Simplified practice putting around the clock

Shorty · #1 (**permalink**) 03-15-2007, 07:04 AM

Practicing around the clock is common with the pros. Figure 1 (attached) shows Phil Mickelson practicing from about 2 feet from the hole with the intent of sinking 100 balls in a row.
What is the putting green clock?
As described by Pelz:
“Imagine a perfectly flat green with a constant-slope, with a hole at its center and a clock overlay (Figure 2). Putting straight uphill from the bottom of the clock is defined as putting from 6 o’clock. Putting straight downhill along the pure downhill or “fall line” of the green is putting from 12 o’clock. The down-hill direction is the same direction that water would flow if the hole were over filled with water (Figure 3). It should be clear that putting a left-to-right breaking putt exactly across the slope would be putting from 9 o’clock, while putting right-to-left breaking puts in the opposite direction would be putting from 3 o’clock.”
Start with 6 and 12 o’clock position putting
Here is a suggested procedure for a given distance from the hole starting from the 6 and 12 o’clock positions which will establish the range of putting ball speeds around the clock .
6 O’clock Practice
Place a hole cover over the hole. If you don't have a hole cover, you can try moving the practice ball like 6 inches parallel to the fall line. Practice putting from 6 o’clock position such that the ball passes the hole and stops a distance D6 beyond it, where D6 >12 in. This establishes the maximum initial ball speed. Return ball to original 6 o’clock position and practice hitting the ball towards hole with this speed.
12 O’clock Practice
Repeat above routine from the 12 o’clock position to establish the minimum initial ball speed where D12 < 30 in.
Simplified putting from other clock positions
Figure 4 includes a ball track for a ball at the 9:00 o’clock position. The target point is shown on the fall line. This point could be determined using the two-putt targeting principle. It also shows that when the aim line from the 7:30 position is extended to the fall line, it intersects at the 9:00 aim point. Thus, in general, this shows that the 9:00 (or 3:00) o’clock aim point on the fall line can be used as a common aim point for other ball clock positions. It's convenient to mark this target point with a dime.
The problem remains in determining the initial ball speed, but is aided from knowledge of ball speeds determined from the 6, and 12 o’clock putting positions.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode