Putting!

Do you record how many putts you take during a round?

Are most of your putts short or long if you miss the hole?

I ask these questions because it appears that amongst the people I play with I'm the only one who records how many putts I take on each hole.

Golf, as we all know is a game of two halves (where have I heard that before?)

There is the tee to green part of the game, and then there is the on the green part.

Two totally different parts that make a great game.

We have the big turn and swing that gets us to the green, then once on the green it's a gentle shoulder turn to putt the ball.

And lets put it into proportion here, putting is half the shots for a par 72 course (50%), it's more if your course is a 71 or less par.

So putting is an important part of the game but you don't see many people practice their putting. Most putt for about two minutes before a game and think that's enough practice.

I only record the number of putts for my round now, and my average is 33 putts, so I'm minus three for the putting aspect of the game. I just wish I could get the tee to green part down a bit!

When I first started I used to put a 'S' for short, 'L' for long and a tick if the ball stayed near the hole.

From doing this I found out that most of my putts that missed were short of the hole, so in other words had absolutely no chance of ever going in.

I now putt better and over the last three weeks I've been leaving my ball within two feet of the hole from any distance. (I hope it lasts!)

So for the next three rounds that you play record your putts, and also if you hit them long or left them short, etc. Then have a look and see if your putting is letting you down.

Russ

It is well known that putting well is the only way to lower ones scores, but it is worth noting that when one is playing well and hitting more greens than normal, that the putting stats are likely to go up and when one is missing greens or hitting none at all then the putting stats always look impressive.

I very rarely three putt, but I don't hole my share of the 10-15 footers either. Maybe it is because I have played for a long time that I have lost the confident strike I had when I was a good player.

I spent a whole week at Royal North Devon playing a different county everyday of the week in the EGU regional finals for Somerset and did not look like missing a putt under six feet all week. Good greens and a confident stroke is all that is required, if only I could think like that now, as I have become a defensive putter and lag everything up to the hole.

I always record the number of putts I take and it does have a massive effect on my scores - here's the proof: -

• Fri 5th Dec, 101 gross, 41 putts
• Sat 6th Dec, 89 gross, 27 putts

So if I'd had the same number of putts on Friday as I did on Saturday I would have carded 87 gross.  Those who played with me on Friday will tell you that I had one of those days where it just wouldn't drop though.  I didn't putt badly, it was regularly lipping out or just skimming the edge - I reckon someone was out in front if us putting clingfilm over the holes!

41 putts is a disgrace and shows you were just not concentrating, Chris. If you consider five three putts as not putting badly, I have no answer.

I always record my putts as I like to achieve 32 or less in a round..

I look upon a bad putting round as 36 putts because I have either not one putted at all or have 3 putted at some point which is bad karma  (for me)....

I agree that 41 putts is disgraceful John, but I wouldn't say it was lack of concentration; it was just one of those days.  I could understand it if I was leaving it short, racing past or pushing it well wide, but I would say 8 or 9 of those putts lipped out or kissed the hole and finished within a couple of inches.  Ask Tim how many times he said "How did that not drop?" on my putt. 

We all have our days when nothing seems to drop, Chris but 41 putts means that you three putted five times and that is not a good sign.

Still, the 27 putt round was very good.

I generally aim to be less than 36 (32 is where I think I should be for an average round).  Sub-30 is genaerally a reflection of how good my short game was rather than how well I putted. 

On Friday I think I left myself too many long first putts because my approach shots weren't accurate enough (I had a poor game with the irons).  That meant getting it close enough for a nailed on two-putt was difficult on wet greens that weren't quite behaving as you would expect.  I seemed to be coming up short on all of my irons, but I figured out why about halfway through my round yesterday (quitting on the follow through).  Playing there again this Friday and I will be expecting to do much better. 

I do keep a record of my putting stats and over a long period it is useful to see if your average is rising or falling.  However as John rightly points out above because you do not start in the same place when putting a drop or rise in scores may reflect more on the type and accuracy of your approach shots rather than an improvement or decline in putting skills.

