Putting

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Ok, I am a lousy putter.

That said, I have recently discovered that my problem with putting probably origins from hitting the lower half of the ball, which is wrong.

Although I know this is wrong, I cannot correct my problem unless I address the ball with the putter lifted slightly off the ground. So my question basically goes...How do you ensure that you hit the ball on the upper half with the putter grounded...cause I only seem to be able to do this with it lifted slightly off the ground.

Help on drills or anything relevant would be nice.

Thanks

 

QUOTE: fingermanden @ Oct 30 2006, 09:46 PM


That said, I have recently discovered that my problem with putting probably origins from hitting the lower half of the ball, which is wrong.

Which Idiot said that ??

You hit the bottom of the ball, that is why we have loft on the putter...

 

QUOTE: fingermanden @ Oct 30 2006, 08:46 PM


Ok, I am a lousy putter.

That said, I have recently discovered that my problem with putting probably origins from hitting the lower half of the ball, which is wrong.

Although I know this is wrong, I cannot correct my problem unless I address the ball with the putter lifted slightly off the ground. So my question basically goes...How do you ensure that you hit the ball on the upper half with the putter grounded...cause I only seem to be able to do this with it lifted slightly off the ground.

Help on drills or anything relevant would be nice.

Thanks

I'm not quite sure how you come to that root cause, but anyway, playing the ball towards your front foot will help get the ball rolling smoothly (ie without backspin - if you actually were hitting the lower half) and may lead to more consistent distance vs effort putt to putt. Putters like the C-groove say they help in this regard (as does the Monza Corsa, etc).

A golfing instructional DVD or lesson might put astray any misconceptions you have about your technique. I've found the Leadbetter series quite good. Several drills are shown there, like putting over a straight line to see if you are turning the face etc. However instruction is probably the best bet initially to rid you of any bad habits/technique you may already have. If not, it's confirmation your stroke is sound, so there's peace of mind either way!

Good putting is damn damn hard. I'm not there yet either!

Cheers, Kendrick

 

QUOTE: kpavey @ Oct 30 2006, 10:18 PM


Good putting is damn damn hard. I'm not there yet either!

Guys,

Let get some facts straight.

The ball launches off the putter face with backspin which quickly turns into top spin due to friction with the grass - Ralph Maltby did some great photography and so did Scotty Cameron

YOU DO NOT TOP SPIN A PUTT. EVER. This is pure fantasy.

Read some stuff by Dave Pelz, Scotty Cameron and Stan Utley. This is just plain fact, there is no immediate true roll, that depends on your stroke. there is some benefit from milled face but that is just to reduce friction.

You need to read some decent research. You also do not hit UP on a putt, this just happens automatically. Pelz came up with 2 inches in front of the low point of your stroke is the best place.

You guys need some facts, because otherwise you will spend your time looking for something that ain't there.

Enjoy.

 

QUOTE: Virge666 @ Oct 30 2006, 08:16 AM


You need to read some decent research. You also do not hit UP on a putt, this just happens automatically. Pelz came up with 2 inches in front of the low point of your stroke is the best place.


do you mean 2 inches behind low point?

 

QUOTE: Powerdraw @ Oct 30 2006, 11:36 PM


do you mean 2 inches behind low point?

Just confirming with the bible - it is 2 inches in front of the CENTER...

my fault.

 

QUOTE: Virge666 @ Oct 31 2006, 12:09 AM


Just confirming with the bible - it is 2 inches in front of the CENTER...

Praise the lord

wink.gif

Beware of cheap imitations - Especially from the US

 

QUOTE: fingermanden @ Oct 30 2006, 05:46 AM


Ok, I am a lousy putter.

That said, I have recently discovered that my problem with putting probably origins from hitting the lower half of the ball, which is wrong.

Although I know this is wrong, I cannot correct my problem unless I address the ball with the putter lifted slightly off the ground. So my question basically goes...How do you ensure that you hit the ball on the upper half with the putter grounded...cause I only seem to be able to do this with it lifted slightly off the ground.

Help on drills or anything relevant would be nice.

Thanks


If you are a lousy putter, working out how to put a 'perfect roll' on the ball is not high on the list.
Have the ball in a consistent position and try to maintain a constant tempo. Have an idea of the speed you want the ball to be going as it enters(if possible) the hole, and try to keep that idea constant.
These ideas should get you moving towards better distance control.

Then you need to work out whether you start the ball on the intended line regularly. Improvement in this area will help you down the line in your ability to aim, and subsequently, reading putts well.

 

this helped me lots...

Keep your putter low to the ground thru the stroke it shouldnt rise up and stay at the sameish level throughout.

easy cheap drill for good putting contact.

get 2 rubber bands and put the on the putter near the toe and heel leaving a small gap in the middle on the sweat spot. if you dont hit it square the ball will come off really soft and on a crap line. hope it helps

 

QUOTE: thewizard @ Nov 12 2006, 10:31 AM


this helped me lots...

Keep your putter low to the ground thru the stroke it shouldnt rise up and stay at the sameish level throughout.

