MY PUTTING SUCKS

[Single_digit_hunter]

I`ve tried the interlock grip with my putter lately (playing all other clubs with overlap). Really made the difference in terms of stability in the stroke.

[Keith Handler]

[quote name='Noallegiance' date='11 May 2010 - 08:40 AM' timestamp='1273581622' post='2434365']
Blimey. Lot's of replies. All faaaaaaaar too complicated.

Rolling a ball along a surface isn't a complicated thing. So don't make it complicated.[u] You have two eyes in the front of your head.[/u] Once they've looked at the hole and the surrounding ground you should have an impression of how a ball would roll on it. If you don't, you're still over complicating it.

If you can catch, you have the requisit skills with which to putt. If you can catch, your mind and eye combine to predict the curve and weight of the object in order to move your hand to intercept. All you're doing in putting is the same thing, but on the ground. Figuring out how a ball will roll to intercept the cup.

[b]Absolutely... the eyes give your brain the information it needs


[/b][u]
There is not one line or one speed to any cup. So use your imagination.
[/u]
[b]This is the only thing I might expand on...

Your right, there is not one line or one speed to any cup...

but there is an [i]optimal [/i]speed. Having one consistent delivery speed of 12" thru the hole or last 2-3 revolutions of the ball (same thing) will ensure that your ball gets to the hole (doesn't come up short) and minimizes the come back putt (don't go too long) with maximum capture width of the cup. When you have one speed, there is one read. This eliminates a lot of indecision, and indecision leads to missed putts.

One Speed, One Read[/b]....


Do most of your work before you stand up to the ball.[u] If you've given your eyes all the info they need, you can actually stand up to the ball however you like and stroke it[/u]. You can putt with a piece of wood, a driver, the blade of a wedge or a hockey stick. [u]Rolling the ball over the ground doesn't require anything special.[/u] For me, being as still as possible only tenses me up. And THE most important thing in putting is being as [u]relaxed and free[/u] as possible. You don't need to be a robot about it. You can putt accurately doing a little jig next to your ball, if you so desire. Doing a jig, and rolling a ball can be combined and still probably produce better results than your current putting. You have the tools. You gotta learn how to switch your brain off and stop talking yourself out of putts. If you believe it's easy, it will be. It's nothing like as complex as the full swing.

At the moment of truth, your brain should be quiet and empty. It doesn't even have to be focused on putting. I've holed putts from everywhere whilst thinking about sex, football and what I'm gonna eat when I've holed this putt. If I try to focus on putting, or any aspect of it, that natural reaction between me, ground, ball and hole is gone.

Practice it. Get on the green and chuck some balls down indescriminately. Take as much time as you like over the read, then [u]step up like you don't care and stroke it hole-bound.[/u] You're a golfer, so your brain already knows you're trying to get the ball in the hole. You'll be surprised how many you'll hole, and how close your misses are with a more relaxed approach. Once you've convinced yourself it is that easy, take joy in showing everyone on the course just how easy putting is when you seem to step up and give it a tonk without seemingly caring whether it misses or not. And what a putter you'll be.

Last weekend I did that very thing. You can actually start playing around with people on course too! I had a putt of similar length to my opponent on the 18th. I thought I was away and so declared that I could put the pressure on if I holed it (it was for the match), but my partner said my oppo was up first, so my group tried to pile the pressure on me, attempting to make me eat my words. My oppo missed by inches. So I had a 9ft putt for the win. Down hill, left to right break of about 3 inches. Because I had the extra time to be sure of my read before my oppo putted, by the time I Came to putt I needed to spend precisely zero time in any prep. My opponenet picked his ball up, I casually sauntered to mine, laid the blade down and nonchalantly rolled it in. Much to his chagrin and my partners delight. After all, who really cares anyway? It's only a putt. WHat did I think when I was rolling it? "What a win"! Genuinely.

It works. Trust me. And trust yourself.

I play off 5 by the way, in case you're wondering about the validity of my point of view. Nowhere near the best, but better than most.

[/quote]

[b]Great post!!



[/b]Keith Handler, PGA
AimPoint Certified[b]
[/b]