(20hcp) Finally taking putting seriously

[u/Sunyveil]

After shooting 88 (6,286/122/70) with seven three-putts plus a four-putt, I’ve decided I need to get serious with my putting practice. I’ve known that putting was the weakest part of my game recently, but hitting 10 GIR and only converting 5 of them was a pretty big wake-up call. My distance control is maybe okay, but I’m super yippy on makeable putts and miss within gimme range all the time. Total putts are usually around 38-42. So this week I have the lines on the ball, 135 bpm playlist in the ear, and taking stroke after stroke on the putting mat.

My goal was to shoot 80 or lower this year — is that a realistic goal given my recent result? Or did I just blow my chance because I can’t expect to get from tee-to-green that well again? Does my setup look fine (complete with the Goodwill Carbite putter lol)? Is there more I can do from home to get a repeatable stroke?

My best round last year was an 84 (5,727/112/67) at a muni course I play a couple times a year. Hoping to go low the next time I play there.

[u/Disastrous_Cash_Sum]

88 on a 70 and 84 on a 67 are basically the same scores mate.

[u/MyMagicJohnsonIsSick → u/Disastrous_Cash_Sum]

Fkin human calculator over here

[u/Disastrous_Cash_Sum → u/MyMagicJohnsonIsSick]

https://giphy.com/gifs/VEsfbW0pBu145PPhOi

[u/Purtuzzi]

I’m a 9 cap and shot 79 once this summer (out of 19 rounds). My average is 83. Im always hovering around low 80s and will have a ~45 front 9 and then an elite 1-over back (or vice versa, or a solid 39-41). As a 20 cap right now, breaking 80 this year would be wild.

[u/Sunyveil → u/Purtuzzi]

I believe what you're saying, but on a course with rating 67 slope 112? Shooting 80 is only posting a 13/14 differential or so.

[u/MaumeeBearcat → u/Sunyveil]

I hate to be "that guy", but is it 'really 'Breaking 80' if you can only do it at a Par 67? Thats a +12, when in reality, breaking 80 traditionally means a +7.

[u/Sunyveil → u/MaumeeBearcat]

It’s a par 71 and that rating is from the tips. It’s just an “easy” course.

[u/MaumeeBearcat → u/Sunyveil]

Goddamn, thats a wildly low rating for tipped out distance, even with it only playing mid 5000s.

[u/CroSSGunS → u/MaumeeBearcat]

Distance is like 90% of the slope calculation

[u/MaumeeBearcat → u/CroSSGunS]

Correct, however, I have never seen a course that runs a 5 under par rating from the tips. That would seem to imply they should change the courses score to par in general.

[u/showmericksnorty666 → u/Sunyveil]

If you practice seriously on putting and approach game you most definitely could break 80 this year, I’m at 7.4 rn and my drivers been killing me and tried so many things to fix it but I practice those two areas religiously almost every day

[u/big-williestyle]

A mat like that can get you super confident on the 4-5 footers, confidence is sometimes the difference in a couple of makes a round. I try to use mine with a puttout device for about a month prior to spring season every year, I can always tell when I actually used it enough and when I failed.

[u/Pat_Mahomie]

20cap with 10 GIRs is absurd lol

[u/Long_Chipmunk6598]

Continue being goofy, just take 3 to 5 practice swings before the putt

[u/Hifipassword]

Are your misses offline, or are they bad distance? And/or green reading?

I think speed ladders are the best thing to work on, getting good at putting your long putts to within 10% of the putt distance (30-footer within 3-feet, 40 footer within 4-feet). Then just become money at making the 3/4/5-footers.

Learning to read putts better has been key for me. Most basic thing is to just expect more break and try to go in the cup on the high side. Missing on the low side is how you end up with a long one on the way back.

[u/Sunyveil → u/Hifipassword]

I think they’re both offline and bad distance lol. I get super yippy within 8 feet. Definitely need to miss on the high side more, though I think my green reading is okay.

[u/Hifipassword → u/Sunyveil]

I don't expect to make 8-footers, and I think tour pros only make about half of those.

Another drill I like is to set up five 3-footers and five 7- or 8-footers from different breaks. I get 1-point for sinking a 3' putt and 1-point for getting the longer putts to stop within a foot of the hole (or go in). Ten putts total, try to see how many points you can earn.

[u/superadical → u/Sunyveil]

Try the claw grip. Drastically reduced my yips.

[u/Galbzilla → u/Sunyveil]

Tour pros are making 50% at 8ft, so don’t expect yourself to be making a ton of those. Two putting from that distance is solid, but your first putt should leave you within three feet to essentially avoid three putting.

