Anyone struggle with speed control?

[sheppick.dan]

I am finding it hard to control speed with any putter I currently try. They are all insert putters. 
 

anyone out there ever have this issue and found an answer to it?

[Phabs]

Everyone does.  You probably don’t get along with inserts like me, get fitted for the correct loft / lie / length and find a milled head that you like the look of and can align.  
 

Most useful drill for speed is to putt from the middle of the practice green out to the fringe and try and “rock” the ball off the fringe without hammering it past or leaving it short.   I used this drill a bunch on Wednesday practice rounds in college to get my speed in the correct atmosphere for the week.   Didn’t always work but I don’t think it ever hurt 

Edited Tuesday at 01:53 AM by Phabs

[MattM97]

Proper loft is huge, can be basically chipping the ball if too much or driving it into the ground if too little. I had the issue with the latter and more loft and practice cleaned it up. 

[magnus7319]

Practice. Ladder drill. Up & down the ladder. Back and forth. 

[tripanfal]

What Phabs said worked for me - I did it at the practice green but also across my living room floor to bounce it off the footrest of the couch. Couple weeks and I squared myself away. 

[SheriffBooth]

More practice is a starter, plus more time on the practice green before rounds.  It's hard to get a feel for speed in 5 or 10 minutes.  Understood that time's at a premium, but there's no secret or quick fix.  I stopped taking practice strokes during the round and just rely on my eyes and feel, and that's helped my distance control a bit.

Edited Wednesday at 01:15 PM by SheriffBooth

[jda]

We have the HS kids putt with a slight upstroke on longer putts.  The better ones do this with all putts, but all of the kids do it off of the green (texas wedge) or on longer putts.  The longer putts can be hard for some of them since they can skid the ball too much or drive the ball into the turf with more force and it does not go like they feel that it should with the stroke that they put on it.  The slight upswing gets the ball rolling better on any grass type, grain, etc. where the distance-to-feel ratio (I just made that up) is more consistent.  They improve.

 

For me, most distance issues are lack of upstroke and the people don't get a consistent read on distance for the stroke that they took - it is the skidding, grass, grain, etc. that is the issue with a neutral or negative angle of attack.  Get that ball rolling.  If you like a forward press, then stop with the longer putts... or just stop altogether.

[jda]

As for inserts... it depends.  When I upswing, I hit the ball with the bottom half of the putter.  If the insert/face bottom line is too high, then the insert/resin/face line is where I contact the ball sometimes the results are inconsistent and feel horrible.  I generally do not prefer inserts since 1). they do not allow using the whole face of the putter and 2). some grab the ball too much with longer strokes.  Heavy milling also is an issue for me grabbing the ball.

 

If you have been hitting the center of the insert, then I doubt that the insert is a problem.  If you use the bottom half of the club, then it could be... but it depends.  If the insert is sticky, then it could be skidding the ball too much allowing too much unknown interaction with the grass before it starts to roll really well.

 

In the end, it is probably not the insert for most people.

 

These two inserts will work totally different for different people:

[jholz]

I would consider myself fairly strong on distance control - and I will always advocate for practice as the key to getting there.

 

But, if you are practicing a lot and still having troubles - it may be that the feel of your putter just doesn't gel with you. Perhaps some experimentation could be in order. 

 

If you haven't tried a simple, one-piece, flat-faced putter - like a run of the mill Ping - or something with face milling/grooves then you may not have found the feel that helps you putt your best.

[Pepperturbo]

The speed of my SC California Monterey (below) putter at impact is governed by the length of my shoulder arc.  Having said that, my putter SW is D5, head weight is 360g, 2x15g, and said to be heavy, but the reason I am still using a putter bought in 2012.

 

IME having a putter that fits the users' mechanics makes distance control considerably easier.  I am not big on inserts either.  If the user's putting stroke is at all irregular at impact, some putters will strike the ball using a different material than the insert, which will affect distance.

 

[Mike_C]

It sounds very basic, but when I have speed control issues on long putts, it is usually because of mishits.  It could be heel or toe, but more likely I sometimes deloft and drive the ball into the green slightly and  it bounces (rarely)  or I loft it up too much and it bounces a lot (more often).   Either one is a killer.   I remember when YES putters came out and I got one, my distance control greatly improved, I think because of the lower loft they had at 2 degrees.  When I practice long putts, I focus on contact more than anything........

[mshills]

On 7/1/2024 at 7:27 PM, sheppick.dan said:

I am finding it hard to control speed with any putter I currently try. They are all insert putters. 
 

anyone out there ever have this issue and found an answer to it?

I’m thinking if you are on here asking this question, you have a better framework than 90% of golfers who hit a half dozen putts en route to the first tee and call it “practice.” 😂 So, what does your practice regimen look like? Frequency, duration, what do you work on and how?

 

There aren’t any shortcuts to good speed control. Takes lots of time on the green. 

[Ghostwedge]

Practice "baseline putting" for speed control.

Find a section of practice green with a straight putt, set up  and putt  thru the width of your stance. Do this with 9-10 putts and pace off how far they go. That day on those greens is how far your putt travels, (5-6 paces on a 9-10 stimp  green is about average)  obviously take some off or add some for shorter or longer putts. Keep.your tempo the same, that shouldn't vary. 

[sheppick.dan]

7 hours ago, mshills said:

I’m thinking if you are on here asking this question, you have a better framework than 90% of golfers who hit a half dozen putts en route to the first tee and call it “practice.” 😂 So, what does your practice regimen look like? Frequency, duration, what do you work on and how?

 

There aren’t any shortcuts to good speed control. Takes lots of time on the green. 

I used to have really good feel on putts and lengths but have struggled over the last year. I do not practice much or play much but am a 5 handicap. I avg 30-32 putts a round. 
 

practice when I do is start with flat putt about 5-6’. Once I’ve made 10-15 I will start moving around the green for distance and lag putting. For 10-15 minutes. Then I will finish with 10 5’ straight putts so I leave on a good note. 
 

don’t feel like I’m mishitting the ball but I could be. 

[mogc60]

Best putting tip I ever got was from my college coach. It’s very simple…Putt with your thumbs. Pinch the grip in your thumb and forefinger and keep that pressure constant and the feel for the putter head and weight stays consistent. My opinion but most people grip the putter too light 

[Ben B]

On 7/1/2024 at 7:27 PM, sheppick.dan said:

I am finding it hard to control speed with any putter I currently try. They are all insert putters. 
 

anyone out there ever have this issue and found an answer to it?

Unless you are inside say 12 ft, try not lining your putt up (do not line the ball up). Read the putt and just aim in the general area you want the ball to start, then stare at the hole for a few seconds and trace the line back to the ball with your eyes. Once your eyes gets back to the ball, settle in a take the stroke. 

 

I find that most golfers who lack speed control on putts are too focused on the line instead of the distance. But practing is also an issue.