Nevin Posted September 10, 2022 Share Posted September 10, 2022 I'm a 4.4 index who has been playing in some senior tournaments this summer. Other than a propensity to make an 8 more than usual, the primary problem this summer has been struggling with short putts under pressure. 2-5 footers have been a major problem. The stroke looks and feels fine under regular conditions. Lessons have comfirmed that the stroke is ok. I try to putt everything out when I play a regular round, but in a tournament it gets really ugly. Usually starts with 3-putting the first or second hole and then I am off to the races with a typical 6-7 3-putts. Lots of jerky pulls and shoves. I never know when it is going to start. One tournament all I had to do to tie for first was 2 putt that last two holes for 71. I three putted both. Clearly it is psychological but I am open to any and all suggestions on how to improve this area of my game. I have a broomstick (L.A.B.) ordered and I am going to experiment with it. Quote Callaway Epic Flash Sub Zero 9 degree Fubuki stiff shaft. XXIO 3 wood XXIO 20 degree 4 hybrid XXIO 23 degree 5 hybrid PXG 0211 DC 6 thru GW MMT stiff shafts PXG 0211 DC 54 degree sand wedge MMT shaft Taylormade Hi-toe MG 60. Putter: Odyssey 2-Ball Ten Tour lined. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funkyjudge Posted September 10, 2022 Share Posted September 10, 2022 Although I currently carry a 15.3 Index, I am still a very competitive golfer (I am almost 74 years old, and had some serious health issues on-and-off from 2017 through early-mid 2021). Prior to my early 60s, I had been a single digit handicapper since 1989 (I didn’t start playing golf until 1985, at age 36). One thing that has helped me to regain my competitiveness after two rather lengthy layoffs in 2017-18 and again from November, 2020 through May, 2021 has been very good putting. Even when I am all over the place off the tee, I am usually able to prevent really big numbers with my wedge game and putting. This was not always the case, even back in my single-digit playing days. I’m not sure if this applies to you, but I have found that my putting has gotten a lot better in competition and in high-pressure situations when I completely ignore the importance of the putt and just focus on getting the line and speed right, then take my normal pre-shot and alignment routine and hit the putt. My pre-putt routine is not a lengthy one, but I must keep it consistent. Whenever I have suffered from poor putting and missing putts that I definitely should have made, it seems to have been a result of one of the following: 1.) Over-thinking and standing over the ball too long before “pulling the trigger”. 2.) Following doing the above several times, rushing my putts without looking carefully at the line and the factors affecting the speed of the upcoming putt. Whenever I do either of the above, disaster is almost always sure to follow. If either of these maladies applies to your putting in competitive rounds or when under pressure, the same may be happening to you. By the way, after returning to golf last year, I placed top five in four events on a 22-event winter golf tour, winning two tournaments in the Senior Net Division (54 golfers). In all of those events, plus several wins in the statewide senior travel league and another league that I play in, my chipping, pitching, and putting has saved me many times. Quote DR - Callaway Paradym AI Smoke Max, Newton Motion 4-Dot shaft 4W - Titleist TSR2, Newton Motion 4-Dot FW shaft HYB - Sub 70 949X 21*, original HZRDUS Black 85-S shaft 7W (if played) - Titleist TSR, ACCRA TZ6 7S Irons - Cobra King Forged Tec X, KBS TGI graphite shafts Wedges - Edison 2.0, 47* (bent to 48*), 53* and 57* (bent to 58*), KBS TGI 100 Tour S Putter - Evnroll ER10 ""Outback” Mallet Ball - Maxfli Tour-X CG (2023) or Vice Pro Plus Bags - Vessel / Ghost stand bags Cart - MotoCaddy M7 Remote (without the remote) Spoiler Lots of short game practice has made this a strength; now the driver is causing problems! