Make everything 10 feet and in!

Matt10 · #16 (**permalink**) 06-11-2007, 06:48 PM

Anyone else not take a practice swing on their putts? I find this is the best way to put because that way I don't waste my good swing on a practice one.

I think when you think about how far your backswing should be and all that isn't going to help - mainly because you veer away from the 'feel' that is putting, not the technical aspect. This, in my opinion, is a major problem with golfers today - too much technical putting, just aim for an intermediate target like I mentioned in my first post - make sure the ball rolls over it...can't go wrong.

ubizmo · #17 (**permalink**) 06-12-2007, 04:15 PM

It's funny you mention the practice swing. I've given it up with full-swing shots, but I keep it for chipping and putting. With chipping, I think the practice swing is good for getting the feel of the shot, the lie, etc. But for putting....I wonder. I have started using an intermediate target, and that has helped, but I still do a little practice swing, supposedly to get a feel for the distance. But when I think about it...how can a practice swing give me a feel for the distance? I don't get any feedback. When I take a practice swing for a chip shot, I at least feel how thick the grass is, and if the lie isn't level, I figure out if I need to adjust my setup. But a practice putt is an "air putt." Furthermore, since many greens (the good ones) have few blemishes, I find it's easy to *lose* my intermediate target if I don't putt pretty quickly.

Time to go to the practice green and see if there's a difference between taking practice swings on putts and skipping them.

msklar92 · #18 (**permalink**) 06-12-2007, 07:35 PM

stop the club head at the front toe for all putts and change the length of the backswing for distance. be firm for shorter putts and try and take out the break.

Matt10 · #19 (**permalink**) 06-12-2007, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ubizmo

It's funny you mention the practice swing. I've given it up with full-swing shots, but I keep it for chipping and putting. With chipping, I think the practice swing is good for getting the feel of the shot, the lie, etc. But for putting....I wonder. I have started using an intermediate target, and that has helped, but I still do a little practice swing, supposedly to get a feel for the distance. But when I think about it...how can a practice swing give me a feel for the distance? I don't get any feedback. When I take a practice swing for a chip shot, I at least feel how thick the grass is, and if the lie isn't level, I figure out if I need to adjust my setup. But a practice putt is an "air putt." Furthermore, since many greens (the good ones) have few blemishes, I find it's easy to *lose* my intermediate target if I don't putt pretty quickly.

Time to go to the practice green and see if there's a difference between taking practice swings on putts and skipping them.

There is alot of truth in your response, Ubi. I agree that during putting - the practice swing serves nothing but wasted energy, and putting quickly gets rid of those yips - that's what I do from now on. Short putts are 100% because I don't take any time after I read my putt.

A great point about chipping - I too do the same exact thing as you, I have to hear the right sound and assess the conditions of the lie. My short game weakness is chipping, so I will try to focus more on what you mentioned.

Another tip on putting, I understand my post is scattered but it's all coming to me as I finish up, is definitely when right before I execute the putt (taking the club back) is I hover the putter head just slightly above the ground. What this does is it keeps me from being jerky with my take away - although I don't think of it too much anymore - it has been an ingrained feeling.

I recommend everyone try as many tips as they can, keep your mind open in putting - I've finally found something that works.

ubizmo · #20 (**permalink**) 06-13-2007, 03:10 AM

As far as chipping is concerned, my outlook has changed. I've had so much trouble with my long and mid irons for so long that by the time I was near the green I was just relieved to get the ball on the dance floor, anywhere. Starting about last fall, I started to think about chipping as something I should actually work on. This change in attitude has brought me to a point where I find most chip shots to be an interesting challenge, a sort of puzzle to figure out. It's not that I'm an ace chipper, but I've definitely improved. A month ago I was in a best-ball scramble event, and the only shots I made that tended to be the best were drives and chips. Fairway irons and putts were rubbish. But I like the puzzle-solving aspect of chipping.

Putting, on the other hand, presents a more perceptual challenge. As I mentioned, I wear glasses (with progressive lenses), and this makes it harder to see a straight horizontal line in the lower part of my visual field. Impossible, in fact. It took me a *long* time to figure out that if I get right out over the ball, I can position it properly in my visual field and get a better stroke on it. That in turn means that I would benefit from a more upright lie angle on my putter shaft (I understand that 10* from vertical is the minimum legal angle), and I'm looking into that. I think msklar92's suggestion, just above, is also promising. I tend to wimp out and leave putts short. Pushing the putter through to a specific swing end point seems to help with that. I tried the 2" backswing and can't seem to manage it.

Shamed04 · #21 (**permalink**) 06-13-2007, 03:23 PM

Im no master putter, but I do believe my method works...I use the same tempo for every putt...assuming were not talking about 45 footers...all I do for distance is vary the amount of back/follow thru...same tempo/same stroke/same results...just do what feels natural and do not get to technical on the green, thats where your biggest problems will arise

proffire · #22 (**permalink**) 07-30-2007, 03:09 AM

Has anyone in this group tried sidesaddle putting? Have been having an awful time recently with 3-5 footers and am so frustrated I'm thinking of buying a "Hammy". Any feedback welcome

Thanks

Stillhacken · #23 (**permalink**) 07-30-2007, 05:02 PM

When I sweep the putter head back it makes my backstroke shorter and keeps the head square. When I have problems pushing or pulling I always check my takeaway first. Slow and low.

GolfJunkieSr · #24 (**permalink**) 07-30-2007, 07:45 PM

Individuals have have individual putting strokes that work the best for them. So, search out, and try out as many types of putting strokes as you can. When you find the one that works best for your talent, you will make more putts.

One thing I do that anyone can do is use two putters. One is heavier than the other. I golf alot, and on many different courses. Some have fast greens, some have slow greens. To keep from having to adjust my putting stroke to match a different green speed, sometimes from day to day, I switch putters. Slow greens get the heavier putter, while the faster ones get the lighter stick. Now that being said, I know people who do just the opposite (lighter/faster vs heavier/slower) and putt very well. Like I said, putting is an individual thing. GJS

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