Gettin' Better . . .

HennyBogan . . . .

You have been ON FIRE on this forum! Thanks for sharing all this great info with us.

I have a goal . . . maybe too ambitious . . . but you have to dream.

I am 36 years old . . . have to a job, lil' foolz and what's-her-name that take up a bunch of my time . . .

BUT!

I would like to get to scratch by the time I'm 38. You have said it's all about process. This may be a little different process but what kind of plan, process and practice would you suggest for me to achieve my big audicious goal???

Holla back please sir!

Bucket

Bucks my man,

Anyone who can make over 2000 putts in a row is already my hero.

Why would you want your handicap to go UP in two years?

The moon pies are on me.

UPP in rainy Ohio

Originally Posted by Uppndownn Bucks my man,

Anyone who can make over 2000 putts in a row is already my hero.

Why would you want your handicap to go UP in two years?

The moon pies are on me.

UPP in rainy Ohio

Oh . . . hold up . . . I got the puttin' contest mixed up with the wing eatin' contest. Sorry.

Originally Posted by 12 piece bucket HennyBogan . . . .

You have been ON FIRE on this forum! Thanks for sharing all this great info with us.

I have a goal . . . maybe too ambitious . . . but you have to dream.

I am 36 years old . . . have to a job, lil' foolz and what's-her-name that take up a bunch of my time . . .

BUT!

I would like to get to scratch by the time I'm 38. You have said it's all about process. This may be a little different process but what kind of plan, process and practice would you suggest for me to achieve my big audicious goal???

Holla back please sir!

Bucket

Bucket,

First, I like big goals. They can really set you into action. Second, by placing it out here in front of others, you are giving yourself two kinds of motivation. One is that you may be inspired to do the work because you are going to have to post about it. Second, you should get plenty of support and encouragement from the other members.

The less time you have to expend on this project, the more organized and efficient you need your program to be. You may have to make substantial changes in a number of areas. One big area will be your picture of yourself as a golfer. We also have to look at the physical elements, game management, mental game, etc.

Let's get to work. I need some information about how you lose shots. We want to get pretty detailed here. The most important factor in improving your game is working on the right thing.

We will to break down all parts of your game, but in the interest of creating a useable post, let's do them one at a time.

Long game. We will let the experts here give the instruction, but we want to define any issues. We need to chart the misses. Picture the ball flight charts (not what some of them say). Pull, straight, or push. Ball curvature from there. Contact: fat, flush, thin (on the way up or down). We know that you hit lots of quality shots, but what are the bad ones? What is the cause? What can you do to reduce the variance?

Do these shots show up on the range or only on the course? Since you have asked many questions about the process, I suspect some come from shortcomings there. We are going to have to look at the outcomes. I'm going to lay out some guidelines for that in another thread (now I have to do it--one of the ways it works).

In the short term, we can be satisfied with your recollections. Later, we will want some concrete data.

Let's go.

HB

Man! I'm soooooooooo GEEKED UP ABOUT THIS! The only thing I think that could be suspect is the encouragement part from a certain faction here . . . you 2 h8rs know who you be.

LET's ROLL . . .

Long Game

• My driver is irratic . . .
• My bad shot is typically a shot that starts right and goes right
• Or a shot that starts right and hooks past my stance line (how about that)
• Long Iron misses are either high right pushes or low left burners
• Short Irons are the strengths of my game . . . but distance control is an issue
• Short Iron misses are typically long and left
• All in all I find the clubface/sweetspot and hit it solid well but direction is my problem
• I can hit it low as you want me too . . . but high shots are harder for me
• I have an easier time hitting right to left shots than cuts
• I hit down on it plenty but not too good on the out part . . .I'm a super's nightmare . . .I move earth
• I'm a GREAT range player but don't hit the same quality shots interms of direction on course
• I have noticed that I stand too far from the ball whip it inside and get it across the line at the top
• I tend to hang back a little and come out of my waist bend
• My impact alignments are pretty good . . . I just have some weird moves getting there.