As a matter of interest, does anyone know how you record the number of putts if your first putt runs off the green.  Do you only start counting putts again once you have hit the ball back on the green or do you continue counting putts once you have started?  This has happened a couple of times to me recently as green keepers seem to prefer pin positions near the edge of the greens in winter. 

Chris, quitting on the follow through is because your brain has told you that you have hit it hard enough to get there.

It is essential to think "follow through" because otherwise the shot will not fly the way you intended it to.  So in a nutshell, wait a fraction, before applying the smooth acceleration of power through to the finish.

I am sure you will do much better on Friday, who knows your best score ever could be just around the corner.

I would say continue counting as putts, Jon.

Equalled my best ever of 89 on Saturday John (the 85 doesn't count in my opinion as it was on a par 63).  That's two proper sub-90's in the space of a few weeks so I think it's getting there.  Just need to keep plodding on and start sinking those damn putts!

Well done, Chris. Sinking putts is what makes the score, but to sink putts you must chip and pitch better.

Of course it is an achievement, Paul, well done.

I am sure he will, Paul, but perhaps you are now on the up and will take the dosh next time you play him.

Everyone hits bad shots, Paul, but the secret is to never hit the same bad shot twice in a row.

I have to admit that I always try to have a PMA.

When I'm chipping I am always thinking that it will go in the hole, rather than just hope that I get it close enough to one putt.

I'm sure that it helps me with my chips as those that miss now do seem to end up nearer the hole.

Russ

Mr Williams, what on earth do you mean?  You know and I know that your problems are all between your ears.  You hit two bad shots in a row and you convince yourself that you will do it every time you swing.  Result - game goes to pot.  We both know there is a decent game in you and all you need to do is believe it.  You're probably a better player than me but you just won't let the game out. 

Oh, and it's FAR too easy to get inside your head!!!

get a room you 2

He's lucky I share a course with him John....

I can't see it being possible that I will have more lips than Leslie Ash three rounds on the trot at the same course.  No-one deserves that, not even me.  I intend to be more aggressive on my approaches and chips so that my first putt is shorter as I've left myself a lot of long first putts which have resulted in knee-tremblers for the second.  Either way, I might have taken 41 putts but i still beat you by 7 strokes!

Just wish I could be there on Friday to see all this tension going on. Paul trying to relax & play 'natural golf' while Chris tries to knock in those 2 footers.

So really Paul once the handicaps have been taken into account he only beat you by 3 shots!!! Which is nothing really & is the difference between 1 good hole & 1 bad hole.

First, I thought you carded a 108 Paul.  My maths was correct but I apologise for thinking you were even more rubbish than you are. 

Second, those who can, do.  Those that can't, teach.  Those that are hopeless cases have high handicaps and post advice onto forums but can't seem to put it into their own game. 

Third, those are gross scores John, so given that I had three shots on Paul last week I actually beat him by eight shots.  The matchplay was halved though, mainly because Paul and I were on the same side. 

Left hand is above the right hand on the grip.  If you try to keep both arms straight it forces the head backwards, delofts the face and causes you to hit down on the ball instead sweeping it with a slight upward stroke.  This causes all sorts of length, dirction and roll issues.  The other way to keep both arms straight is to drop the right shoulder which prevents a balanced pendulous swing. 

Paul,

I never like the putting lessons my Karl as he tried to get me to use a quick putting stroke which I never liked, apart from that he was the one who got me swinging along the correct lines.

john.

With you on that John.  He tried to give me a short backswing with a very quick stroke about twice the length of the back swing.  Felt awful and knew immediately it wasn't for me. 

you want to be careful when he tries to give you a quick stroke, espcially if it's twice the length of yours!!

And I never figured out why he shut the door when he took me in that little room with the video camera.....

you mean you haven't seen yourself on youtube?? it's called "jon daley look-a-like trying to swing a club"

it's had 1000000000000000000000000000 hits so far!!

This is all you need guys buy his DVD I highly recommend it. His star man has just bagged 3 majors and the other is the number 1 putter on the European Tour ,