Iv'e sussed it! Ive always, and I mean always went the dolly route. Trying to cosy the ball in the hole with the break. My results were not too bad but I did miss the odd one or two  2 footers with this method. I had a brainstorm, why not blast the ball in from close range like the pro's. I tried a few on the practice green and they bounced off the back lip of the cup straight down the hole.

Anyway I took the same plan to the course and it worked. Never missed anything under 4 foot all day. Total puts wasn't any better than normal but my tee to green was a bit off that day anyway.

Time will tell. Anyone got any views.

Dave CAC handed Geordie.

Its something Ive been told to work on.

But its having the stones to belt the little swine at the back of the hole when your brain says "gently".

Matt

Ive never had the bottle to wack it before. But as I said I had a go this time and it really works for me. Whats the worst that can happen? The odd 3 putt. Better that 3 or 4 missed dollys.

Dave CAC handed Geordie.

I like to rap them in myself.

There nothing better than ramming it in, and seeing the little fella disappear into the hole.

The logical way is to give it a good confident short,smooth whack.......so long as you can putt straight.

 Get it wrong on a downhill putt and you could be adding two more putts.

As with everything in golf....practice practice practice

just give it enough tap to pass the cup no more than 18" which should be hard enough to strike the back of the cup except this time of year when the greens are too fast. 

i find that it's the little beggars that are inside 2foot that are slippery sods that especially need firm tactics, middle of the cup and bang it in. 

fast sloping down hillers that can run yards past if you miss have to be treated cautiously, as you have to view each putt on its own merit.

but being firm is confident and a place to start

I like to give it a good hit, always have it in my mind that if you don't reach the hole, it won't fall.

I have that mindset for all my puts tbh, although sometimes I just hit a bad put and it doesn't reach!!!!

remember guys wether you rap it or tap it the most important thing is to accelerate through the stroke. one of the most common reasons for missing short putts is deceleration. theres a nice putting drill by scott cranfield on my blog which will help you practice. http://golfswingwizard.blogspot.com

Firm and centre of the hole from that distance. Pick a mark on the back of the cup and let it rip.