Breaking Out Of A Putting Slump

Hey guys, I was hoping for some mental pointers on breaking out of a putting slump. My last 5 rounds have featured some horrible putting from close-mid range. My lag putting has been excellent (no three putts), but according to a strokes-gained calculation, my 5 past rounds have had SG's ranging from -2.25 to -4.75, due to constant misses from between 3-12 feet. I know I have some small fixable issues with my stroke (consistently hit the ball off the heel with the putter, always have), but my confidence and trust over putts lately has been horrendous. Anyone have any tips on approach/mentality//visualization?

Man I wish I had some awesome in depth answer for you.

I brought out my putting mirror and go to town for a couple hours a week when my putting slips. I grind it out from 4 feet and in. I've even had nights where I won't go home until 100 in a row drop. Get to a high number and the pressure mounts haha.

I had my men's club match this Sunday and didn't miss a putt inside 6 feet. Nothing was scary because in my head I've made every putt out there a couple hundred times this week...

I've said here before, everyone wants to be a good putter but the putting green at my club is always empty. Tons of guys in the range smacking drivers though.

I have have pretty much the same method as he poster above. I use my putter to measure out 5 location 34" from the all in a circle. I then attempt to sink 90/100 putts moving around the circle and just keep doing it until I do. The pressure builds as you get near to 90.

It is a great drill to see the ball fall, maintain focus and putt under pressure.

If you aren't looking to improve technical aspects and it's just reps you are after then as above but don't let lag putting slip. Practise that too. Make sure you are mixing up the shorter distance too, there is a great deal of difference between needing to hole every 3 footer to trying to hole 10 footers

I feel like I'm finally emerging from a long period of less than stellar putting, and it has taken more than one thing, and time.

Just to give you a little bit of background, I'm a low single digit handicap. When I was younger and playing all the time, I was a good putter, and I've played off as low as a +1. As a father of 2 young children, working full time, my putting was leaving something to be desired. My putting was certainly weaker than any other part of my game, which left me frustrated at my ability to score. I'd also go through slumps where I felt like I couldn't make anything. I'd miss the hole completely from short range very regularly. I'd putt my way out of the slumps, but all that did was get me to my baseline of mediocre.

Here is the combination of things that has me feeling the best I've ever felt about my putting. I feel like every one of them is a key part of the puzzle. No one of them would've done the trick alone.

• Get a putting lesson/fix your stroke - I wish I had done this a long time ago. I took a lesson with a friend who is a PGA Pro at a local club. Within watching me for just a few strokes, he knew what we needed to do. He used slo motion video and SAM Putt Lab to show me what I was doing, and how that was effecting my ability to roll the ball. We then got to working on things, using the SAM to monitor how my stroke and launch conditions were changing over the course of the session. Beyond seeing those results, I instantly started feeling like the ball was rolling better. It felt softer coming off the face, and rolled out easily, with less effort from me. It was really eye-opening to see the data, and feel the changes. Even with the tech, it was amazing how simple the things he had me working on was. I practiced what we worked on a lot at home after the lesson. One of the tools I use based on his recommendation is the Visio Putting template. The end result of the lesson and the work I put in is that I can roll the ball much better now. My ability to start the ball on line and control my speed has gotten much better.
  
• Find a putter that works for you - For me, it's been a journey over several years. Trial and error to figure out what kind of head shape and alignment aid lets me line up most accurately. Trial and error to figure out what kind of toe hang works with my stroke. I had several stints with mallets, that all ended in disaster. I just can't line a round head up, and I don't putt well with face-balanced putters. I need something with a squared off shape, and at least a small amount of toe hang. For now, it's an O-Works 1W. I'm not saying I'll stick with my current putter forever, but I feel like I finally know what styles are most compatible with me.
  
