Putting Hope

[Mike]

Didn't play over the weekend but managed an hour and a half practicing on a putting green. Adopted an old fashioned 'lean over' posture I seen the likes of Arnie Palmer and Gary Player use on The Golf Channel classics. Really worked in getting a bit more feel with my head right over the ball and my putter tucked in. Previously I'd hold my club out an awkward angle seeking to hold out the club almost square to the line of putt. Also tried to adopt some of GedK's putting set up tips and my original beginner's putting grip of two thumbs and index fingers pointing down shaft (and hands together).

Have no idea on the technical aspect of what I'm doing but it makes it easier to hit the ball confidently and on line. And to be honest I'm not bothered about introducing a slight flaw or two if the overall effect is a net improvement from 'awful' putter to 'average' putter. :smile:

Pretty pleased overall. I wanted to work on feel and line so had a round of the holes taking each shot from say 20/25 ft with some reasonable slopes. 4 balls at a time. Getting down in 2 is par, holing in one is a birdie and a three putt is a bogie. First round of 9 holes I did +2, second in par and third in +1. Mighty chuffed. Going to have two more sessions at the practice putting green bewtween now and my next comp on Saturday. Next one focusing on short putts and then lastly a mixed bag session.

Mike

[Mike]

Oh great, just read the putting pages in my golf book and it seems I'm doing everything wrong with my set up/stance/grip from the weekend. I bleedin hate this game sometimes!

[Longshot]

Ignore the books and go with what you feel works. It's still a confidence thing.

[GedK]

Frank - the pre shot routine works on short putts too!!!

[Mike]

Frank - the pre shot routine works on short putts too!!!

Ged - that's session 2! I just wanted to get into the mode of striking the ball confidently first off.

Thanks again.

[GedK]

I played yesterday for the 1st time in about 4 weeks and the best part of my game was.........

Putting!

and that's from a self confessed bad putter.

Important thing was even when I missed one from 15 feet, I knew I was going to hole the one back! (and that was on hollow cored greens, which noramlly would have scared me sh!tless!) :) Confidence breeds confidence!

[Alex_Smith]

Getting down in 2 is par, holing in one is a birdie and a three putt is a bogie. First round of 9 holes I did +2, second in par and third in +1. Mighty chuffed.


Ah, so you do something similar to me too.

I do, 1 ball, play from hole to hole (roughly around 5-20 foot) and count each hole as a Par 2 and play 9 or 18 holes of this and try to shoot under par, good fun when I'm bored :)

Sometimes I also pretend that I have to shoot -4 for 9 holes to win (whatever tournament :rolleyes: ). Good drill for wanting to put yourself under a bit of pressure and try and cope with it.