Want to score better?

[Canucklehead 1,633]

I showed up early Monday and practiced 4' putts for an hour. Putted lights out Mon, Tues, Wed and shot some good numbers

[dhartmann34 1,765]

I'm a single digit player, but it's only because of my short game. I average about 27 putts a round, but I only hit 4 fairways and 7 greens on average. Of course I'm working on that. But putting and chipping are my saviors...

[Kenny B 23,281]

If we are specifically taking putting there are some basic skills that should be mastered that will likely have benefits for all golfers

 

1. Start the ball on intended line. This is the first skill to master. If you can't accomplish this the other skills are difficult to achieve. This is a core fundamental that can be practiced anywhere.

 

2. Need to be able to control speed/distance. Leaving a putt 6 feet short or blowing it 6 feet past the hole put a lot of pressure on you putting game.

 

3. Green reading. Not every putt is straight so you need to be able to determine where the ball will go. This skill is tied to the other 2 skills. If you can't start the ball on line at the right speed you cannot build the knowledge to accurately evaluate a putt.

I agree totally.  However, I focus on #2 first.  When I practice putting, my main focus is on speed.  If I miss the line a little by either misreading or not starting the putt on the correct line, I will have a relatively short next putt.  If my speed is off but I am on the correct line, I could have a lengthy next putt.  I always spend a lot of time on putting when I am at an unfamiliar course to get the speed correct before I play.  I have also found that spending more time putting before a round at my home course is important when I play at a different time of the day than normal.  

 

I heard someone on the Golf Channel say once:  "If you have the right line and the right speed, the ball will go in the cup."  Well... that's a brilliant analysis!

[Sluggo42 6,033]

I'm a single digit player, but it's only because of my short game. I average about 27 putts a round, but I only hit 4 fairways and 7 greens on average. Of course I'm working on that. But putting and chipping are my saviors...

That's a sick low putt average- I don't think any pros are that low...

That's like one-putting half the holes..

[dhartmann34 1,765]

That's a sick low putt average- I don't think any pros are that low...

That's like one-putting half the holes..

I shot 76 Sunday with 25 putts. I made 3 over 20 feet. It's the one thing I can count on. Haha.

 

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[STUDque 11,859]

I shot 76 Sunday with 25 putts. I made 3 over 20 feet. It's the one thing I can count on. Haha.

 

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Those sound like my FIR/GIR stats. So all I have to do is drain 20 footers and I'll be chilling in the 70's too!

 

 

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[dhartmann34 1,765]

Those sound like my FIR/GIR stats. So all I have to do is drain 20 footers and I'll be chilling in the 70's too!

 

 

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I shot 69 at Cog Hill Ravines a while back and only hit 7 greens. I'm in trouble so much I guess I'm just good at getting out of it... Which is why I'm taking lessons because if I can hit fairways then I can most likely hit 12+ greens and who knows what happens then!! Fingers crossed though. Dreams are dreams. Gotta keep em alive though right?!

 

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[StrokerAce 10,484]

I agree totally.  However, I focus on #2 first.  When I practice putting, my main focus is on speed.  If I miss the line a little by either misreading or not starting the putt on the correct line, I will have a relatively short next putt.  If my speed is off but I am on the correct line, I could have a lengthy next putt.  I always spend a lot of time on putting when I am at an unfamiliar course to get the speed correct before I play.  I have also found that spending more time putting before a round at my home course is important when I play at a different time of the day than normal.  

 

I heard someone on the Golf Channel say once:  "If you have the right line and the right speed, the ball will go in the cup."  Well... that's a brilliant analysis!

 

HAHA... kind of like in football season when they say that the team that scores the most points usually win!

 

I agree with you on speed/pace - that is so important - you can adjust your alignment, but like you said, if you can't get the pace right you're still going to struggle.

[Golfspy_CG2 25,119]

I shot 69 at Cog Hill Ravines a while back and only hit 7 greens. I'm in trouble so much I guess I'm just good at getting out of it... Which is why I'm taking lessons because if I can hit fairways then I can most likely hit 12+ greens and who knows what happens then!! Fingers crossed though. Dreams are dreams. Gotta keep em alive though right?!