• Evaluate your putting skills - Even with a putter I liked, and an improved ability to roll the ball, there was something missing. I felt like my green reading wasn't great, so I started using a line on my ball to line up putts for all lengths. First, I found that my aim error is just worse as putts get longer. I benefit from having the aid of the line on the ball to actually aim my putter where I want to. I also found VERY quickly that I was under-reading everything, pretty significantly. I was missing putts very badly on the low side. The misses were much worse than putts without using the line. What that tells me is that I was relying on my brain to subconsciously compensate for me, and push/pull my putts onto a better line. How I could I ever consistently give myself a chance to make putts, if I was misreading them and compensating to hit them on better lines? Maybe if I practiced and played a ton I could, but I don't. I play once a week when things are going well, and practice outdoors maybe once a month. By using the line, every putt I hit is another data point. It was amazing how quickly my reads started improving, how many more makes I've had outside 15ft, and how much closer I'm coming to making putts outside 15ft in general. I have since abandoned the line for putts inside 10ft. My aim is pretty darn good in that range, and I found the line on the ball to stifle my ability to hit those putts athletically.
  
• Repetitions - Duh. There's no substitute for reps. I needed reps to ingrain the changes to my stroke. The last thing I want is to be on the course with a swing thought in my head when I'm trying to putt. I practiced the stroke a bunch inside after the lesson, and still sporadically work on it, to try and keep the new habits going. In addition to the reps for mechanical practice, I just need reps to be sharp. If I'm not consistently practicing putts in the 3-7ft range, I just don't feel as confident on them. If I'm practicing them, I feel like I can make every putt inside 10ft. I don't actually make them all, but I feel like I can.
  

It's been a process for me, rather than a quick fix, or one-pronged solution. It's still a work in progress, but I feel like for the first time in 4+ years, I'm actually becoming holistically better putter.

For me, it's all about the putter, and more specifically, the lie angle and resistance to twisting (this means Newport-style putters are a no-go).

Putt lab data didn't tell me what my problem was, and honestly, it was quite hard to detect. Bottom line is I could never get the ball started on my line—I'd miss by 1-2º left or right. The left miss was often a more comfortable stroke, but it's a miss all the same.

The reason why is because I was steepening the putter through impact to get the sole to come through a little flatter. This causes the face to close quickly, and that makes a lot of putts go left. If I kept my hands neutral through the stroke, I'd miss right.

I figured out I need my putter lie angle at about 64º to be totally comfortable, but I also figured out I can use higher-MOI putters with more standard lie angles, stand a little farther away from the ball, and still get a similar result (the high-MOI head resists twisting).

I truly believe most putting problems are mental, but I also believe your mentality is massively affected by your equipment setup. Even if you don't consciously realize something is off, your brain certainly does, and this will affect every stroke you make with the putter.

buy a new flat stick, get a hot streak for a month, once it goes cold buy a new one ... rinse & repeat :taunt:

I brought out my putting mirror and go to town for a couple hours a week when my putting slips.

I have really thought of getting a putting mirror or some sort of equivalent for checking eye/shoulder alignment! Should probably have one already

I had several stints with mallets, that all ended in disaster. I just can't line a round head up, and I don't putt well with face-balanced putters. I need something with a squared off shape, and at least a small amount of toe hang. [*]Evaluate your putting skills - Even with a putter I liked, and an improved ability to roll the ball, there was something missing. I felt like my green reading wasn't great, so I started using a line on my ball to line up putts for all lengths. By using the line, every putt I hit is another data point. It was amazing how quickly my reads started improving, how many more makes I've had outside 15ft, and how much closer I'm coming to making putts outside 15ft in general. I have since abandoned the line for putts inside 10ft. My aim is pretty darn good in that range, and I found the line on the ball to stifle my ability to hit those putts athletically..

Thanks for in the in-depth answer man! Much respect! I think there are some good nuggets in here. Have been using mallets all year and definitely have never felt comfortable with it. I might have to try taking the line away for putts inside 10ft and be athletic. I use the line all the time, but find that I trust it less and less the closer I get to the hole.

I truly believe most putting problems are mental, but I also believe your mentality is massively affected by your equipment setup. Even if you don't consciously realize something is off, your brain certainly does, and this will affect every stroke you make with the putter.

Pearsonified, did you find this out just through trial and error, or through a putter fitting?

