I suck at putting...please help

[SossMan]

When I go to practice putting, I end up eff'ing around and not really helping my stroke.

What are some really good drills I can use at the practice green (not before a round per se, but in between rounds too)

Are there any good products that can help me? I hear the putting arc is supposed to be good, but I have never used it.

I don't know my handicap, but my typical round on an normal (easy) course is 90-95 with the occasional low 80s (once every 5 or 6 rounds) and the occasional 100 on a tough course.

[SlyGuy]

Don't practice holing long putts. If you want to practice lag putting, putt to a spot, the edge the practice green for instance.

Practice sinking 12 feet and in.

[LuckOfTheDraw]

[ QUOTE ]
Don't practice holing long putts. If you want to practice lag putting, putt to a spot, the edge the practice green for instance.

Practice sinking 12 feet and in.

[/ QUOTE ]

I've always been fond of sticking a few tees in the ground and putting to them. You can practice any distance putts with this method, and this saves you the trouble of coping with a crowded practice green too.

[Scorcho]

The only thing I can add to all of this is to remove the mini flagstick from the practice green hole you are shooting at. There's no point in practicing on a hole with a stick in it since you never do it on the real greens.

[ghostface]

i rarely putt to holes when i am practicing my putting. instead i put a quarter on the green and try to roll the ball over the quarter.

instead of the ball stopping when it hits the hole i can see how far the ball rolls by the coin. i aim to have the ball stop within 18 inches of the quarter if i am practicing a putt <10 feet.

[DDH]

Also, like every golf shot, routine. Do the same thing every time. Approach your putt the same way, set your self up the same way, take your practice stroke the same way. Every putt. Every putt I make, I set my line and approach the ball in the same fashion, every time. So when I'm standing over the putt, I'm not thinking at all about the line. I'm able to concentrate solely on just hitting the ball solid.

[jwg152]

I think the best advice (from Bobby Locke, arguably the best putter of all time) is to hit and listen.

[SonOfWestwood]

A couple that I like are:

-Trying to putt to the edge of the fringe from various distances, to help with longer, lag putts.

-Setting 3 balls on the same line, each one about 5-6 feet further than the prior, to help get an idea of the speed of the greens.

[esad]

My no frills drill for improving your putting.

Note: This is kinda a Pelzish approach but I was doing it before I ever heard of him. He's a stealing bastard.

Find a hole on the practice green where there is some slope but not a lot. Just a gentle slope.

Get two balls and place them at the 6:00 position to the hole where the 6:00 position equals a straight uphill putt.

Place the balls at a distance that makes you nervous. If that's 2 feet then 2 feet, if 3 feet then 3 feet.

Putt the two balls into the hole. You should concentrate on two things when you do this; 1. Making a smooth putting stroke, 2. Hitting the ball in the center of the putter head.

Now move to the 3:00 position and do the same thing. Then the 12:00 and 9:00 in that order. Repeat around in a circle twice. Doing this you'll have an uphill, left to right, right to left and downhill putts.

Now go the the 4:30 position and do the same thing. Go to 1:30, 10:30 and 7:30. Repeat twice. That should be a total of 32 putts.

Now double the distance (4-6ft most likely) and do the same thing again. That's 32 more putts for a total of 64. Concentrate on making a good putting stroke and making every putt.

Do this anytime you can and you'll become a better putter.

Final note: People who are good putters believe that they are good putters. This will help you to believe that you are a good putter. Putting is at least 50% mental, for some it's 90%.

[dug]

Three footers. Place 4-6 balls in a circle around the hole approx. three feet. If you miss, start over until you make them all. Repeat. My business partner is the best putter I've ever played with. His college golf coach made them make 100 three footers before they could play in the afternoons. Worked for him. Good luck.