The arc of a circle doesn't have a flat spot so this won't work efficiently. Try swinging your driver so it doesn't come away from the ground wiz... the physics of a golf swing don't change no matter how big or small a swing is.

Less manipulations should be the aim of any golf swing we make... not adding more.

 

QUOTE: Willow @ Nov 12 2006, 09:53 AM


The arc of a circle doesn't have a flat spot so this won't work efficiently. Try swinging your driver so it doesn't come away from the ground wiz... the physics of a golf swing don't change no matter how big or small a swing is.

Less manipulations should be the aim of any golf swing we make... not adding more.

i didnt ask for a putting lesson i putt fine. i was trying to help a fellow iskeer. im not talking about swinging a driver im talking about a putting stroke. I never said to add manipulations willow. there is no substance to your post willow its just a statement without any help to the initial poster!

a lot of people when they putt lift up through the stroke and follow through to waist height. this obviously shouldnt happen when putting. sounds to me like he could be rocking his shoulders instead of keeping them quite still and level. Good levels are something i assume you agree on willow? Its all about getting that ball to roll of the face square without the ball jumping or imparting spin on the putt. Drawing rings around your putts will help also mate.

my first post in months and i get shot down straight away now you know i have been silent on the posting front!

 

Vote Willow on this one.

You can't swing a putter and keep it parallel to the ground for the entire length of it's travel without making some serious manipulation of the shoulders and/or arms.

Likewise, you cannot keep the putter on a line parallel with the intended putt line for more than a brief instant (through impact) without some serious manipulation of the shoulders and/or arms.

The idea that the putter moves on a horizontal plane parallel with the ground and a perfectly linear motion parallel with the intended putt line (or feet alignment) is a pure myth and causes a whole raft of problems with those that try to follow that theory.

Beware of cheap imitations - Especially from the US

 

Haha shot down on first post in months...lol...

...

Willow is right in the technical sense...

This is a feel that a lot of people use tho...

So long as u understand it's a feel...

...

...

Otherwise you can get the hell outta here wizard...

biggrin.gif

j/k

 

QUOTE: birdie_man @ Nov 12 2006, 11:42 AM


Haha shot down on first post in months...lol...

Willow is right in the technical sense...

This is a feel that a lot of people use tho...

So long as u understand it's a feel...

.

That feeling we are talking about might be the feeling of extensor action happening which will keep the putter on the arc and stop the putter coming up because we are either shortening our left arm or standing up.

The putter always works on an arc though.

Sorry wiz but if you are going to post crap like that you might as well have stayed silent.

 

QUOTE: Fyirippu @ Nov 11 2006, 07:20 PM


Vote Willow on this one.

You can't swing a putter and keep it parallel to the ground for the entire length of it's travel without making some serious manipulation of the shoulders and/or arms.

Likewise, you cannot keep the putter on a line parallel with the intended putt line for more than a brief instant (through impact) without some serious manipulation of the shoulders and/or arms.

The idea that the putter moves on a horizontal plane parallel with the ground and a perfectly linear motion parallel with the intended putt line (or feet alignment) is a pure myth and causes a whole raft of problems with those that try to follow that theory.


I agree about the arms lengthening issue-will ONLY add complications in face angle control and putterhead control.

Disagree about difficulties and manipulations from a straight stroke. I believe quite strongly that your arc putters require more manipulations and luck to putt well.
Ask Loren Roberts whether he thinks it is difficult to keep the putter face square through impact.

 

IMO the best way to improve your putting is to get a solid understanding of the fundamentals and then practice, practice, practice.


Then when your done practicing, practice some more.

 

QUOTE: moondah @ Nov 11 2006, 09:30 PM


IMO the best way to improve your putting is to get a solid understanding of the fundamentals and then practice, practice, practice.
Then when your done practicing, practice some more.


What are the fundamentals, Moondah, and how do you practise?

 

Ok...coming to the Wizards rescue smile.gif

There are 3 ways of putting that I know of.

Pendulum - The hands and arms are controlled by the shoulder motion with a very vertical rotation centered at the top of the spine.

Extensor - This has the center more located at the left shoulder with the right arm doing the thrust.

The Paint Brush - This is done through the pressure points of educated hands where the center is located more to the middle of the body.

Pendulum tendency has the putter moving up in the backswing and up in the finish.

Extensor tendendy has the putter moving up in the backswing and lower in the finish.

Paint Brush tendency has the putter moving low in the backswing and low in the finish.

All of these techniques have geometry and physics (mechanics). They have a sequence and a source of motion. None are incorrect when adhereing to their fundamental purposes.

There is no question that a putt has an arc but it can also have a flat area. too. (Extensor and Paint Brush)

After years of putting woes I finally gave up the pendulum and am currently using the Paint Brush Stroke. It is mechanically sound and once learned the feel is phenomenal.

Just being popular doesn't mean it is the only way or even the best way.

 

QUOTE: Marylandpro @ Nov 12 2006, 10:32 AM


What are the fundamentals, Moondah, and how do you practise?