I can't believe I'm writing this because it's so unlike me, but I've seen it work for a lot of guys:

Step 1: Get a new putter. It doesn't matter what kind so long as its not like the one your currently failing with. If you are using an answer style putter, try a heel shafted blade or a mallet. All that matters is that it is something different and SOMETHING YOU LIKE THE LOOK OF. Let's manufacture some enthusiasm for putting with the new putter.

Step 2: Make a bunch of putts with the new putter. Start a foot from the hole and see 100 in a row row go in. Move back to 2 feet and see another 100 go in. Seeing the ball go in the hole breeds confidence and confidence is more important in putting than in any other aspect of the game.

Step 3: Go onto the putter forum and rave about your new putter.

Steve

Pearsonified, did you find this out just through trial and error, or through a putter fitting?

Putter fittings never resulted in lie angle recommendations as extreme as the 6º flat I find most comfortable. Basically, the data just made me look like an unsteady, inconsistent putter—which is true if my equipment doesn't "make sense."

But the reason why was simply a disconnect with my brain and the putter due to my hands wanting to be a lot lower than they were able to be with a standard lie angle. Through trial and error, I was finally able to settle on a setup—actually a couple setups—that work pretty well for me.

Sometimes I get a bit crosseyed with certain putters and just can't line up the putter to where I want to start the ball. When that happens, I spend some quality time at the putting green with a collection of putters.

Man I wish I had some awesome in depth answer for you.

 

I brought out my putting mirror and go to town for a couple hours a week when my putting slips. I grind it out from 4 feet and in. I've even had nights where I won't go home until 100 in a row drop. Get to a high number and the pressure mounts haha.

 

I had my men's club match this Sunday and didn't miss a putt inside 6 feet. Nothing was scary because in my head I've made every putt out there a couple hundred times this week...

 

I've said here before, everyone wants to be a good putter but the putting green at my club is always empty. Tons of guys in the range smacking drivers though.

Every time I stand over a 5 footer I tell myself, "You've made this putt a ton of time on the practice green". Mega big confidence booster.

Usually when I get into one of these funks, I get out of it by really focusing on distance control. Pushing and pulling putts can hurt distance control, and stressing too hard on line just adds tension. So relax, read the putt as well as you can, then get the distance perfect. The putts will start to fall again...

I do like the post about a new putter and building confidence from fresh. It's never the putters fault but there is something mental about a clean slate and a disciplined approach to putting from 1 foot outwards.

Though confidence won't get the ball in the hole alone it plays a very big part in putting, more than most give it credit for.

Also, just rolling putts freely for distance control I like. Again it won't fix any faults but being less focussed on a target line and just living with the rough start line but a free stroke will build confidence.

All of that said, with a glaring technical fault it will be hard to build on course confidence. Chicken and the egg but good mechanics have a wonderful habbit of building confidence

Thanks for in the in-depth answer man! Much respect! I think there are some good nuggets in here. Have been using mallets all year and definitely have never felt comfortable with it. I might have to try taking the line away for putts inside 10ft and be athletic. I use the line all the time, but find that I trust it less and less the closer I get to the hole.

Sure thing. It might be simple for you, but for me it was more than just "go practice short putts" or "change putters" etc. I was able to break out of slumps by doing one or two of those things I talked about. Even when I kicked the slump, my putting still had a ceiling I wasn't happy with. To truly raise my ceiling, it was a multi-prong approach.

I'll also add that it all started with the putting lesson. That was really the catalyst for me seeking improvement in all areas. It made me a better "putting machine" if you will, but it didn't necessarily make me significantly better at holing putts. It made me realize I probably wasn't so great at setting up my putting machine to start the ball on line to actually hole putts. Honing in on a putter style and practice sort of naturally became a part of the equation as well.

Tempo of stroke ... is the pace of your stroke changing the closer you get to the hole? Get a metronome app and figure out what your best rhythm is. Try to use the same tempo for all lengths of putts.

