muggs Posted July 17, 2008 Report Share Posted July 17, 2008 please tell me how to putt? You guys got any good drills you use, or good ways to practice putting at home? Most of my game is coming around and I've been playing pretty solid but my putts (errr...my three putts) are killing my scores. I shot a 44 last night while three putting two holes. I also missed a freaking 2 1/2 foot birdie putt on 9. Seriously, I have no touch on the greens. Craig, any tips par shooter? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddyboman Posted July 17, 2008 Report Share Posted July 17, 2008 This will sound dumb but.....On those long/lag putts are you trying to make them? I usually never "try" to make them.... but rather I try to putt those long putt up close to within a couple feet so I know I can tap it in. Then when they do fall it's a bonus. I know I play with guys that always try to MAKE those long putt and they just run it by 2 or 3 times. On the practice green I start by putting short putts, 2 ft or so I will putt and MAKE 15 to 20 at that distance. Then move to 5ft then 7ft and so on. Another thing on the practice green I will often do is putt towards a tee or another ball and NOT the actual cup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddyboman Posted July 17, 2008 Report Share Posted July 17, 2008 Here is a couple tips from the oobgolf group.. remember with your putts that a small backstroke makes you more accurate. and push the ball with the putter head, dont strike it! I'm also working on listening for the putt to drop instead of trying to watch it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbeck Posted July 17, 2008 Report Share Posted July 17, 2008 Here is a great drill. Find a straight put, take 2 pencils, stick one in the ground behind the hole, stick another one in the ground about 6 ft. away. Tie a string to both approx. 7" off the ground. place your ball under the string, make your putt without touching the string. This will help you with staying down on the putt, also you will be able to see the line and help your eyes line up putts better. http://www.ussog.com/aboutus/mr_teach_com/drills/string-drill.asp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muff Posted July 17, 2008 Report Share Posted July 17, 2008 what I do is 2 things Muggs....first I use a marking on the ball and aim it where I want the putt to go.....use the writing on the ball or lots of them now have some sort of marking to help you out....next on anything outside of 4 feet I try to pick a half way point that I want the ball to hit on its way to the hole....I find this really helps with putts that are going to break left or right....anyway that 2 small things that I do that seem to help me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muggs Posted July 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2008 Good tips guys. Thanks...and keep 'em coming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJL Posted July 17, 2008 Report Share Posted July 17, 2008 Rule # 1. ALL putts are straight. No matter how hard I try I cannot putt the ball with a break in it. The slope of the green causes the ball to break, I do not. If the putt appears to have 6" of break left aim 6" to the right. This only works if you have the correct speed. Rule # 2. Speed is more crucial than break. If I'm faced with a 16' putt with 6" of left break, and I hit that put perfectly on line with twice as much force as necessary it will not break until it is 16' PAST the hole leaving me with a 16' putt with 6" right break coming back. If I hit the same putt STRAIGHT with the PERFECT amount of force, I'm left with a 6" uphill putt to finish. Speed is CRUCIAL. What affects speed?? Slope, moisture, grass direction, wind, length of grass, and the overall condition of the green. The bottom line is to pick a point on the green that takes into account the slope and the speed and putt to that point. Remembering that you can only putt the ball STRAIGHT. Oh yeah...............spend twice as much time practicing with your putter as you do your driver. Generally speaking you drive only 1 time per hole but if you putt 3..................well you get my point. If all else fails you can send me three easy payments of only $99.95 and I will say a prayer to the Golf Gods on your behalf. BUT WAIT.................... act right now and I''l make the last payment for you. THAT"S RIGHT..........for only TWO payments of $99.95 I'll say a prayer and you'll be a better putter. Practice...............practice...............practice. Good Luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michiganbowhunter_SQ2 Posted July 17, 2008 Report Share Posted July 17, 2008 I do something similar to muff on the longer putts. After reading and finding the break and path I want to take, i pick a spot about 6 inches in front of the ball that I aim at instead of something half way to the hole. I've always heard, that when putting, your follow through should be the same distance and your backswing, if you go back 4 or 5 inches, follow through 4 or 5 inches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCH Posted July 17, 2008 Report Share Posted July 17, 2008 What's helped me out with my putting lately, is experimenting with grips. There are days when a claw grip works great for me. Here lately, I've been putting great with a cross hand grip. Just experiment with different grips to find the one that works the best for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted July 17, 2008 Report Share Posted July 17, 2008 Move your shoulders, not your arms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbeck Posted July 17, 2008 Report Share Posted July 17, 2008 I asked our pro for a putting leason. He headed for the driving range, I said I need help with putting. He replied you putt fine, we need to get your approach shots closer to the hole. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muggs Posted July 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2008 Move your shoulders, not your arms. I think this is definitely something I need to do. I use all arms. I think I read the greens okay, but then I line up in a direction I'm not trying to- if that makes sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohiobucks Posted July 18, 2008 Report Share Posted July 18, 2008 When facing the longer putts, hit them harder than you would shorter putts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbeck Posted July 18, 2008 Report Share Posted July 18, 2008 When facing the longer putts, hit them harder than you would shorter putts. LMBOROF As Yogy once said, if I'd have hit that putt harder I'd have missed it closer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ironranger Posted July 18, 2008 Report Share Posted July 18, 2008 I've gotten a few tips over the years that have helped. I'm a lefty and was doing what Phil Mickelson does when he has a bad day putting. I guess it would be considered pulling the ball to the right. Almost like a hockey slap shot. I was crouching over far too much. Anyway, I started standing more erect over the ball, letting my arms do the work while keeping my head/spine still, and trying to keep my backstroke at a length in relation to how far the putt is. For example, short putts of 2 to 3 feet, I only pull the putter back about 5 inches or so whereas for longer putts the backswing is longer. I know this is probably elementary to you all but I really had some serious putting issues that caused me to think about all aspects of my putting stroke, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcgyverit Posted July 22, 2008 Report Share Posted July 22, 2008 sounds silly but practice, practice. not that I am a good putter, but when I seem to struggle I buy a ~50 ball bucket and head to the putting green. I will do 50 putts from 20'+, 10', and 5' all from one direction, then move 90 deg and repeat all the way around a hole. When I am going to play a round, I usually take 3 balls, set up a 20' putt and pay attention to how far my back swing is related to my right foot (right handed) and that is my gauge. I do a few of those then move closer to 10' and 5'. Paying attention to putter location and my right foot. My goal isnt to necessarily make them but get to within a few feet with each putt but hopefully the distance is correct. Then I find a flat spot and set a ball at 2', 4' and 6' all in a line. start from the closest and work my way out, rotate 90 deg and repeat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Finn Posted July 22, 2008 Report Share Posted July 22, 2008 like Chris said, use your shoulders, not your arms. the swing should be like a pendulum, smoothly flowing back and forth. make sure you are not stabbing at the ball.....very hard to control speed that way and also hard to keep it online Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Born4it Posted July 30, 2008 Report Share Posted July 30, 2008 One thing I try to do is picture the shot...hitting the ball and imagining the ball rolling and watching it roll in. Also, make sure you're seeing the club hit the ball and looking at the ground for a couple seconds before you look up. Hope it helps! Good luck! Ryan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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