Is this the kind of stuff you were looking for?

Thanks man . . . you rock!

Bucket

Originally Posted by 12 piece bucket Man! I'm soooooooooo GEEKED UP ABOUT THIS! The only thing I think that could be suspect is the encouragement part from a certain faction here . . . you 2 h8rs know who you be.

LET's ROLL . . .

Long Game

• My driver is irratic . . .
• My bad shot is typically a shot that starts right and goes right
• Or a shot that starts right and hooks past my stance line (how about that)
• Long Iron misses are either high right pushes or low left burners
• Short Irons are the strengths of my game . . . but distance control is an issue
• Short Iron misses are typically long and left
• All in all I find the clubface/sweetspot and hit it solid well but direction is my problem
• I can hit it low as you want me too . . . but high shots are harder for me
• I have an easier time hitting right to left shots than cuts
• I hit down on it plenty but not too good on the out part . . .I'm a super's nightmare . . .I move earth
• I'm a GREAT range player but don't hit the same quality shots interms of direction on course
• I have noticed that I stand too far from the ball whip it inside and get it across the line at the top
• I tend to hang back a little and come out of my waist bend
• My impact alignments are pretty good . . . I just have some weird moves getting there.

Is this the kind of stuff you were looking for?

Thanks man . . . you rock!

Bucket

Bucket,

That's exactly the type of honest evaluation I'm looking for. I will leave the particulars of swing correction to the experts. The part that concerns me the most is a two-way miss. Right and left. This type of pattern requires great discipline in adhering to a committed routine.

If you can eliminate most of your misses to one side or the other, you will have an easier time fitting your pattern to the golf course.

So your part of the plan is to decipher the swing changes you need to make and to implement these moves over a period of time.

HB

Next question. Tell me about your short game. Shots inside full sandwedge. Bunkers. Pitches. High. Low. Flop. Tight lies. Rough. Anything else you can think of besides putting. Short game philosophy (one club, many, close to the ground as possible, or something else)

Originally Posted by Hennybogan Bucket,

That's exactly the type of honest evaluation I'm looking for. I will leave the particulars of swing correction to the experts. The part that concerns me the most is a two-way miss. Right and left. This type of pattern requires great discipline in adhering to a committed routine.

If you can eliminate most of your misses to one side or the other, you will have an easier time fitting your pattern to the golf course.

So your part of the plan is to decipher the swing changes you need to make and to implement these moves over a period of time.

HB

Next question. Tell me about your short game. Shots inside full sandwedge. Bunkers. Pitches. High. Low. Flop. Tight lies. Rough. Anything else you can think of besides putting. Short game philosophy (one club, many, close to the ground as possible, or something else)

First . . . Question: A lot of times I'm just trying to "hit it there" basically a straight shot. Should I instead of thinking "hit it there" think hit a draw there? I think right to left is more of my natural curve. But I can go both ways (don't do it Mike O!).

SHORT GAME

• Short chip shots are my strength. I'm pretty decent at hitting sandwedge chips to about 40 feet out.
• If I have to hit longer chips I typically have more trouble with distance control. I'd say my error is typically long.
• I can hit low wedges with some check pretty good
• High wedges are more of a problem for me. I don't do well with flops. I'm a low spinner type.
• I hit down on chips and pitches maybe too steep.
• 40-50 yard shots are tougher for me particularly if they have to carry something . . . come in too low and hot.
• I typically chip with sw, gap and 9 . . . I used to carry lob but no mo'. 48, 52, 56.
• I'm better at hitting shots hard than soft.
• I'm more snappy than sweepy.

How's that?

This must be another one of those weird spam posts.....notice how its his first post and he wants us to believe that Bucket has friends????????

All joking aside welcome to LBG David. If you're really a friend of Buckets we that have a lot of questions to ask you.....lots and lots of questions.

Ill answer your question then you'll have to answer ours OK?............The "Triad" and feel.