Fundamentals? Well this would include things like grip, alignment and ball position. You can't hope to have any consistency if you don't do these things consistently and to be able to do them consistently you have to practice them.

There are countless drills in magazines, web sites etc. that will help with your putting, but you will not improve if you don't devote the time to practice. Even putting balls down your hall carpet will help to improve your stoke, you just have to devote the time to it.

 

QUOTE: moondah @ Nov 11 2006, 09:47 PM


Fundamentals? Well this would include things like grip, alignment and ball position. You can't hope to have any consistency if you don't do these things consistently and to be able to do them consistently you have to practice them.

There are countless drills in magazines, web sites etc. that will help with your putting, but you will not improve if you don't devote the time to practice. Even putting balls down your hall carpet will help to improve your stoke, you just have to devote the time to it.

What grip? Alignment of what? What is a standard ball position?
You CAN be consistently bad with 'bad' fundamentals?
What magazines will help? What tips are helpful?
Exactly HOW will putting balls down a hall carpet help???

Am interested in some slightly less vague answers...
Am not a high handicapper...

 

QUOTE: Marylandpro @ Nov 12 2006, 01:58 PM


Am interested in some slightly less vague answers...

I did this over a year ago - I don't think much has changed.

http://www.iseekgolf.com/fo...

Enjoy

 

go to WWW.PGA.COM

Go to most popular videos and find the stan Utley: Swing of things

This is a great little video about keys of putting. He has one of the best shortgames in the world. Notice how he teachs you to not use the rocking motion with your shoulders.

http://www.stanutleygolf.co... that could be useful also
http://www.golfdigest.com/i...

and second link look at the photos how his shouler stay level and putter stays low.

 

QUOTE: thewizard @ Nov 12 2006, 09:14 AM


go to WWW.PGA.COM

Go to most popular videos and find the stan Utley: Swing of things

This is a great little video about keys of putting. He has one of the best shortgames in the world. Notice how he teachs you to not use the rocking motion with your shoulders.

http://www.stanutleygolf.co... that could be useful also
http://www.golfdigest.com/i...

and second link look at the photos how his shouler stay level and putter stays low.


Wiz,

Sorry to say we are on opposing ends of the spectrum!
I don't believe that a 6 degrees of putter loft, coupled with a 4 degree forward lean, coupled with a descending putter head, coupled with independent arm rotation and right arm lengthening, and a decelerating tempo has much merit for teaching anyone how to putt capably, let alone consistently.

What exactly has Stan achieved from a putting standpoint?? I know about the 6 putts in nine holes. I also know about the three wack from not very far that pretty much drew the curtain on his Nationwide career a couple of years ago.

Who has he taught? Jay Haas.. Well yes. I would put to you that Jay Haas' greatest strength is his speed control. Jeff Sluman? Belly claw now.

I'm going to go out on a limb here. Take the concepts that you believe most in, and then critique them. Critique the source, the technique, and especially critique the flowery prose inevitably associated with the concept. Then, if your concepts are strong, test them, and after a while you find whether things work and whether they can be added to putting, or full swing, lore.

 

QUOTE: Marylandpro @ Nov 13 2006, 01:19 AM


Wiz,

Sorry to say we are on opposing ends of the spectrum!
I don't believe that a 6 degrees of putter loft, coupled with a 4 degree forward lean, coupled with a descending putter head, coupled with independent arm rotation and right arm lengthening, and a decelerating tempo has much merit for teaching anyone how to putt capably, let alone consistently.

What exactly has Stan achieved from a putting standpoint?? I know about the 6 putts in nine holes. I also know about the three wack from not very far that pretty much drew the curtain on his Nationwide career a couple of years ago.

Who has he taught? Jay Haas.. Well yes. I would put to you that Jay Haas' greatest strength is his speed control. Jeff Sluman? Belly claw now.

I'm going to go out on a limb here. Take the concepts that you believe most in, and then critique them. Critique the source, the technique, and especially critique the flowery prose inevitably associated with the concept. Then, if your concepts are strong, test them, and after a while you find whether things work and whether they can be added to putting, or full swing, lore.

Mary,
I think Stan Utley is one of the best short game teachers around. He has actually taught quite a few big names that you didn't mention including Darren Clarke.
I think if you want to argue why there are not more PGA players, it may be due to the fact he considers himself a player more than a teacher and seems quite reluctant to accept his playing career is fading and his future lyes in teaching!
He doesn't teach a 4 degree lean. He thinks you should have 4 degrees of loft at impact...
According to the boffins at Scotty Cameron, 4 degrees is the ideal amount. So therefore he personally starts with 6 degrees as he decreases the loft by 2 degrees, with a slightly descending blow.
A vast majority of good putters these days, have narrow stances, do not rock the shoulders and keep the putter low to the ground. Obviously the longer the putt the higher the putter-face gets off the ground. But if the shoulders do not rock then obviously it will stay lower, than if they did.
Of course there are lots of way to get the ball in the hole, I just personally think this is a very strong concept which has worked for me.

 

Have not read all this but all I can say is there's more than one way to roll it...

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