Putter Frustrations

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By Person A

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  1. Person A

    Person A

    Hey guys, I'm currently an 11 handicapper who usually shoots high 70's to low 80's. I am not the longest hitter in the world but tend to hit a decent amount of greens in reg., but when i get on the green i just cant seem to knock in the birdie putts. 

    For example, last Sunday was playing in a comp and shot a good round of 78 (par 72), and had 12 birdie putts, all inside 18 feet and didn't roll one of them in. It wasn't that i was missing them by three or four feet, all but one of them lipped out or stopped in the jaws. I don't think its my green-reading as i more often than not hold 5 to 12 footers for par, just not for birdie. i don't know if its a mental thing, because i'm a fairly positive putter, but the ball just doesn't seem to go in for birdie. Any help?!!!

  2. Hotsauce

    Hotsauce
    Georgetown MA

    There's a little game I play on the practice green I call clutch putt.  I grab 4 balls and 4 tees.  I place each tee so it forms a square around the hole, with each tee being a putter length from the hole.  Make all 4 and then move the tees back a grip length.  Repeat the drill until you've moved all the tees back 3 grip lengths and made your putts.  Miss one and you have to start over, tees in and all.  

    I can tell you it's tough to manage the pressure of birdie putts, or putts to win a hole or a match or some $$$, but this game will come close.  If you keep yourself to it, and commit to not leaving the putting green until you make all 12 putts in a row, you'll start to feel that pressure on the 11th putt.  Just remember that pressure doesn't change the putt one bit.

    The other thing it will help you with is just knowing that you can make anything within 6ish feet no problem.  It sounds weird but the cup seem to get bigger after awhile.  The first time I did this drill it took me forever, now I can bang it out no problem.  It helped me with those pressure putts, and it'll help you too.  Good luck

  3. Todd P

    Todd P
    Phoenix, AZ

    You realize pros do not make many 15 footers right?  A tour pro takes about 1.75 putts to hole out a ball from 15 feet.  Also tour pros only make about 40% from 10 feet.  So I would say your putting is actually amazing.  You just expect way too much.  If you holed out most of your 18 footers and closer you would be playing on tour and would be the best putter there.

  4. Person A

    Person A

    Thanks todd, its nice to get a complement, and your most probably right about expecting too much. I guess i was annoyed i didnt hold a birdie putt, but i suppose when your trying to cut your handicap down to single figures you put a lot of pressure on yourself

  5. Jakes D

    Jakes D
    somerset west, 0

    If you already shoot in the 70's and low 80's you must be a single figure handicap? I regard myself as a good putter and have been for many years. I also went through some lean times but each time I solved the problem doing two things. 1. I started to focus on feel and try and see the line from the ball to the hole. 2. I ensure that I have a light grip. Focus on the feel and role of the ball. everytime I went through a dip was because people give met technical advice and I became to technical and machanical. Golf is a game of feel. the reason a lot of the pro's struggle is because they get obsessed with the stroke. We all get our off days, but dont let them change everything you have. ALWAYS PLAY WITH POSITIVE THOUGHTS. the moment you have dought or fear. step away and change your mindset.
  6. Stretch

    Stretch
    Elkland, PA

    I can't agree more with Jakes D. The possitive thoughts seem to be a big part of the game. For me i'm notorious for being one of the worst putters at my club however i'm also in the top ten at the club. My problem was making a bonehead putt and missing sometimes within a foot or so under pressure. I read "Putting out of your mind" by Bob Rottella and it helped me a lot. I started drilling and spending quality time on the greens practicing situational putts. It payed off. I have to say you sound like a really good putter, don't get down by missing birdie putts. For me there are days where i wil make 2 or 3 putts from outside of 15 feet in a round and others where it just doesn't happen... Forget the bad putts, although your buddies never will... I'm never gong to live down my reputation although it isn't and never was as bad as they say...
  7. Person A

    Person A

    Hey guys, just wanted to give a word of thanks to you guys who gave me all the encouragement and tips on putting. Just last night had the best round for putting of my life, which was also my best round ever full stop. Had a 76 on a par 72 with 4! birdies and countless 10+ foot par putts. only reason i didnt shoot better was of two errant drives and a couple of bad chips. So i would wanna say thanks to those guys who gave me the confidence to go out and putt so well, Cheers Guys, 

    Sean

  8. Stretch

    Stretch
    Elkland, PA

    Knew you had it in you...Keep positive and keep it fun.
  9. Tim F

    Tim F
    Entiat, WA

    Person A said:

    Hey guys, I'm currently an 11 handicapper who usually shoots high 70's to low 80's.

     

    That doesn't sound like an 11 handicapper to me.  My handicap just dropped to 10.7 and I shot my first round EVER in the 70's

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