Putting - who's improved on the LPGA Tour and who hasn't?

[pmcuk]

Lexi and MW have come in for a lot of discussion, but they're not the only ones.....

 

I'm interested in the players who have improved over the years, and how they did it. This would give some kind of evidence that putting is an acquired skill as well as an instinctive ability.

 

I'd cite Charley Hull as one player whose putting seems to have improved. I'm sure there are more you could mention.....

 

And what stops players like Lexi and others from nailing their putting technique? Is it a technical fault or just that they "don't have the putting gene"?

[Leftagain]

Gerina is one that comes to mind, her putting has improved over the last couple of years but looking at a few other players who are scoring well this year the putting seems to come and go over the years. Not sure there's many that have improved year on year and stayed that way, they seem to regress to what they came with eventually.

 

Lydia has improved but she was top end to start with so probably not a good example.

 

It's an odd one really, with all the specific training available these days and given how important the 'other' game is it's surprising the pro's don't use more putting coaches. I'm sure some do but it seems most of them just have the one coach.

[pmcuk]

.. looking at a few other players who are scoring well this year the putting seems to come and go over the years. Not sure there's many that have improved year on year and stayed that way, they seem to regress to what they came with eventually.

 

It's an odd one really, with all the specific training available these days and given how important the 'other' game is it's surprising the pro's don't use more putting coaches. I'm sure some do but it seems most of them just have the one coach.

 

That's an interesting comment - that putting success seems to "come and go". Thinking about it, you could cite many for whom this could be true.

 

I agree - it's an odd one. Putting is the Holy Grail really - "putt for dough".... It's far too important to just put up with scrappy results.

[Argonne69]

Ai Miyazato is an example of someone who's putting prowess seems to have gone. Stacy is definitely one who comes and goes. Inbee has gone cold on occasion, but is generally very warm.

[legitimategolf]

I don't think Lexi Thompson is as bad as she looks. She has risen to world #4 and the best American by far so her putts must be behaving for the most part. She seems to be a decent lag putter. I think the perception of her as a bad putter comes from a tendency to miss really short ones as well as a visible disinterest on the putting green (i.e. horrible amateurish looking setup + can't even be bothered to take off the glove).

[RBImGuy]

And what stops players like Lexi and others from nailing their putting technique? Is it a technical fault or just that they "don't have the putting gene"?

 

Guesswork with green reading is main reason.

Pros are about 50% wrong in their estimate an an amatuer 100% in relation.

Not good enough feedback is the second reason.

You can hire what people think is the best puting gurus out there but they wont do much difference.

Consistent putting means you make around 80% of within 10 feet and reach a bit lower within 15 feet.

 

I am suprised whenever a putt isnt going in within 10 feet myself.

after 15 feet the drop off is steeper.

 

No gene needed or special talent.

its a better green reading skill and you can reach 100% meaning any putt you read the break perfectly.

then feedback that allows you to improve upon the skill set as tour pros seldom hit a bad putt but often more have a bad green read.

the idea of putting with shoulders is a crappy one.

You want feel to be the major one and if you cant handle the pressure then you can learn to do that instead of changing your putting technique.

 

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[Argonne69]

I don't think Lexi Thompson is as bad as she looks. She has risen to world #4 and the best American by far so her putts must be behaving for the most part. She seems to be a decent lag putter. I think the perception of her as a bad putter comes from a tendency to miss really short ones as well as a visible disinterest on the putting green (i.e. horrible amateurish looking setup + can't even be bothered to take off the glove).

 

No, she's that bad. Sorry. Lexi is currently ranked 29th in birdies. Given that she is long off the tee, and decent with her wedges, she does miss quite a few make-able birdie putts. She was ranked 13th in 2015, and 27th in 2014, so she seems to be moving in the wrong direction.

 

She is currently ranked 148th (30.98) in putting average. She's 2nd in GIRs, which generally means more putts. However, she was ranked 114th (30.58) in putting in 2015, and 94th (30.47) in 2014. Again, trending in the wrong direction.

[Argonne69]

And what stops players like Lexi and others from nailing their putting technique? Is it a technical fault or just that they "don't have the putting gene"?

 

Guesswork with green reading is main reason.

Pros are about 50% wrong in their estimate an an amatuer 100% in relation.

Not good enough feedback is the second reason.

You can hire what people think is the best puting gurus out there but they wont do much difference.

Consistent putting means you make around 80% of within 10 feet and reach a bit lower within 15 feet.

