PUTTING Help

[Shooter McGavin]

in desperate need of some help

I play to an 18 hcp and have a decent swing. I'd say my strengths are pitching and chipping, but my putting is abysmal. I've been playing for 2 years and have never been a good putter. This past month i've decided tp make an effort to work on my putting game but as i've been practicing the last two week it feels as if my putting has gotten worse. Actually i know it's gotten worse. I'm just totally lost out there. Lately i've been hitting the ground before the ball, striking the ball thin, you name name it i'm doing it. I just don't know whats going on. I put with more of an arc but don't make a concious effort to. I've tried all kinds of putters as well(bad idea). I've even tried to switch to a cross handed grip but i felt i had no feel and would still hit the ground first. Every time i try to loosed up my grip it seems like it leads to more of a tendency to hit the ground first. I just finished reading stan utleys art of putting but wasn't crazy about it at all even though i thought i was going to love it. I need all the help i can get. Why am i hitting the ground and hitting thin and what are you guys actually thinking about when making the stroke, whats the feeling? I'd appreciate any help. Thanks

[Shaitan]

First off, what's your stance like - bent over Niclaus style or standing straighter so that the club sits properly? If your stooped over, try standing taller, letting your arms hang naturally. Secondly, when practicing, put two shafts either side of your club and putt through them (it should improve your stroke). Also use tees to check your back swing and follow through and also use tees in the back of the actual hole to help with hitting putts hard enough on short putts. Finally when you start to feel better with a putting stroke and also when practicing, try not to move anything unneeded in the stroke - especially your head. Just watch the ball (or just behind the ball) and stroke. Make it simple!

[Shooter McGavin]

Thanks for the reply, i will take your advice. What is usually the result of hitting the ground a bit or hitting on the bottom of the face ?

[spinningwedge]

Body movement!

 

Pick one putter and stick with it, get thee to a practice green, set some tees or shafts up for alignment and to show proper putter path and make lots and lots of the smoothest strokes you can focussing only on keeping your head and body still. Good luck.

[wrathuc]

Try to pick up "Putting Out of Your Mind" by Bob Rotella. Its a great book that helped me get out of my own way.

[webmstrk9]

A couple of thing my instructor caught in my putting stroke a couple of years ago.

 

1. Body movement made my stroke inconsistent. Keep the lower body still.

 

2. Head movement would normally cause me to hit it thin. Keep the head still through the stroke, only peeking after the ball is struck

 

3. Follow through, my hands would rotate. Dont let your hands rotate over. Changed my grip to a reverse overlap, which limits the rotation, then hold the follow through, it should be in similar length as your takeaway

 

4. Hand flipping, STOP IT! :) This caused a lot of inconsistencies in distance control. I made a mental note for my right wrist to stay bent and that it doesnt flip.

 

5. Rhythm hasnt been a big issue. Once I have quieted down my body in which my shoulders are the only movement, I used breathing to set my stroke. Inhale on the takeaway, then start the exhale as I start my downsing, then hold my finish.

 

6. Trust it.

[Sean2]

Keep your body perfectly still. Shoulders back, shoulders through. Hold your finish. No peeking. You may also want to try the putting arc. Excellent putting aid: http://www.puttingarc.com/

[Shooter McGavin]

you guys are the best, i'm on the way to the putting green now. Thanks for all the responses

[Sean2]

Good luck, Shooter!