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chisag Posted September 10, 2022 Share Posted September 10, 2022 4 hours ago, Nevin said: I'm a 4.4 index who has been playing in some senior tournaments this summer. Other than a propensity to make an 8 more than usual, the primary problem this summer has been struggling with short putts under pressure. 2-5 footers have been a major problem. The stroke looks and feels fine under regular conditions. Lessons have comfirmed that the stroke is ok. I try to putt everything out when I play a regular round, but in a tournament it gets really ugly. Usually starts with 3-putting the first or second hole and then I am off to the races with a typical 6-7 3-putts. Lots of jerky pulls and shoves. I never know when it is going to start. One tournament all I had to do to tie for first was 2 putt that last two holes for 71. I three putted both. Clearly it is psychological but I am open to any and all suggestions on how to improve this area of my game. ... This pops up from time to time and the answer is always the same. You are attempting to make your putt go in the hole because that is your focus. Your focus should be on making a good stroke. In other words focus on the process and not the results. As you said "The stroke looks and feels fine under regular conditions" so you can control your stroke but it is impossible to control your results. Once you truly recognize that as fact and you can put a good stroke on a 5 footer and not care if it goes in the hole, the irony is you will make more putts. Crazy game ... goaliedad30, Kenny B, cnosil and 3 others 5 1 Quote Driver: Qi10 10.5* ... AutoFlex Dream 7 SF405 Fairway: Qi10 5 wood ... Kai'Li Blue 70r Hybrids: G430 Hybrid 22*... Alta Hy70r Irons: P770 5-pw ... Steelfiber i80r TP UDi 4 ... Steelfiber i80r Wedges: MG3 46*/50*/54* MG4 58* ... Steelfiber i95r Putter: Custom 5.1 (no alignment) 33" Ball: '24 TP5x/Maxfli Tour X Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funkyjudge Posted September 11, 2022 Share Posted September 11, 2022 On 9/10/2022 at 1:54 PM, chisag said: ... This pops up from time to time and the answer is always the same. You are attempting to make your putt go in the hole because that is your focus. Your focus should be on making a good stroke. In other words focus on the process and not the results. As you said "The stroke looks and feels fine under regular conditions" so you can control your stroke but it is impossible to control your results. Once you truly recognize that as fact and you can put a good stroke on a 5 footer and not care if it goes in the hole, the irony is you will make more putts. Crazy game ... Basically what I was trying to convey in my lengthy response above. chisag 1 Quote DR - Callaway Paradym AI Smoke Max, Newton Motion 4-Dot shaft 4W - Titleist TSR2, Newton Motion 4-Dot FW shaft HYB - Sub 70 949X 21*, original HZRDUS Black 85-S shaft 7W (if played) - Titleist TSR, ACCRA TZ6 7S Irons - Cobra King Forged Tec X, KBS TGI graphite shafts Wedges - Edison 2.0, 47* (bent to 48*), 53* and 57* (bent to 58*), KBS TGI 100 Tour S Putter - Evnroll ER10 ""Outback” Mallet Ball - Maxfli Tour-X CG (2023) or Vice Pro Plus Bags - Vessel / Ghost stand bags Cart - MotoCaddy M7 Remote (without the remote) Spoiler Lots of short game practice has made this a strength; now the driver is causing problems! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiscipleofPenick Posted September 11, 2022 Share Posted September 11, 2022 On 9/10/2022 at 1:54 PM, chisag said: ... This pops up from time to time and the answer is always the same. You are attempting to make your putt go in the hole because that is your focus. Your focus should be on making a good stroke. In other words focus on the process and not the results. As you said "The stroke looks and feels fine under regular conditions" so you can control your stroke but it is impossible to control your results. Once you truly recognize that as fact and you can put a good stroke on a 5 footer and not care if it goes in the hole, the irony is you will make more putts. Crazy game ... Second this! Process over results. Pick up a Bob Rotella book too. Quote Take Dead Aim Driver: PXG 0211 10.5* Fairway: Titleist 917 F3 15* Hybrid: Adams Idea Pro Boxer Gold 18* Irons: MacGregor MT-86 Pro Wedges: Vokey 50/54/58 Putter: SeeMore X2 Costa del Mar Ball: Srixon Z-Star Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BMart519 Posted September 12, 2022 Share Posted September 12, 2022 On 9/10/2022 at 7:18 AM, Nevin said: I'm a 4.4 index who has been playing in some senior tournaments this summer. Other than a propensity to make an 8 more than usual, the primary problem this summer has been struggling with short putts under pressure. 