 

I am suprised whenever a putt isnt going in within 10 feet myself.

after 15 feet the drop off is steeper.

 

No gene needed or special talent.

its a better green reading skill and you can reach 100% meaning any putt you read the break perfectly.

then feedback that allows you to improve upon the skill set as tour pros seldom hit a bad putt but often more have a bad green read.

the idea of putting with shoulders is a crappy one.

You want feel to be the major one and if you cant handle the pressure then you can learn to do that instead of changing your putting technique.

 

 

Huh? The PGA pro's only make 50% of 8 footers. At 10 feet it's roughly 40%. Where do you get this 80% number?

[Shilgy]

I don't think Lexi Thompson is as bad as she looks. She has risen to world #4 and the best American by far so her putts must be behaving for the most part. She seems to be a decent lag putter. I think the perception of her as a bad putter comes from a tendency to miss really short ones as well as a visible disinterest on the putting green (i.e. horrible amateurish looking setup + can't even be bothered to take off the glove).

Ya mean like this guy?

[Shilgy]

And what stops players like Lexi and others from nailing their putting technique? Is it a technical fault or just that they "don't have the putting gene"?

 

Guesswork with green reading is main reason.

Pros are about 50% wrong in their estimate an an amatuer 100% in relation.

Not good enough feedback is the second reason.

You can hire what people think is the best puting gurus out there but they wont do much difference.

Consistent putting means you make around 80% of within 10 feet and reach a bit lower within 15 feet.

 

I am suprised whenever a putt isnt going in within 10 feet myself.

after 15 feet the drop off is steeper.

 

No gene needed or special talent.

its a better green reading skill and you can reach 100% meaning any putt you read the break perfectly.

then feedback that allows you to improve upon the skill set as tour pros seldom hit a bad putt but often more have a bad green read.

the idea of putting with shoulders is a crappy one.

You want feel to be the major one and if you cant handle the pressure then you can learn to do that instead of changing your putting technique.

 

 

Huh? The PGA pro's only make 50% of 8 footers. At 10 feet it's roughly 40%. Where do you get this 80% number?

Oh those? Those are his stats! :)

[Argonne69]

And what stops players like Lexi and others from nailing their putting technique? Is it a technical fault or just that they "don't have the putting gene"?

 

Guesswork with green reading is main reason.

Pros are about 50% wrong in their estimate an an amatuer 100% in relation.

Not good enough feedback is the second reason.

You can hire what people think is the best puting gurus out there but they wont do much difference.

Consistent putting means you make around 80% of within 10 feet and reach a bit lower within 15 feet.

 

I am suprised whenever a putt isnt going in within 10 feet myself.

after 15 feet the drop off is steeper.

 

No gene needed or special talent.

its a better green reading skill and you can reach 100% meaning any putt you read the break perfectly.

then feedback that allows you to improve upon the skill set as tour pros seldom hit a bad putt but often more have a bad green read.

the idea of putting with shoulders is a crappy one.

You want feel to be the major one and if you cant handle the pressure then you can learn to do that instead of changing your putting technique.

 

 

Huh? The PGA pro's only make 50% of 8 footers. At 10 feet it's roughly 40%. Where do you get this 80% number?

 

Oh those? Those are his stats! :)

 

 

Lol. Well, he's certainly missing his calling. Jamie Donaldson currently leads the PGA in putting from 10' at 64.71%. This guy could be a billionaire with an 80% average.

[Shilgy]

And what stops players like Lexi and others from nailing their putting technique? Is it a technical fault or just that they "don't have the putting gene"?

 

Guesswork with green reading is main reason.

Pros are about 50% wrong in their estimate an an amatuer 100% in relation.

Not good enough feedback is the second reason.

You can hire what people think is the best puting gurus out there but they wont do much difference.

Consistent putting means you make around 80% of within 10 feet and reach a bit lower within 15 feet.

 

I am suprised whenever a putt isnt going in within 10 feet myself.

after 15 feet the drop off is steeper.

 

No gene needed or special talent.

its a better green reading skill and you can reach 100% meaning any putt you read the break perfectly.

then feedback that allows you to improve upon the skill set as tour pros seldom hit a bad putt but often more have a bad green read.

the idea of putting with shoulders is a crappy one.

You want feel to be the major one and if you cant handle the pressure then you can learn to do that instead of changing your putting technique.