Now, hmmmmm, Daryl whats our first question for David, pal o'Bucket............hmmmmmm.......where to start man , where to start?

It must be spam. Bucket doesn't have friends and he only gets one phone call a week from jail. So unless his real name is Bubba, I think it's spam.

After talking to my pal Bucket on the phone today, I thought this would be a great thread to get involved in. Along with beer and wings, Bucket and I have alot in common. I am 37 and truely believe I can be a scratch golfer, I love the machine and know it is the path to playing great golf. I was an 9 handicap for about 14 years, then I went to the Falcons Fire Academy and began the decent. I currently carry a 6.5 index and progression has slowed. I need a plan to get my game to the next level. The geometry and physics of my swing are more sound than ever, but how do you get out of your own way? I practice like a scratch golfer, my driving range game is tight, but I am not the same person on the course. How do good players take their range game to the course, Why does my rhythm and tempo change once I get on the first tee, Is there a secret to scoring, not just ball striking???
Looking forward to devulging into the answers to these questions and more.

Originally Posted by 8cork After talking to my pal Bucket on the phone today, I thought this would be a great thread to get involved in. Along with beer and wings, Bucket and I have alot in common. I am 37 and truely believe I can be a scratch golfer, I love the machine and know it is the path to playing great golf. I was an 9 handicap for about 14 years, then I went to the Falcons Fire Academy and began the decent. I currently carry a 6.5 index and progression has slowed. I need a plan to get my game to the next level. The geometry and physics of my swing are more sound than ever, but how do you get out of your own way? I practice like a scratch golfer, my driving range game is tight, but I am not the same person on the course. How do good players take their range game to the course, Why does my rhythm and tempo change once I get on the first tee, Is there a secret to scoring, not just ball striking???
Looking forward to devulging into the answers to these questions and more.

8cork,

Sounds like you have a good base to work from. Much like a person training for a marathon would need a base of mileage before ramping up the effort.

I need some definition.

"I practice like a scratch golfer" Describe

"I am not the same person on the course" Who are you in each setting?

There are many secrets to scoring. This forum is designed to expose some of these. Your ballstriking will define your range of possible scores. Your management and short game will define your score.

HB

Originally Posted by Hennybogan 8cork,

Sounds like you have a good base to work from. Much like a person training for a marathon would need a base of mileage before ramping up the effort.

I need some definition.

"I practice like a scratch golfer" Describe

"I am not the same person on the course" Who are you in each setting?

There are many secrets to scoring. This forum is designed to expose some of these. Your ballstriking will define your range of possible scores. Your management and short game will define your score.

HB

Thanks HB,
What I think I am trying to say is that, My swing on the range is much better than the swing I take to the course. If my handicap was based on the way I hit the ball on the range I might be a 2 or 3. For some reason my ball striking drops off once I start playing. My putting is the strongest part of my game, I almost always make alot of putts, sadly they are rarely for birdie. I play spurts of great golf, but I can never keep it going. Usually not even for nine holes. Just the other day I was 5 under after 7 holes and barely broke 80 for the round.

Originally Posted by 12 piece bucket We need to find out what makes you miss from short range.
I don't think I ever trust that my line is right. It could be a vision thing. I wear glasses and have a pretty bad stigmatism (sp?). Not sure


Do you change putters? What style of putter?
I used to change putters like I change my drawz . . . every other week. I was into Camerons loved 'em. I'm over it. I've had the same putter now for about 2 years. It's Cameron MidSur (belly putter) but it has been cut down to 34 inches. I like it because it's dope looking and I don't have to put one of them stoopid headcovers on it. Plus I like it because it's heavy and has a thick top line (opposite of my iron preference).

Did you ever putt alot better and changed trying to improve?
Naw. I never practice putting too much. I think it's boring. Waiting to be chastized here . . .

Miss everywhere or left or right, short or long.
Pretty much everywhere. If I start out missing right or left then I usually end up missing long because I start trying to cram it in. But from a distance perspective on on the short ones I'd say I tend to hit them too soft. I like to see it die in.

