Putting woes!!

[RASWING]

MJ,
I really find lately that I am having the toughest time AIMING the putter, because what I found is I start the ball on line at a great percentage; but I am not reading it correctly and also since I'm not aiming properly then I think my stroke gets off after I miss a few. I get confused

So then my speed goes to heck...

Then I start a three jack party that sends me on a downward spiral until I end up with a 12 over round...

The reason I’m asking for help is.... I've been work on the golf swing and working on my course management but it doesn’t work if I can’t make putts.

I hit the ball yesterday from tee to green as well as I have in a long time.... I hit the ball that well before but I didn’t know why or how the ball was doing what was doing…. I thought this is the day I have it.... But yesterday MJ was different I knew where to start the ball, I hit the ball solid and hit a tour avg number of greens but I felt I wasted the round with all the dreaded three jacks.

Please talk to me about putting I have to stop the three putts!!! Those are throwaways that I cant have to get better but better yet to have FUN ... I was actually sad after the round when I should have been happy I saw results from all the hard work with the swing to have the putter hurt me. It was so bad that I went to the local golf store and went to look for a new putter... LOL

I see these days more often lately with the putter more three putts or missed up and downs... Awesome 50 yard bunkers shots to 4 ft then miss the putt ... great chips to 3 ft missed downhill slider.... awesome iron shots underneath the hole 8 feet missed left to right breaker ... man this game is tough.
V/R
RA

[ParHunter]

Hi,
A few tips. If you want to check your aim get yourself a laser for levelling from the hardware store, a small mirror and double sided tape.
Place the laser next to a wall pointing away from the wall in a 90 degree angle. Set the laser to either just a point or a vertical line. Now place a ball in the line of the laser e.g. 6 ft from the wall. Attach the little mirror with the double tape onto the putter club face. Now address the ball and aim straight at the laser. Now ask someone to remove the ball (you can't do it without twisting your club face) and check where the reflected laser hits the wall. You either train yourself to better your aim or you try to find a putter that helps you aim better.

Okay so much for the aim.

Next thing is you need to find out where your problem really is. Is it really your lag putting or is it your performance from within 6 feet?

If you have an iPhone try the PuttingMaster app. It lets you record all your putts while you play and will tell you how your lag putting is, what percentage of putts you hole from 3 ft, 6tf, 8ft etc. Wether you miss it left/right on the high side or low side etc. once you've identified your problem area try to work on that part.
For practising lag putts I would try to 'judge' the length of the putt before you look up. So say straight away 'too short', 'too long' or 'just right'.

I am not a pro but I used to be a rubbish putter myself but I invested a lot of work to improve (I even wrote an iPhone application to help me record my stats ;-) My average is now 32.8 putts per round with 26 putts being my best.

Hope that helps

ParHunter

[sharkey35]

2 suggestions:

Get Mangum's Reality of Putting. If nothing else, learning to read putts with my feet instead of my eyes has been a great benefit.

Check your aim as suggested by ParHunter above. I did an Edel fitting and learned that I can't aim to save my life. You actually might need a new putter, but not one that just feels good in the pro shop. The design of the head, offset, alignment aids all have a big influence on aim.

Stuck in the cold here, but made a committment to improve my putting over the winter. Working on a consistent set up and stroke so I can be re-fitted for aim. I want to be confident more than anything when the new season starts.

Good luck!

Bob

[RASWING]

Thanks guys I will work on it.
VR
R/A

[Michael Jacobs]

Question for RA... what kind of putter do you use:

Specifications.. Head style... brand???

[RASWING]

MJ,
Its a Maltby 09' Mallet Faced balanced putter. I was out wth BManz yesterday and he help me actually MJ with a new stroke pattern and a better understanding of putting.

Its funny how I dont know what I dont know when it comes to the golf swing/ stroke...... I had brought into the pop golf instruction with my putting which I know better not to do but I did, but didnt know what I didnt know. When it comes down to really world use. So I will go work on it I have the secret now


We also worked on the swing as well MJ.... I saw so many changes with a 3 main goals of the lesson..... Thanks MJ for everything... we talked about...

[Steve Greffen]

Hey man! I wouldn't have put the two and two together lol! Great job on the lesson the other day. You know you have to try and make a school with both Brian and Michael together now, some serious upgrading for a long time to come!! That's how I first started out, at Rock Hill Country Club with Michael and BManz.

Hope that putting gets you on track, trust it and that ball will roll so much better for you.

[RASWING]

Steve,

Yeah..... was here first before I joined the other site thats why the screen names arent the same. thanks again for everything..... These guys have helped me understand so much.... Good blessings in all that you do Steve and I will be in your corner brother!!! The TM will add so much which you already know.... This screen name is from my old TGM followings.... Now I know what I need to really be working on.
V/R
RA

[Michael Jacobs]

I forwarded this thread to Geoff Mangum.. he will chime in soon with some more great putting info

[RASWING]

MJ,
Thanks
I also made a putter change went to the cleveland #2 in their series of black metal putters 34 in.. My putting has been looking better.

I have been making a few more putss and 3 putting less.

I have a 2 day event winter league championship here the 25th and 26th so I will see then.

Ive spoke with Geoff and he helped me understand a bunch... With BManz showing me that I had gotten into a backward handle drag with my putting style/stroke he showed me more about how I should be releasing the CP in my putting stroke.
R/RA