2-5 footers have been a major problem. The stroke looks and feels fine under regular conditions. Lessons have comfirmed that the stroke is ok. I try to putt everything out when I play a regular round, but in a tournament it gets really ugly. Usually starts with 3-putting the first or second hole and then I am off to the races with a typical 6-7 3-putts. Lots of jerky pulls and shoves. I never know when it is going to start. One tournament all I had to do to tie for first was 2 putt that last two holes for 71. I three putted both. Clearly it is psychological but I am open to any and all suggestions on how to improve this area of my game. I have a broomstick (L.A.B.) ordered and I am going to experiment with it. Experiment with "heads up" putting inside 6' or some other short distance. You should be less "yippy" if you are not staring at the ball and you obviously have the skill to make a 5' putt at a high percentage. One other mental trick I use is to aim at a spot that is not the hole no matter how short the putt. - my default spot is 6-12" past the hole for flat or uphill putts, I will pick a blade of grass either side of center if I am aiming inside right or inside left - for downhill, I pick a patch of grass just in front of the hole on my line for that "Die it in" feel. This gets my mind off focusing on the hole, making the putt, and what it is worth. I'm just hitting the putt to a blade of grass. When all else fails, do the clock drill in practice more often from 3-6' away. Quote G425 MAX Driver & 5W Baffler Rail-H 3H-4H 699 Pro Utility V2 - 4i APEX CF19 6-AW INDI Wedges 52, 56, 60 EAS 2.0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GolfSpy_APH Posted September 12, 2022 Share Posted September 12, 2022 I'm going to suggest something a little different. With you being a 4.4 it's obvious you have talent. This is something I've used in other sports as well as good, but it's simple and straight forward. Find a breathing pattern or rhythm that works with your stroke and focus only on that after you've set up. Your body likely knows what to do and how to do it so let it take over and just focus on a simply breathing pattern. Example i will get myself setup, do a quick flash forward of where and how the putt should look while looking at the cup, then headdown small press forward and breath in while taking the putt back and out when making the stroke through. It's the same breathing pattern and i rely on muscle memory and all the other info my body has taken in by just looking and Walking around to make the proper stroke. My putting is my clear strength of my game and for me i owe it a lot to this approach. Side note it also helps smooth out my putting stroke. GolfSpy TCB and chisag 2 Quote as of Oct 5, 2024 (Past WITB) Driver: GT2 with Graphite Design AD CQ - check out the Driver Shootout! Wood: GT2 with Graphite Design AD CQ shaft (still love my Cobra F7's) Irons: T Series - T200 5 Iron T150 6-9 Iron Wedge: Toura Golf - A Spec 53,57 or SM10 45,49,53,57 degree wedges Putter: LINK! Full putter shootout incoming Balls: Vice Pro Plus Drip (Blue/Orange) Golf Bag: Ghost Anyday 5.0 Golf bag - Maverick colorway with MGS Logo Other: Vortex Anarch Rangefinder, searching for electric cart, Red Rooster The Root Glove and more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
