Looking for ways to be more proficient on the green?

Question

I have a hard time estimating distance, power, and angle while putting. Are there any excercises or drills that will help me make more puts?

Answer 1

I will practice using at a tee or other very small item in the ground as a target. I have seen a device you could rig up which has a string running about a foot over the ball running toward your target. Then you prop up a small mirror at an angle behind your putting line, so you can see if your head is over the ball at address, and that you take the putter back square. Striking the ball squarely and following through straight toward the target are the biggest putting problem I have.

Answer 2

Here's my input - these have helped me for over 40 years!

The first "exercise", often over-looked, is to find a surface to practice on that matches the speed of the greens you will be playing. It may be a carpet at home or, hopefully, a practice green at your club. Don't practice for improving your length and slope control where there is a big speed difference - for example the practice green at my club is always well watered, soft, slow and smooth, but the course greens can be dry, hard, fast and bumpy!

For accuracy and building a good stroke, find level ground and practice hitting very small targets from varying distances, and at varying speeds. This is a good carpet practice since you are not working on distance control!

For distance control try "In-line putting": find a level part of a "matching speed" green and putt out several balls each about a foot apart, starting with the first about 3 feet from the hole. Increase the distance between the balls as your distance control improves. As you get farther away, make your ball stop within a foot or so behind the hole - if you don't get it in.

For reading slopes try "clock-putting": find a sloping part of a "matching speed" green and putt out a ring of balls arranged around the hole (as in the numbers on a clock-face). Increase the distance from the hole as your confidence builds, and also practice on different slopes.

If your practice green does match the speed of your course greens, arrange to meet someone well before your tee off time and play a competitive putting game before you go out - to fine-tune your control while having the competitive edge that will be there when you putt during your round!

Hope these help!

Answer 3

To work on distance stand over your ball on the practice green and use pennys, toss them to the hole and that wil give the feel your looking for.

When you read a put find out what kind of grass is on the greens and then you can make better putts. There are difrent kinds of grass some follow the sun and others that stand straight. These are some tips to look for while on the green.

Answer 4

There are ton's of putter drills, all of which are worthless if you don't retain the information. You need a routine.

Pay attention to alignment, grip, ball position, posture, and the stroke that your using. You need to establish a good routine and make sure your using that routine on every putt, this establishes good muscle memory.

If you address the ball different every time or have the ball in a different position or your not aligned correctly your never going to be efficient.

This will make your practice sessions more valuable when taking on the course.

Answer 5

The cheapest and easiest way is to practice at home under less than ideal conditions. I was having trouble with putts because every courses greens are different with regards to speed, slope, grass, green size, grass height, and moisture.

Practice putting at home on your carpet. This is different but gets you to work on pace and accuracy. Then practice on a hardwood or vinyl floor. This will get you to also hit it straight and work on your speed. You will be surprised how your feel of a green has improved after this.

Good luck.

Answer 6

We have a putting green in our garden - and I find I am pretty good. But the pressures of the course make it an entirely different scenario. I lose confidence in my putting when I really need to hole it. So, I think a big secret is to relax, be confident and concentrate on watching the ball once you have got your line.

Answer 7

learn how to set up for a putt properly and stick with it. Practice putting to a tee or a coin on the practice green or try to putt from one end of the green to the other to devolop a sense of speed/power. Putting is about mechanics and mostly about feel, it takes time to ingrain the feel, be patient and be consitant. good luck

Answer 8

Putting is probably the hardest thing in golf because it's not ever the same, every green will be different and even the same greens can be different at different times of day. Just practice, practice and practice some more.