Mental side. Are you severly damaged? I mean -- is it so bad you can't even picture a putt go in during visualization.
Damaged . . . oh hell yes . . . To be honest I don't really visualize that well period in putting or nowhere . . . well I do pretty good in the bathroom


How many putts a round do you try to wish in?
On a bad day . . . every putt from 6 to 3 feet.


On a six footer that reads just outside left edge, what are you thinking. Do you get really committed.
Depends on where I'm at in the round . . . early on I'm positive . . . around the turn I'm thinking I hope that big fat lady made the hot dawg slaw and if she did I may marry her. . . . by the time I'm around 14 and I've missed a few I'm just trying not to cry.

Are you standing over the putt wondering about your alignment? Or is it after you have missed. Not early on. But if I miss I'm wondering after the shot for awhile. Then I'm tweekin' from the get before the putter goes back.

Describe in detail your preshot.
Well . . . I kinda start looking at the green as I walk to it from the fairway (I like to walk). The after I catch my breath . . . Start looking for the high spot. I walk to it. I kinda verify what my eye see with what I feel under my feet. The I get to the ball look at my high spot and kinda let my instincts take over as far as aiming. I have found when I'm hot I just feel my alignment by just letting my braincell do it's thang. Then I take two practice strokes looking at the hole trying to feel the putter swing and feel my hands. I address the ball. Look at my spot and just try to swing him back schmooove. People have said that my stroke looks good. Hell it feels good and feels like it would look good. It just don't work too good.

Ah . . . but I AM a good putter and I'm due to make the next 'un.

Bucket,

We've got potential. I like the reading and routine. Esp. smooth stroke and letting the braincell do the aiming. I like letting the talent do its part rather than manual override.

Good putters putt with the same putter or style of putter. Once asked a really good tour putter how long he had been putting with his putter (within earshot of my player who was wanting to change). He said, "About five years." Then I asked what he putted with before that. He said, "One just like it."

I'm not a big believer in spending alot of time on the putting green unless you really like putting. I see a tendency to experiment, further confusing the computer. I want results in a short amount of time. I rarely putt for more than ten minutes. Love short game and full game practice.

A drill from a really good putter. Three balls in a line about two feet apart, starting two feet from hole. So a two footer, a four footer, and a six footer all on the same line. The shortest lets you make a bunch (good for brain). The next two give you alot of practice holing the kind of putts you need to make to keep a round going. Putt these three, get them out of the hole, repeat. If you don't make a bunch of putts at first, don't worry, you will improve. Practice some longer putts. Do a little putting around the practice green with one ball for touch. If you want to work on your stroke, do it indoors with some kind of reference tool. I learned to putt watching my stroke over a threshold.

Die putting is for longer putts. You don't have to ram the short ones, but make a nice positive stroke. If you take too high a line, you will put a little steer on it to help it break enough to go in. Practice some breaking putts at three different speeds. Big break, medium break. Minimal break. It helps with touch and seeing putts. Learn to putt with medium break.

Visualize. We have to use our talents as we find them. Some guys go to the movies. Some see a straight line. Sounds like you get a feel for the shot. That's OK.

Confidence depends on where in the round. This is a problem. If you want to putt better, you have to think better. You can control your mental process. From now on, act like you know what you are doing as you walk into the putt. Just try it for the next few rounds. Every putt. Let me know.

HB

I'm a little afraid to ask. Lets hear about your management and mental game.

Originally Posted by Hennybogan Bucket,

We've got potential. I like the reading and routine. Esp. smooth stroke and letting the braincell do the aiming. I like letting the talent do its part rather than manual override.


HB

I'm a little afraid to ask. Lets hear about your management and mental game.

Question on the above . . . Should talent and braincell deal be throughout the game?