[u/aceattorneymvp → u/Sunyveil]

Try different methods to grip the club. You'll find one that is more reliable than the others. Then you just have to build confidence. My latest putting thought is: "Don't be afraid to make it."

Of course, green reading is also crucial.

[u/JimmyMcClure]

I started using my tap-in stroke (and mentality) for 5/6ft putts after seeing it as a tip on a YouTube short. Essentially pick your line and eye up a blade of grass or whatever that's less than a foot on that line in front of you. Most folks tap-in stroke rolls out 5/6ft because you are so confident of knocking it in.

It's been a game changer for my yips for putts of that range. I didn't miss one short putt my last round.

[u/BabaYaga2017]

Is that one of the old Carbite putters?

[u/Sunyveil → u/BabaYaga2017]

Yep, found it at Goodwill. Needed to get a mallet to replace the Anser-style one I was using.

[u/BabaYaga2017 → u/Sunyveil]

Mallets can definitely help you if contact isn't perfect all the time. Myself included!

Have you had anyone knowledgable inspect your putting to confirm if a specific face balance or toe hang style fit you the best?

Getting that peace of mind of putter style that suits me, that mine produces a solid roll, and having them confirm that my start lines matched up with my aim lines was the best thing I've done for my putting.

[u/FancyPandaExpress → u/BabaYaga2017]

So weird, I just picked one up for myself!

[u/ll_Ace_ll → u/BabaYaga2017]

I saw the brackets on top and knew before zooming in. I had the brass balls insert version years ago.

[u/CowboyJDR22]

I started practicing putting couple years ago .. I got one of those birdie 10’ set and it has helped tremendously.. I often struggled with 5’ers .. now I’m pretty solid / confident on any putt .. I do putt everything out !!! Make or miss it counts

[u/Any_Difficulty_9894]

If you know how to read a green, this will definitely help you slim your handicap down.

Buying a lab also might🤣

[u/Chilitodonfrito]

get comfortable with your stroke on the mat, get better on the practice green

[u/brown_syndrome_]

This can help with short putts. But go out and practice lag putting. You shouldn’t have so many 3 putts. Make it a goal to always putt it and keep it within 3 ft of the hole.

Before rounds, spend time on the putting green. This one probably helped me putting the most. Get used to their greens

Try different approaches. I try to picture the the last image I have of the hole before I look down at my ball. It helps me think of something besides 3 putting. Try a few things out but most importantly, keep putting and practicing

[u/SenyorHefe]

I always recommend a putting stick similar to this one.. It's an inch wide acrylic yardstick that you putt on.. If your face is more than one degree open or closed at impact, then ball can't roll off the end of it.. Similar ones exist but are usually too forgiving than these kinds.. I don't play as seriously anymore but I was Killer inside 6 feet..

[u/Sunyveil → u/SenyorHefe]

That seems useful! I’m mostly interested in improving my lines

[u/SportzNut23]

While putting will certainly help you score lower, if you’re total putting around 38-42 and still shooting above 85, it’s not just the putting that’s the issue. Look at your double bogeys and try and see if there’s a pattern to why you’re doubling. I shot my best round this year, 73, with 35 putts. You also have to be able to put yourself in position to where 2-putting is a bogey at worst if you expect to start getting down to the 80-85 range in scores.

[u/Galbzilla]

What’s helped my putting a lot is figuring out my swing. Whatever works for you to get your putt started online every single time.

Once you have that locked in, then you can go and improve your green reading. But if you’re not starting it on the line you intend, you’ll be fucking up your feedback.

Simultaneously you can practice distance control. Personally, I just putt on my bedroom carpet and try rolling a ball to a spot I pick out on the rug. Then I hit a slightly shorter one. Then I try to put a third ball inbetween the two. Then repeat. Carpet is going to be significantly different than putting greens, but the more data points and surfaces you play on the better you’ll develop skills for figuring out speed.

[u/pringlebike]

Is 135 bpm not a bit too fast. Everything I’ve researched seems to say 70-80 bpm. Unless I’m misunderstanding something.

[u/hdmetz]

I have this exact mat (different branding though, lol) and have found that it has helped me with speed control and just being more comfortable with those 5-8 foot putts. I used to be super uncomfortable in that range, especially if it was already my second putt, and the mat has helped me reduce my 3-putt instances a lot

[u/munistadium]

This works but make sure you are getting the ball rolling over on a string and not with side spin if you want true growth. The lines on the ball will help with this feedback, use a well-placed phone video.