Gauging Distance on a Putt

I have lately been strugling gauging my distances on puts of more than 20 feet. I recently switched to a claw grip just to see what it was all about, and I'm nailing everything from 10 feet in. It's an awesome feeling standing over you putt and knowing there's a great chance it's gonna drop. If I can just lag it a bit closer though I would shave at least five strokes off my game easily. Any tips, drill or suggestions are very much welcomed.

Thanks in advance,

Nick

Take your average distance your leaving them short. Then putt as if the hole is that much farther.

Go with Greg's "foot-gauge" posted above - I've dropped 5 shots off my average score and this is why. If I ever 3-putt (once every 3 rounds or so) it's because I miss a 2 footer, something I've always been vulnerable to.

I just read Mr. Willis's instruction.....Good stuff. I will give that instruction a try.

Mr. Cmays instruction (also good stuff) on delofting of the putter face is a good way to putt on greens that are rough, or slow. This is the way we all putted back in the 50s, 60s, 70s, and up untill the greens became faster. I still do. Concentrate on hitting the ball above it's equator, to get a true foreward rolling motion on the ball. On today's manicured greens that type of impact will give you more distance and seems to get the ball rolling faster, with less bounce at impact.

A few of things I do to help with distance is to move the hole in my mind. Uphill putts I putt to a spot past the hole. Down hill putts I am putting to a spot in front of the hole. The degree of slope determines the adjustment I make.

Left to right breaking putts, I aim to a spot on the high side probably 6"-10" higher than what looks to be normal.

Right to left breaking putts I still aim to a spot higher than what looks normal. Again, 6"-10". By borrowing the extra inches, you are using more of the hole for the ball to fall into.

All breaking putts break more the closer they get to the hole, because of loss of ball speed. Grain also has an effect on breaking putts, as does moisture. Some golfers can putt better on a left to right breaking putt than on a right to left putt, and vice versa. Course managment comes into play here.

Another thing to expieriment with is hitting breaking putts off center of your putter face. Try hitting off the toe, or heel of your putter. With the proper feel, you might find that you can develope a tighter line on these breaking putts. GJS

Try this, it may help. on the practise green line up the put look at the hole not the ball and hit your put. if this works and you get the distance right, then you need to look at the hole and have 3 practise swings then line the putter up, look behind the ball and hole it.