Management
This part of my game is a strength. I pretty much try to play shots that I can play. I pick really good targets and play the percentages well. I always have a plan . . . execution is a different story. I love the strategic part of the game. I try to pick my targets from the tee that allow the most margin for error. On my course I don't hit driver on but 5 holes or so depending on conditions. You just don't get much juice for the amount of squeeze you gotta do. I play thinking pretty much "what do I have to do to make par on this hole" and let the birdies come. From 9 iron down I shoot at pins. Rest of the stuff is middle of green. I'm more like too shot at a left pin than a right pin because my natural shape wants to go left.

Some days my tee shots can be good . . . but I ALWAYS have 2 or 3 holes where hit a wildazz tee shot to somewhere you make 1,000,000 from. When I hit a bad shot I hit a BAD shot. I'm pretty good about striking it solid but it's more of a direction dealie.

MENTAL
Another stength of mine is ATTITUDE . . . I have fun on the course. I never get mad. You can't tell if I'm shootin' 100 or 75. I'm just happy to be on the golf course. I don't beat myself up after bad shots or rounds.


ROUTINE Not so good. I don't have a lot of confidence in my alignment. I have too many mechanical thoughts. I get to playing golf swing instead of playing golf. If I miss one I tend to get more mechanical. The weird thing is though . . .when I have to hit a trouble shot or work a shot I tend to hit those shots great. I have more trouble with the shots I SHOULD hit well. Maybe I get more committed. That may be something I need to explore what commitment means with regards to G.O.L.F. and golf.

OVERALL CONFIDENCE IN GAME I feel like I have enough skills that I could be a 4 to scratch but I just need to eliminate the wild shot off the tee and hit more short putts. I have the desire to get there and feel like I can . . . but I never have.

Originally Posted by 12 piece bucket Question on the above . . . Should talent and braincell deal be throughout the game?

Management
This part of my game is a strength. I pretty much try to play shots that I can play. I pick really good targets and play the percentages well. I always have a plan . . . execution is a different story. I love the strategic part of the game. I try to pick my targets from the tee that allow the most margin for error. On my course I don't hit driver on but 5 holes or so depending on conditions. You just don't get much juice for the amount of squeeze you gotta do. I play thinking pretty much "what do I have to do to make par on this hole" and let the birdies come. From 9 iron down I shoot at pins. Rest of the stuff is middle of green. I'm more like too shot at a left pin than a right pin because my natural shape wants to go left.

Some days my tee shots can be good . . . but I ALWAYS have 2 or 3 holes where hit a wildazz tee shot to somewhere you make 1,000,000 from. When I hit a bad shot I hit a BAD shot. I'm pretty good about striking it solid but it's more of a direction dealie.

MENTAL
Another stength of mine is ATTITUDE . . . I have fun on the course. I never get mad. You can't tell if I'm shootin' 100 or 75. I'm just happy to be on the golf course. I don't beat myself up after bad shots or rounds.


ROUTINE Not so good. I don't have a lot of confidence in my alignment. I have too many mechanical thoughts. I get to playing golf swing instead of playing golf. If I miss one I tend to get more mechanical. The weird thing is though . . .when I have to hit a trouble shot or work a shot I tend to hit those shots great. I have more trouble with the shots I SHOULD hit well. Maybe I get more committed. That may be something I need to explore what commitment means with regards to G.O.L.F. and golf.

OVERALL CONFIDENCE IN GAME I feel like I have enough skills that I could be a 4 to scratch but I just need to eliminate the wild shot off the tee and hit more short putts. I have the desire to get there and feel like I can . . . but I never have.

Bucket,

Talent and braincell throughout the ball. YES. "Turn off the brain. Turn on the game."

Strategy and management sound really good. It's great that you always have fun. As you progress, we may want you to fire at reasonable flags down to a six or seven iron. One thing you mentioned from last round was 6 three putts. Maybe you should try hitting it closer to the hole.

Focus on trouble shots. You have to, the shot dictates start line, height, curvature, etc. Tour players do the same thing. They hit this miracle shot out of the trees, then the next hole they miss the green with a wedge. Focus.