 

 

Huh? The PGA pro's only make 50% of 8 footers. At 10 feet it's roughly 40%. Where do you get this 80% number?

In all fairness though he said within 10 feet-not from 10 feet.

[Argonne69]

And what stops players like Lexi and others from nailing their putting technique? Is it a technical fault or just that they "don't have the putting gene"?

 

Guesswork with green reading is main reason.

Pros are about 50% wrong in their estimate an an amatuer 100% in relation.

Not good enough feedback is the second reason.

You can hire what people think is the best puting gurus out there but they wont do much difference.

Consistent putting means you make around 80% of within 10 feet and reach a bit lower within 15 feet.

 

I am suprised whenever a putt isnt going in within 10 feet myself.

after 15 feet the drop off is steeper.

 

No gene needed or special talent.

its a better green reading skill and you can reach 100% meaning any putt you read the break perfectly.

then feedback that allows you to improve upon the skill set as tour pros seldom hit a bad putt but often more have a bad green read.

the idea of putting with shoulders is a crappy one.

You want feel to be the major one and if you cant handle the pressure then you can learn to do that instead of changing your putting technique.

 

 

Huh? The PGA pro's only make 50% of 8 footers. At 10 feet it's roughly 40%. Where do you get this 80% number?

In all fairness though he said within 10 feet-not from 10 feet.

 

OK. The median for all PGA players within 10' is 87%, so I guess it's possible, but we're talking PGA-like quality.

[legitimategolf]

I don't think Lexi Thompson is as bad as she looks. She has risen to world #4 and the best American by far so her putts must be behaving for the most part. She seems to be a decent lag putter. I think the perception of her as a bad putter comes from a tendency to miss really short ones as well as a visible disinterest on the putting green (i.e. horrible amateurish looking setup + can't even be bothered to take off the glove).

Ya mean like this guy?

 

Ok so there was one guy in the entire history of golf who putted well with a glove on. That doesn't validate Lexi Thompson doing it. The only thing that could validate her doing it is being an excellent putter herself, which by most accounts she is not. By your rationale everyone should start putting with a glove on.

[Shilgy]

I don't think Lexi Thompson is as bad as she looks. She has risen to world #4 and the best American by far so her putts must be behaving for the most part. She seems to be a decent lag putter. I think the perception of her as a bad putter comes from a tendency to miss really short ones as well as a visible disinterest on the putting green (i.e. horrible amateurish looking setup + can't even be bothered to take off the glove).

Ya mean like this guy?

 

Ok so there was one guy in the entire history of golf who putted well with a glove on. That doesn't validate Lexi Thompson doing it. The only thing that could validate her doing it is being an excellent putter herself, which by most accounts she is not. By your rationale everyone should start putting with a glove on.

Hell no-not my rationale at all. :)

[4pillars]

Lexi and MW have come in for a lot of discussion, but they're not the only ones.....

 

I'm interested in the players who have improved over the years, and how they did it. This would give some kind of evidence that putting is an acquired skill as well as an instinctive ability.

 

I'd cite Charley Hull as one player whose putting seems to have improved. I'm sure there are more you could mention.....

 

And what stops players like Lexi and others from nailing their putting technique? Is it a technical fault or just that they "don't have the putting gene"?

 

Andy Gorman is her putting coach,

 

He uses a method similar to Pat O Brien, the Seemore/ Zac Johnson putting coach.

 

http://www.youtube....h?v=uw5HLp9G5RY

[south_side_lefty]

[gwlee7]

^^^LOL

[PZero]

And what stops players like Lexi and others from nailing their putting technique? Is it a technical fault or just that they "don't have the putting gene"?

 

I'm a firm believer good putters are born and Lexi was blessed with everything else the game requires, except putting. It still has been working out for her, but she could dominate if she was as good as Lydia with the putter.

[Shilgy]

I don't think Lexi Thompson is as bad as she looks. She has risen to world #4 and the best American by far so her putts must be behaving for the most part. She seems to be a decent lag putter. I think the perception of her as a bad putter comes from a tendency to miss really short ones as well as a visible disinterest on the putting green (i.e. horrible amateurish looking setup + can't even be bothered to take off the glove).

Ya mean like this guy?

 

Ok so there was one guy in the entire history of golf who putted well with a glove on. That doesn't validate Lexi Thompson doing it. The only thing that could validate her doing it is being an excellent putter herself, which by most accounts she is not. By your rationale everyone should start putting with a glove on.

John Daly 1991 :)