and line the putter face up. Get into address position keeping the club face on that line, take a last look at the hole, then look down with the hole still in my mind's eye and take the stroke.

Something else I find that works for me is to have my right hand in control of the club. I like to feel like I am hitting the ball at the hole with my right hand rather than dragging the club to the ball with my left hand. I started using the reverse overlap grip which gives me more feeling and control using my right hand. I have become a two putt machine and have my days where a hole a few long ones. I have become much more proficient from 5 feet and in.

[mariner]

Re: Putting Pace - Avoid 3 Putts

Go with Greg's method posted above and putt like a robot with no feel at all, just use the space inside and outside of you back foot as a length gauge. All you need is an hours work on a flat practice green
I kind of worked it out for myself due to playing computer golf and wishing there was something as easy as the putting gauge in real life, and Greg has put it on paper with much more detail.
I've been doing this for over a year now and everyone says I'm a great putter - I went 6 rounds without a 3 putt when I started using it and I only hit a bad one when I let feel get involved.