So the difference between the trouble shot and the one from the middle of the fairway 150 out is the definition. You can define this shot. You can picture it hit on the green, spin left a few feet, and topple into the hole. You can picture the trajectory. If you want to hit a straight shot, you can picture a tunnel of trees defining the flight. It's all mind games. Even when you are hitting a safe shot to the middle of the green, you want to be really locked in on the target.

Routine. Practice your alignment on the range. Take it for granted on the course. Nobody plays good when they are worried about it. One of the dangers in knowing alot about the swing is being able to diagnose errors and becoming focused on them. Let those thoughts go until you have made the same physical error a number of times in a row. One bad shot should go straight out the window.

Wild shots. Is it random or do you struggle with the same tee shots? Sometimes you have to do something different on a hole that does not fit your eye.

HB

Lay out your plan for improvement, as you see it.

Originally Posted by Hennybogan Bucket,

Talent and braincell throughout the ball. YES. "Turn off the brain. Turn on the game."

Strategy and management sound really good. It's great that you always have fun. As you progress, we may want you to fire at reasonable flags down to a six or seven iron. One thing you mentioned from last round was 6 three putts. Maybe you should try hitting it closer to the hole.

Focus on trouble shots. You have to, the shot dictates start line, height, curvature, etc. Tour players do the same thing. They hit this miracle shot out of the trees, then the next hole they miss the green with a wedge. Focus.

So the difference between the trouble shot and the one from the middle of the fairway 150 out is the definition. You can define this shot. You can picture it hit on the green, spin left a few feet, and topple into the hole. You can picture the trajectory. If you want to hit a straight shot, you can picture a tunnel of trees defining the flight. It's all mind games. Even when you are hitting a safe shot to the middle of the green, you want to be really locked in on the target.

Routine. Practice your alignment on the range. Take it for granted on the course. Nobody plays good when they are worried about it. One of the dangers in knowing alot about the swing is being able to diagnose errors and becoming focused on them. Let those thoughts go until you have made the same physical error a number of times in a row. One bad shot should go straight out the window.

Wild shots. Is it random or do you struggle with the same tee shots? Sometimes you have to do something different on a hole that does not fit your eye.

HB

Lay out your plan for improvement, as you see it.

Henny/Bucket,

Great stuff! I've been experimenting some with shooting at flags only from 135/140 and closer (my 9-iron), opting for the middle of the green the rest of the time (the greens on the courses I play aren't always that big). I hadn't really considered HB's comment about really "focusing in" on that sort of shot before, but it makes a bunch of sense.

CG

Originally Posted by Hennybogan
So the difference between the trouble shot and the one from the middle of the fairway 150 out is the definition. You can define this shot. You can picture it hit on the green, spin left a few feet, and topple into the hole. You can picture the trajectory. If you want to hit a straight shot, you can picture a tunnel of trees defining the flight. It's all mind games. Even when you are hitting a safe shot to the middle of the green, you want to be really locked in on the target.

Wild shots. Is it random or do you struggle with the same tee shots? Sometimes you have to do something different on a hole that does not fit your eye.

HB

Lay out your plan for improvement, as you see it.

NICE!!!! I like it . . .


Wild shots. Is it random or do you struggle with the same tee shots?
OK . . . I played 9 holes for lunch. I think I may have figured out a big portion of my wild shots. I should have started here in the first place too! I hit some hard hooks with all of my clubs. Not low snappers but more like solid bombs that just curved to hard left . . . past the old stance line. I was even hooking wedges 15 yards or so.

I have really been working on #3 accumulator roll . . . which I think was a dumb thing to do with my grip type. I have a turned left hand. So it to me on a little pitch that I didn't need all that roll and it was causing to clubface movement. So I hit this little holdy blocky feeling thing . . . one hop . . . .in the hole. Next hole I carried that same holdy deal and hit it really great from a direction standpoint. My flail has to work different who gets their hands on the club 10-2-B vertical style.

