Putting Changes
 

If you know you are stroking your putts well, but the ball is just not dropping for you, do you start fiddling around with putting stroke, stance or whatever?

Or, do you just keep hitting the good stroke knowing that eventually more putts are going to start dropping for you?

I just keep at the good stroke and figure I need to do a better job with speed or read. Last Friday I was making putts from every where. It was crazy. The next day I still made a bunch, but not nearly like the day before.

I saw a tip on tv about looking at the spot where the ball is until I hear it drop. I've heard it before, but really concentrated on it anytime the hole was close enough to see in my outer vision, it worked like a charm, especially on those 3 or 4 footers.

Why would you change anything if you know that you are making good strokes? Isn't that all you can ask of your putting game? When I know that I'm making good strokes and hitting my mark, then the problem is my reading. Reading greens is an art, and some days I'm just not as artistic as I am on other days. That's just how the game works at my level, so I accept it.

I'd only really try to work on fixing my stroke if it was actually broken. http://www.thehackersparadise.com/fo.../confused2.gif

I change stuff all the time, though I rarely feel like I'm stoking the ball well. This last summer I putted hunched over with an open stance, upright with both open and squared up stances, and upright with a claw grip both open and squared up. I used a short stroke, a long stroke, straight back and through stroke, and a swinging gate type stroke.

At some point I get in a groove and make a fair amount of putts with each style, but once I miss a few birdies I think I should make, or miss a few short par putts I change something. Especially after missing the short par putts.

Pretty much stuck with the same putter all year, though. http://www.thehackersparadise.com/fo...es/biggrin.png

Kevin

This year, as I am just getting back into golf again, I started putting what i felt was a 'conventional style', I have since switched to where my left hand is lower than my right. Worked well, now i'm working on lining up my body a little better. I move alot before my putt to try to align my feet and body better. It seems to be helping, although it looks rather funny I've been told. Like i'm doing the 'pee-pee' dance

I had really struggled with holing out putts up until about a month or two ago, even though I knew I was hitting good strokes with a good putter (speed was usually right on, just directional problems). I really try not to mess with my putting stroke, the only thing I did that helped me start sinking more putts was to take my right index finger and hold it more like a regular grip (instead of pointing down the shaft like I used to). That seems to have helped a bit. On bad putting days I will usually over/underexaggerate my break reads depending on what direction I am missing them that day.

I just keep up the good stroke.....sooner or later they start to drop

Stick with what has been working for you. Even if the putts arent dropping, as long as they are hunting the edge of the cup they will start dropping eventually.

I had an absolutely terrible year with the putter so I am going to go back to the stance I had back in high school which was more open. I think it gives me a better look at the hole and what line the ball should take. Unfortunately It's going to have to wait until March because it is now in the low 30's here in WI.

I'm going back to that full time next year, too. For a couple of weeks at least. Cheeseland was cold today. Had that "get ready, it's about to get a lot worse" feel to it.

Kevin

Up until today it had been 50*, thats not normal weather for Wisconsin in November.
Its SUPPOSED to be cold here during the late fall/winter months.

i keep everything the same and get tips out of golf digest