Re: Let's Talk Putting
Better putting is the result of a couple of things:
Finding your style of swing and getting a putter that's appropriate to it.
Practice. And practice effectively - good suggestions above.
I think landshark has a good point about preferred pace. I feel comfortable with a die-in pace, and find it really hard to hit it at the back of the hole. Whenever I do that (e.g. in a match where the next putt doesn't matter, or to try to take the break out of the line on a short putt) I tend to miss. I now go for the die-in, but just a little extra to ensure it doesn't end up short.
I also think a LOT of people find it boring to practice putting. (I'd agree). And your opening point is entirely correct. Not everyone is trying to score as low as possible. You see tons of golfers going for the hero shot, and when it works it's a great feeling. And when it doesn't, it's just a couple of strokes added to your score - for many that's a fair trade-off. It's a trade I often make. You're spending your time and money - do whatever gives you the best bang for the buck.
Maybe for us mid-to-high cappers, we're still so inconsistent that a well-struck shot is more rewarding than a well-holed putt. So that's what people practice most.
One thing about practicing lag putts - I think you should ALWAYS hole each one out, and keep track of your three-putts. It gives you incentive to make a decent lag, and it gives you a variety of short (or not so short) putts to make with a goal for doing it.
I would definitely recommend a putting lesson if you've never taken one. Because the shot is so short, it's easy to do okay with a self-taught stroke, but a lesson can give you ideas to work on. Having said that, I was told to change my grip (I put my index finger along the shaft) and that just didn't work at all.
Originally posted by Benz
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Finding your style of swing and getting a putter that's appropriate to it.
Practice. And practice effectively - good suggestions above.
I think landshark has a good point about preferred pace. I feel comfortable with a die-in pace, and find it really hard to hit it at the back of the hole. Whenever I do that (e.g. in a match where the next putt doesn't matter, or to try to take the break out of the line on a short putt) I tend to miss. I now go for the die-in, but just a little extra to ensure it doesn't end up short.
I also think a LOT of people find it boring to practice putting. (I'd agree). And your opening point is entirely correct. Not everyone is trying to score as low as possible. You see tons of golfers going for the hero shot, and when it works it's a great feeling. And when it doesn't, it's just a couple of strokes added to your score - for many that's a fair trade-off. It's a trade I often make. You're spending your time and money - do whatever gives you the best bang for the buck.
Maybe for us mid-to-high cappers, we're still so inconsistent that a well-struck shot is more rewarding than a well-holed putt. So that's what people practice most.
One thing about practicing lag putts - I think you should ALWAYS hole each one out, and keep track of your three-putts. It gives you incentive to make a decent lag, and it gives you a variety of short (or not so short) putts to make with a goal for doing it.
I would definitely recommend a putting lesson if you've never taken one. Because the shot is so short, it's easy to do okay with a self-taught stroke, but a lesson can give you ideas to work on. Having said that, I was told to change my grip (I put my index finger along the shaft) and that just didn't work at all.
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