The other thing I did was the whole visualization deal. Imagined that the ball was like the size of a kickball or something. It freed everything up. I tend to hit it pretty solid anyway for the most part. But I really was able to let it rip without having to be superdooper ball bound.

I feel better about it now. If I can drive it in play I hit the irons good enough that I can do awight. Putted a lil' better too. Take away the two wild hooks O.B. and I shoot decent.

Speed dictates Line

Originally Posted by Yoda I've never done this, Henny. Thanks!

I just read [u]Putting Out of your Mind[u] by Bob Rotella. In the forward to the book, Brad Faxon talks about putting a breaking putt at three different speeds to develop feel. Rotella talks about the mind being able to make all the calculations in the subconscious mode. Trusting it!

Continuing on. My thoughts on my putting, even though I am an average putter I still from time to time miss what looks like the easiest of putts.

PUTTING

·I am a pretty average reader of greens, I can see the line the majority of the time but sometimes have problems trusting that it is the right line and can second guess myself.
·Mid range putts (8-15 feet) I am pretty solid but like my friend Bucket I have trouble from 5 feet and in at times.
·When I miss short putts it’s a combination of line and pace. I can either hit it too hard or baby it.
·I probably have at least 2-3 3 putts a round when I am playing badly. Normal day it’s a 3 putt a round usually at the wrong moment.
·Unlike Bucket, I can get a bit mechanical on the greens but have improved the routine to such that its one look and go.
·Trusting my alignment is a bit of a bugbear as is actually aligning correctly at times.
·Distance putting is average, that is where the majority of the 3 putts come from. Usually from not getting the distance right and I am always short.
·I have found that under pressure I am not a bad putter on most putts. Short ones will give me even more problems.

Through the years, I have read many of Bob Rotella’s books so I feel confident when I get to the ball and stroke it but sometimes I am missing a bit of the puzzle and the confidence goes again until the next time.
Been working on my putting routine a lot recently. Watched a lot of Darren Clarke, Aaron Baddeley and Davis Love on their routines. I like how they all take a few practise swings looking at the hole, line up, one look and then bang. Been trying to keep to that of late.

Alex

Originally Posted by alex_chung Continuing on. My thoughts on my putting, even though I am an average putter I still from time to time miss what looks like the easiest of putts.

PUTTING

·I am a pretty average reader of greens, I can see the line the majority of the time but sometimes have problems trusting that it is the right line and can second guess myself.
·Mid range putts (8-15 feet) I am pretty solid but like my friend Bucket I have trouble from 5 feet and in at times.
·When I miss short putts it’s a combination of line and pace. I can either hit it too hard or baby it.
·I probably have at least 2-3 3 putts a round when I am playing badly. Normal day it’s a 3 putt a round usually at the wrong moment.
·Unlike Bucket, I can get a bit mechanical on the greens but have improved the routine to such that its one look and go.
·Trusting my alignment is a bit of a bugbear as is actually aligning correctly at times.
·Distance putting is average, that is where the majority of the 3 putts come from. Usually from not getting the distance right and I am always short.
·I have found that under pressure I am not a bad putter on most putts. Short ones will give me even more problems.

Through the years, I have read many of Bob Rotella’s books so I feel confident when I get to the ball and stroke it but sometimes I am missing a bit of the puzzle and the confidence goes again until the next time.
Been working on my putting routine a lot recently. Watched a lot of Darren Clarke, Aaron Baddeley and Davis Love on their routines. I like how they all take a few practise swings looking at the hole, line up, one look and then bang. Been trying to keep to that of late.

Alex

Alex,

Good info. I like the routine of DC, Badds, DL III, etc. Just make sure that you do it at your individual pace. You are simplifying the routine, that is good, but do not get in a rush. Make sure you practice the routine enough that it becomes automatic.

Good distance putting is a combination of making a good read of the slopes and hitting solid putts. Make sure that you develop consistant contact. It also helps to be confident about making the second putt.