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Love that thought!! And one day we will make up for that mised opportunity in FL. I'm sure of it. Keepin it alive!!

[cnosil 14,685]

That's a sick low putt average- I don't think any pros are that low...

That's like one-putting half the holes..

Not to knock the average since you have to make putts but only hitting 7 greens gives you 11 one putt opportunities .

[dhartmann34 1,765]

Not to knock the average since you have to make putts but only hitting 7 greens gives you 11 one putt opportunities .

Oh no doubt!

 

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[cnosil 14,685]

For practice I focus on line. For warmup I focus on distance getting a feel for the greens

 

Focus on line first was the advice provided by my putting instructor. It works on mechanics to ensure a consistent stroke and face angle no matter the length of the putt

[M. Parsons 658]

For some reason it doesn't usually all come together for me. I mean one round I can have over 40 putts and score in the high 90's and the very next round I can putt in the low 30's and still shoot in the high 90's. I distinctly remember putting 46 times in one round and the very next round I had 34 putts and still shot the same score.

 

 

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[scooducks 299]

That's a sick low putt average- I don't think any pros are that low...

That's like one-putting half the holes..

Which means he's missing greens but chipping it close more often than not. Not so much a measure of good putting as it is a measure of good hands around the green.

 

 

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[STUDque 11,859]

Which means he's missing greens but chipping it close more often than not. Not so much a measure of good putting as it is a measure of good hands around the green.

 

 

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Yeah. Which is almost a direct quote from his original comment stating that his short game is his Savior.

 

I'm a single digit player, but it's only because of my short game. I average about 27 putts a round, but I only hit 4 fairways and 7 greens on average. Of course I'm working on that. But putting and chipping are my saviors...

 

 

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[Rusty1885 1,332]

The problem with most golfers who have putting problem is they are treating putting as a science. Putting is an art.

 

If you can toss a ball to your partner's hand a few yards away, you have the necessary hand eye coordination to make putts on the green. You'd do it without thinking about the angle of release, the velocity and the trajectory of the ball leaving your hand to your friend's hand.

 

There are at least 3 speed and lines option on every putts. Fast and firm putting speed takes straightest line and least break. Medium speed takes more break, and slower speed take the most break. So you can only get an idea of how the put may brake but when your brain tells you the line it already pick the speed. Your job is simply stay out of the way and let it happen.

 

Around the green shots and especially on the green, pros have no physical advantage than any golfers. Putting from outside 20 feet statistics are pretty close between pros and amateurs. On shorter putts especially 3-4 footer, amateur has slight mental advantage because most pros are afraid of missing these short putts. Afraid is a kind way to put it.

 

My secret sauce is practice making the putts. I want to hear the putts drops. The more I do it the more confidence I am. There's no point practicing 20 footer one after another and seeing miss putts after miss putts. Put your brain on autopilot during the round and you'll be amazed how close you get your first putt.

[cnosil 14,685]

The problem with most golfers who have putting problem is they are treating putting as a science. Putting is an art.

 

There are multiple ways to solve a problem; some take the artistic approach and some take the scientific approach. People are wired differently and you have to find what works for you. Lots of ways to toss a ball; you still have to find the one that works best for you just like you have to find the best way to putt.

[TBT 2,212]

Sure putting is important....if you really want to shave strokes practice everything from 100 yards and in....especially 30 yards and in.

 

Get those chips and pitches closer to the hole and then you'll have more 5-10 footers to save pars.

[scooducks 299]

Yeah. Which is almost a direct quote from his original comment stating that his short game is his Savior.

 

 

 

 

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I'll call it an Executive Summary then

 

 

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[StrokerAce 10,484]

... Putting from outside 20 feet statistics are pretty close between pros and amateurs. On shorter putts especially 3-4 footer, amateur has slight mental advantage because most pros are afraid of missing these short putts. Afraid is a kind way to put it.

 

 

HUH??? 

 

You must not have played with the guys I have...