 

Step 1: Get a new putter. It doesn't matter what kind so long as its not like the one your currently failing with. If you are using an answer style putter, try a heel shafted blade or a mallet. All that matters is that it is something different and SOMETHING YOU LIKE THE LOOK OF. Let's manufacture some enthusiasm for putting with the new putter.

 

Step 2: Make a bunch of putts with the new putter. Start a foot from the hole and see 100 in a row row go in. Move back to 2 feet and see another 100 go in. Seeing the ball go in the hole breeds confidence and confidence is more important in putting than in any other aspect of the game.

 

Step 3: Go onto the putter forum and rave about your new putter.

 

Steve

That's funny! Also kinda maybe perhaps scary accurate!

Tempo of stroke ... is the pace of your stroke changing the closer you get to the hole? Get a metronome app and figure out what your best rhythm is. Try to use the same tempo for all lengths of putts.

I definitely think the tempo gets slower when I am closer to the hole.

Usually when I get into one of these funks, I get out of it by really focusing on distance control. Pushing and pulling putts can hurt distance control, and stressing too hard on line just adds tension. So relax, read the putt as well as you can, then get the distance perfect. The putts will start to fall again...

That said QUIT TRYING TO MAKE THE PUTTS! All you are trying to do is roll the putt on the intended line at the intended speed. THAT'S IT! I know it sounds simple but the concern with making putts changes our intent.

I went to a forward press with my putter and I've never been putting better. Sinking 90% from 4-6 feet the last few rounds. I'm starting to get good at aimpoint green reading too after struggling with it initially.

I've found that if I manage to sneak in a few practice putts every day, I never really lose my sense of feel and distance. I keep a crappy ten foot roll up putting green in my bedroom and try to get a few putts in the morning and evening. Even if you only have time to putt 5 balls, if you make it a habit it's enough to keep the feel engrained. It's all about really grooving the stroke.

Oh yeah, you have to love your putter.

I can't believe I'm writing this because it's so unlike me, but I've seen it work for a lot of guys:

 

Step 1: Get a new putter. It doesn't matter what kind so long as its not like the one your currently failing with. If you are using an answer style putter, try a heel shafted blade or a mallet. All that matters is that it is something different and SOMETHING YOU LIKE THE LOOK OF. Let's manufacture some enthusiasm for putting with the new putter.

 

Step 2: Make a bunch of putts with the new putter. Start a foot from the hole and see 100 in a row row go in. Move back to 2 feet and see another 100 go in. Seeing the ball go in the hole breeds confidence and confidence is more important in putting than in any other aspect of the game.

 

Step 3: Go onto the putter forum and rave about your new putter.

 

Steve

Nice. I am about to do just this. Worked for Jordan.

I love this drill:

1) Take about 10 pennies or quarters to a putting green. Set the coins at 3 feet, 6 feet, 9 feet, 12 feet and so on.

2) Start by making the shorter putts, then move back as you start to have more success. As you get to the 12 foot and beyond range stop focusing on making it and start focusing on literally getting the ball to stop an inch from the hole (this will make you get your speed perfect, try to miss high side on breaking putts to have some fall in). Your success from longer range should be judged not on the putts you make, but how many kick-ins you produce.

3) Repeat this process on uphill, downhill, left-to-right, right-to-left, multi-terraced (as many different style putts as you can).

Anytime I am in a funk I go to this and I putt like a madman afterwords.

I can't believe I'm writing this because it's so unlike me, but I've seen it work for a lot of guys:

 

Step 1: Get a new putter. It doesn't matter what kind so long as its not like the one your currently failing with. If you are using an answer style putter, try a heel shafted blade or a mallet. All that matters is that it is something different and SOMETHING YOU LIKE THE LOOK OF. Let's manufacture some enthusiasm for putting with the new putter.

 

Step 2: Make a bunch of putts with the new putter. Start a foot from the hole and see 100 in a row row go in. Move back to 2 feet and see another 100 go in. Seeing the ball go in the hole breeds confidence and confidence is more important in putting than in any other aspect of the game.

 

Step 3: Go onto the putter forum and rave about your new putter.

 

Steve

 

Nice. I am about to do just this. Worked for Jordan.