Help - I'm a bad putter (need Ho advice)

[VtDivot]

Title says it all. I am a very inconsistent putter. Some days I can't miss, and other days I can't make anything. One of my new problems is the sort putts. I'll stand over a 4 footer fowever like Nicklaus, then I know I'm totally screwed.

Anyways, I am pretty sure I am releasing the putter too soon and closing the face resulting in a pulled stroke and a miss left. I realize that there are plenty of drills and will be trying these trust me.

What I am looking for is the answer to this question:

I currently put with a heel shafted offset plumbers neck style blade. Will a center shafted putter help stop me from closing too early? I have toyed around with a few at the clubhouse etc and they feel nice, but what I am wondering is what is the physics behind having a center shaft? Someone must have come up with this idea proclaiming that a center shafted putter will help the player do THIS... the THIS is what I am trying to figure out.

Thanks!

[bdcrowe]

The type of putter you need depends on your style of stroke. If you have more of a pendulum stroke (more straight back and through) then a center-shafted may work best. If your stroke is more in-out-in, then a heel-shafted would work best.

The short putts are all mental. You are literally talking yourself out of making them. Back off of the putt if you don't feel comfortable and remind yourself how easy short putts are. Also, (and this is the tip that has me sinking all of them) set up with most of your weight on your back foot. This will put you in a position to see the hole with your periferal vision, while standing over the ball. Now, look at the ball, but concentrate on the hole out of the corner of your eye WHILE stroking the ball. It may feel strange at first, but your hands will stroke to the hole automatically. You'll gain confidence quickly as the ball begins to fall so often.

Good luck.

[vincel]

bd, it's funny that you should say that Vt needed to be in a position to "see the hole with your periferal vision". I recently read an article in Golf Digest. They had a number of moderate to high handicappers putt conventionally (focusing on the ball) after they had decided the speed needed, break needed, and distance to the cup. This was done for a number of different length putts. They then had the testers go through the same routine as before but instead of focusing on the ball the had them look at the hole, and continue looking at the hole while they made their stroke. The testing revealed a high percent improvement in long putts and even a moderate improvement on short putts.

I'm not saying this is for everyone it seemed to help most for those having a hard time with their speed for longer putts.

I agree that the 4 footers are mostly a mental thing. Don't spend too much time over the putt, see your line and firmly make your stroke.

[bdcrowe]

Hey vincel. I believe those test results. A friend of mine at work is probably a 4 or 5 handicap and was feeling that putting was his biggest cost to strokes. He started looking at the hole while practicing his puting at home, and says he's around 90% on the practice green now.

I actually got the perifery tip off of Eddie Merrins' short game dvd, and it has my putting better than ever before.

[longiron]

Originally Posted by bdcrowe

The type of putter you need depends on your style of stroke. If you have more of a pendulum stroke (more straight back and through) then a center-shafted may work best. If your stroke is more in-out-in, then a heel-shafted would work best.

bd I think you are wrong here. I have a in-out-in (arc) and have been told by a number of "pros" that a center shafted putter was what i needed to use. If you look at say Tigers stroke it is straight back straight through and he uses a goose neck putter, where Zach Johnson has and arc strock and uses a center shafted putter.

[MLGOLFNYC]

One thing I work on with my students in my Academy is alignment, especially with shorter putts. I use a laser alignment system along with a aiming chart I made that not only shows you were your aiming but also makes sure that the putter has the correct amount of loft at address.

It's amazing from 10 feet away how many people aim left and right of were they think they are aiming and add or decrease the loft of the putter. I have many pros that come to my academy and just use the laser alignment system to practice their aiming.

So, before you start changing equipment etc... I would really stress the aiming first. You might be really surprised what you find out.

You could have the perfect stroke and the perfect putter, but what good does that do if you can't aim correctly?

I would be more than willing to send anyone a jpeg of my aiming chart for putters with a 3 or 4 degree loft if you have your own laser alignment system. If not you can get one from me if you like.

Best of luck,

Matt

[dave.]

Unless you practice putting at least an hour a day i wouldn't worry about gear,I would practice more

[VtDivot]

I find it funny that everyone is so quick to recommend fitted irons for new players, yet when a low handicapper is having putting woes, noone seems to think a properly fit putter will make any difference??

I agree that practice is important, but I'd like to think that a proper fitting would make a difference.

[MLGOLFNYC]

I think part of the reason is that there are very few places that offer true putter fittings with high speed video.

Anyway, what kind of putting stroke do you try to make? Straight back and through? Or what degree of arc? 1" arc, 1/2" arc, 3/4" arc?

Does you stance match you putting stroke style?

If your pulling putts left, you might be delofting the club at address or impact!

There are many things to look at to give you proper advice. If you loaded a video of you putting from head-on and down the line I would love to try to help you out? If you can also get a close up of the ball coming off the clubface would be great, from front and back as well.

This way we can see if it is just your equipment.

Matt

[dave.]

I don' think putter fitting makes a blind bit of difference

[VtDivot]

I think first thing I'll do when the spring gets here is have my pro look at me hit a few putts for some analysis. I'll be honest and say that I have a decent understanding of the golf swing (you see it analyzed on TV all the time, disected in monthlies like GD etc) but I don't know anything about the putting stroke. Almost everything that NYC said was way over my head... +1, in-out-in all of it. I can guess what it means I suppose

[Loop]

My dear VT,

First, in your bag, you should put 1 driver, 1 pitching wedge, and 12 putters.

Second, about the putting stroke:
- clubface should be square at impact
- Hit with acceleration
- Hit in the sweetspot, which isn't necesarily the point drawn on the putter.
- Putter should hover slightly above the ground, so that the hit imparts more forespin than backspin (obviously).

Third, pay me a beer when I'll give you a spanking early next year.

[Rockford35]

Originally Posted by Loop

My dear VT,
Third, pay me a beer when I'll give you a spanking early next year.

You guys gonna play golf after?

R35

[nsherman2006]

Get a 2-Ball. Fa sho.

Seriously, if you want a new putter, i'd reccomend it. I just like Odyssey putters, because they fit me perfectly. But after playing with a zillion different putters and having my best results be with 3 different Odysseys(2-Ball, DFX 6600, and White Hot 5) can't be coincidence. I think the fit really matters, as i like a flatter putter, and i think the Odyssey 34" ones fit me perfectly. I'm gunning for a Callaway Tour Blue TT1 now, hoping it has the same specs.

[Loop]

Originally Posted by Rockford35

You guys gonna play golf after?

R35

He doesn't suck, but I do.