null Posted September 12, 2022 Share Posted September 12, 2022 On 9/10/2022 at 9:18 AM, Nevin said: I'm a 4.4 index who has been playing in some senior tournaments this summer. Other than a propensity to make an 8 more than usual, the primary problem this summer has been struggling with short putts under pressure. 2-5 footers have been a major problem. The stroke looks and feels fine under regular conditions. Lessons have comfirmed that the stroke is ok. I try to putt everything out when I play a regular round, but in a tournament it gets really ugly. Usually starts with 3-putting the first or second hole and then I am off to the races with a typical 6-7 3-putts. Lots of jerky pulls and shoves. I never know when it is going to start. One tournament all I had to do to tie for first was 2 putt that last two holes for 71. I three putted both. Clearly it is psychological but I am open to any and all suggestions on how to improve this area of my game. I have a broomstick (L.A.B.) ordered and I am going to experiment with it. Sounds like a mental things. I cant recommend "Unconscious Putting" by Dave Stockton enough. It changed my mental approach to putting drastically and turned it into the strength of my game. GolfSpy TCB and GolfSpy_APH 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GolfSpy TCB Posted September 12, 2022 Share Posted September 12, 2022 5 minutes ago, Golfspy_Lukes said: Sounds like a mental things. I cant recommend "Unconscious Putting" by Dave Stockton enough. It changed my mental approach to putting drastically and turned it into the strength of my game. Stockton is a GOD on the greens. Love this book! GolfSpy_APH 1 Quote Titleist TSR3 9* (A2 setting) Driver - Graphite Design Tour AD UB-5 R1 Titleist TSR2+ 3 Wood - Graphite Design Tour AD UB-5 R1 Srixon ZX 5W Callaway Paradym 4-PW Titleist Vokey SM9 50-08, 54-10 & 58-08 Scotty Cameron Super Select Newport 2.5 2023 Titleist ProV1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nevin Posted September 13, 2022 Author Share Posted September 13, 2022 Thanks to everyone for their ideas and comments. I did an experiment yesterday and drew a small dot on the shaft of the putter about 6 inches about the head. I looked at the dot instead of the ball while putting and I have to say that it worked great and only had 30 putts for the day. No flinching. The short putts were where it really excelled with all of them going into the center of the hole. Whether this is a "works only one day" solution or something that is a continued improvement is still unclear. Whether this works at all in a tournament remains to be seen. I have a one day tournament in one week. We'll see. Quote Callaway Epic Flash Sub Zero 9 degree Fubuki stiff shaft. XXIO 3 wood XXIO 20 degree 4 hybrid XXIO 23 degree 5 hybrid PXG 0211 DC 6 thru GW MMT stiff shafts PXG 0211 DC 54 degree sand wedge MMT shaft Taylormade Hi-toe MG 60. Putter: Odyssey 2-Ball Ten Tour lined. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarlH Posted September 13, 2022 Share Posted September 13, 2022 On 9/10/2022 at 12:54 PM, chisag said: ... This pops up from time to time and the answer is always the same. You are attempting to make your putt go in the hole because that is your focus. Your focus should be on making a good stroke. In other words focus on the process and not the results. As you said "The stroke looks and feels fine under regular conditions" so you can control your stroke but it is impossible to control your results. Once you truly recognize that as fact and you can put a good stroke on a 5 footer and not care if it goes in the hole, the irony is you will make more putts. Crazy game ... Bingo!! This is spot on!! I'm also a big fan of developing a pre-shot routine that you repeat for every putt....be it for 20 foot or 3, casual round or tournament round, for birdie or bogey, on the course or on the practice range...repeat the routine, stroke the putt, and let it happen. Quote Driver: Black Ops 12* with Cypher 50 5.0 Fairway: Black Ops 3 wood with Cypher 50 5.0 Hybrids: Black Ops 19* and 22* with Cypher 50 5.0 Irons: Gen6 6, 7, 8, 9, W, G with Cypher 50 5.0 Wedges: Sugar Daddy II 52* and 56* with Cypher 50 5.0 Putter: DF 2.1 -- BGT Stability shaft @ 34" Ball: Tour, Chrome Tour, Pro V1 Other: C10 Bag, glove My Photography can be seen at Smugmug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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