Digging myself out of a slump

[warbirdlover]

It's coming. The "correct" grip is starting to feel normal. I even made a long birdie putt today. All my drives were in the fairway. Still blew way too many easy putts but a 46 makes me a little happier then what I was shooting.

[ezra76]

I hear you man. I had the icing on the cake early this week. Shot a 53 and snapped my 5W in half in anger. That did it for me. The back 9 of the 53 I settled down for a 41. Last 2 rounds have been back to back 83's with 2 birds each time. All I really did was relax. Loosened everything up and started striking it better and hitting it straighter.

So on Tues. I had one of my worst striking 9's ever, then on Fri. one of the best. I had one of those short stretches... 4 GIR in a row with the longest putt a 10footer. Stuck it in tight to 2 very tough pins, an 8i from 170 to 6ft., a GW flighted low, skipping up to the back tier to 5ft. and finally a baby cut 4i from 190 to 2ft.. Folled that up with a drive on a 380yd. hole 2ft. in front of the 100, dead center. It's stretches like that I get really excited about. I could play against anyone in my state with play like that.

Glad to hear you are heading in the right direction. Give the putting a little practice and stay confident. Don't try to force anything. Make the swing to get the shot you desire.

[FATC1TY]

Hope its all on the upswing WBL. I had a terrible round last sunday, after a 87 that I felt really proud of fighting my way back from some "would be" blow up holes.

Went to the range, worked on some stuff, and kept my confidence. Going out in the A.M. and hope it continues.

[warbirdlover]

An honest 43 today. No mulligans and hitting where it lies. Scores are still coming down. One bad drive under some trees cost me a bogey but the rest were in the fairway and decent. It's amazing how much difference a grip change can make. And only one 3-putt. I'm leaning toward the short side instead of trying to sink all the long ones and tapping in on most. Life is good.

[Adam Pettman]

Originally Posted by warbirdlover

And only one 3-putt. I'm leaning toward the short side instead of trying to sink all the long ones and tapping in on most. Life is good.

But if the ball doesnt get to the hole it will never go in.

[warbirdlover]

I only do that on really long putts...

smart ass.....

[MGP]

I'm not sure Adam was trying to be a smartass...

He has a point though. When I practice putting before a round I hit a lot of 15-35 ft. putts from uphill, downhill and sidehill positions and work on getting the speed so I go about 18" past the hole. Once I am consistently doing that I am ready.

YG can testify, I make my share of 20+ ft. putts on the course and almost all of them are because I am just trying to "get it 18" past the hole".

[Adam Pettman]

Originally Posted by MGP

I'm not sure Adam was trying to be a smartass...

He has a point though. When I practice putting before a round I hit a lot of 15-35 ft. putts from uphill, downhill and sidehill positions and work on getting the speed so I go about 18" past the hole. Once I am consistently doing that I am ready.

YG can testify, I make my share of 20+ ft. putts on the course and almost all of them are because I am just trying to "get it 18" past the hole".

Exactly my point, if you're trying to miss atleast try and miss on the long side.

[ezra76]

Originally Posted by Adam Pettman

Exactly my point, if you're trying to miss atleast try and miss on the long side.

And there is the recipe for a 3putt. At my course you'd better make or be short. 4ft. past the hole for the downhiller and you'll look like Lee Westwood at the PGA.

[Stanters]

Originally Posted by ezra76

And there is the recipe for a 3putt. At my course you'd better make or be short. 4ft. past the hole for the downhiller and you'll look like Lee Westwood at the PGA.

I'll take that any day

[warbirdlover]

I've been trying to go just 18" farther and it's been killing me. I'm trying to make the putt but "erroring" on the careful side.

[ezra76]

Originally Posted by Stanters

I'll take that any day

Apparently you missed him playing hockey from 3ft..

All I'm saying is on fast greens, be careful not to run it too far by uphill. I know on our greens the downhill putts can get very brutal. Some 3-4footers you can barely touch and if they miss, 6-8ft. coming back. 3 putts are 3putts though. Even the best putters do it. Anyone who says they never 3putt is playing course with shag carpet greens not even running 10.

[Stanters]

Originally Posted by ezra76

Apparently you missed him playing hockey from 3ft..

yeah but I do it from 2.....

I just try and get it in the dustbin lid zone - I can't say I can always judge to leave it short or long but my better putts tend to be the more aggressive ones. But putting is so different for each player - who knows what is best?

[ezra76]

I played Mon. morning, day after the club championship and they were lightening. I ran an uphill 10ft. birdie putt 8ft. by and was lucky to 3putt. Then on the next hole I nail a drive and nearly slam dunk a 60*. From less than 3ft. I tap the downhill putt and it runs 10-12ft. past the hole. Sickening. It was like Titleist.....Titlest.......Titleist........fcking thing would not stop. It was a painful 30seconds watching a ball roll 10ft., lol.

There are few holes that you'd better walk briskly and lightly and get a mark on the thing. Sometimes I have a lot of trouble putting my ball back down without it rolling away. Have to like hit it on the green with a little pressure to get it to sit, then take the marker away like playing that "operation" game.

[warbirdlover]

Well, I got the grip feeling good but today I started slicing again. My God what is going on?

So after a couple holes of this s**t I figure I'll move the ball more to the middle of the stance. POW!

So I struggle around the front 9 with a 48 and employ my new found fix on the back nine and shoot a 39. (my chipping and putting have been excellent lately).

How can you shoot a 48 and a 39 on the same round?

Next time this fix won't work. Arghhhhhh!!