Alignment. You really have to trust it on the course. You can't putt well thinking about it. So fix it off the course. Design of the putter has a big link to how well it will fit you. Necks, offsets, head shape, loft, etc all affect how well you will line up. If you need help in this area, it is best to consult a professional who understands it. There are also set-up variables that can help (eye line, ball position, distance from ball, etc.).

How many putts should you miss before you lose confidence and start going mechanical?

Line on short putts. DECIDE. Smallest target possible. Pace dictates line. Picture both as you consider the line. Stick with your decision. For now your goal should be to be fully organized and committed to the putt at hand.
Practice putting the same putt at different speeds and lines. Do this with both left to right and right to left putts.

HB

Donn,

I think it's pretty clear what his goal is...

Originally Posted by 12 piece bucket I have a goal . . . maybe too ambitious . . . but you have to dream.

I am 36 years old . . . have to a job, lil' foolz and what's-her-name that take up a bunch of my time . . .

BUT!

I would like to get to scratch by the time I'm 38. You have said it's all about process. This may be a little different process but what kind of plan, process and practice would you suggest for me to achieve my big audicious goal???

In order to get to scratch, there is a lot more to it than just "the geometry." While it's fantastic to know so much information (I am honestly envious of most everyone on this forum who can understand so much of TGM), there's more to playing the game than just making sure your alignments are all in order. There is also more to improving your game than just hitting practice balls, no matter what area of your game you are working on.

Developing your skills to the level you desire is important; you can't shoot 68 if you aren't good enough to shoot 68 . But having the skills required to shoot 68 is completely different from actually being able to shoot 68.

Originally Posted by holeout Donn,

I think it's pretty clear what his goal is...



In order to get to scratch, there is a lot more to it than just "the geometry." While it's fantastic to know so much information (I am honestly envious of most everyone on this forum who can understand so much of TGM), there's more to playing the game than just making sure your alignments are all in order. There is also more to improving your game than just hitting practice balls, no matter what area of your game you are working on.

Developing your skills to the level you desire is important; you can't shoot 68 if you aren't good enough to shoot 68 . But having the skills required to shoot 68 is completely different from actually being able to shoot 68.

Very good points . . . that unfortunately I do resemble.

This could be interesting. Can I take part?
Alex

Originally Posted by 12 piece bucket First . . . Question: A lot of times I'm just trying to "hit it there" basically a straight shot. Should I instead of thinking "hit it there" think hit a draw there? I think right to left is more of my natural curve. But I can go both ways (don't do it Mike O!).

SHORT GAME

• Short chip shots are my strength. I'm pretty decent at hitting sandwedge chips to about 40 feet out.
• If I have to hit longer chips I typically have more trouble with distance control. I'd say my error is typically long.
• I can hit low wedges with some check pretty good
• High wedges are more of a problem for me. I don't do well with flops. I'm a low spinner type.
• I hit down on chips and pitches maybe too steep.
• 40-50 yard shots are tougher for me particularly if they have to carry something . . . come in too low and hot.
• I typically chip with sw, gap and 9 . . . I used to carry lob but no mo'. 48, 52, 56.
• I'm better at hitting shots hard than soft.
• I'm more snappy than sweepy.

How's that?

Bucket,

More good info. I think "hit it there" is correct as long as you choose your target based on your pattern. In fact, YES. Pick the smallest target you can. Use your imagination to see the flight.

OK, we now have another hole in your game to improve. The trouble with the low spinner (my fav. as well) is that it can be difficult to adjust to changing conditions. The spinner can react with a large variance based on the green condition (firmness, speed, grain, etc). You don't have to abandon your favorite shot, but you do need to learn another basic one. This shot should be softer with less spin, using trajectory to control roll. The method also uses the landing spot as the target, rather than the whole shot. The idea being, if you can control trajectory and landing spot, your short game will be more able to conform to the variety of conditions. You will be more able to take it on the road.

HB

Tell me about your putting. Include your assessment of your abilty under pressure. How do you read greens? Describe philosophy.