I agree that one should not think about line control when over the ball.
Whether one should be thinking about speed is up for debate.
"I think that there is a blend of technical prowess and art that makes a great putter. IMHO, it's also why two of the greatest technicians in the game were driven to the brink of insanity when putting: Moe Norman and Ben Hogan."
Norman and Hogan both had this blend.
Norman did not care about putting.
Hogan undervalued it.
Are you saying that Hogan wasn't an artist on the golf course?
And that neither golfer had that blend?
Is it possible that putting demands different technical attributes than the rest of golf?
I would love to one day see your video.
How about a TGM analysis of why Hogan couldn't putt, and/or his artistic deficiencies?
Bobby Locke
Ben Crenshaw
Dave Stockton
Billy Casper
Brad Faxon
Morris Hatalsky
Jack Nicklaus
Nancy Lopez
Alan Doyle
Loren Roberts
What do these putters have in common? They ALL have different styles.
I heard Dave Stockton say the other day that he thought Michelle Wie had a good stroke... "but it looks like she is TRYING TO MAKE THEM." He said something like, "just make a good putt, and let the ball get in the way of the hole." "Don't try to make it." Maybe this in TGMese is similar to STEERING, which is related to QUITTING.
I'm getting tired of Moe Norman being compared with the likes of Hogan etc. when talking about success in golf. These two aren't even in the same universe wrt golfing success and that's not meant to slag Moe in any way, that's just the facts.
Great to read I'm not the only one that feels ball logo alignment (to the hole) is crap. As if we need to introduce another alignment in to the equation!
Putting doesn't have to be part of golf-we're trying to put the ball into the hole with every shot that can reach it.
On the mental side: I read the Rotella book on putting and short game about always thinking that you will make the chip or putt vs leave it short or way past. I subscribe to the theory that the brain responds best to DOs rather than DONTs.
The reason IMO that Tiger and Jack are two of the best ever was their GUTS, the ability to WILL a putt into the hole.
New Zealander Bob Charles is often forgotten when it comes to lists of putting genius.
I have never seen anyone roll them in from everywhere for so long.
10-3-H Paw (Elbows Bent). A Stroke that has stood the test of time. 50 years or so.
I heard Dave Stockton say the other day that he thought Michelle Wie had a good stroke... "but it looks like she is TRYING TO MAKE THEM." He said something like, "just make a good putt, and let the ball get in the way of the hole." "Don't try to make it." Maybe this in TGMese is similar to STEERING, which is related to QUITTING.
I think that this is a good point in that "hole line" steering on breaking putts inevitably, in my hands, leads to misses! BUT some concept of distance to target is needed. Distance targets don't cause steering problems though. There was a recent article in golf monthly, i think,which showed benefit of putting whilst looking at hole throughout the entire stroke. Took less than 30 mins practice for a group of average players to outlag putt a similar group of players who spent the same 30 mins practice normal style. Effect not present on short putts though.
Not sure of quality of statistical analysis of their study but they claimed about 9 inch difference between two groups. ie one left putt 2.5 feet from hole, other 3.25 feet from hole. Not massive but it helps my lag putting alot, except where there are large up/downhill breaks. All i feel in my hands is the weight of putt that my eyes feed into coconut!
FORGET STROKE MECHANICS - helps me - but to get to next level will need to bring some analysis back into game, i think. Tiger's long putts in Hoylake were superb!!! Forget critics of the "patchy" greens - that is what they look like in summertime - he just putted well!!
Stan Utley says he is PROCESS ORIENTED, rather than TARGET ORIENTED when putting. He thinks one should have some mechanical thoughts, and if a good stroke is made, the putt will be good.
I would think you need to be one or the other. Mixing them... may cause a yip attack.
What makes putts? A combination of speed and line makes putts. How do you make more putts? Practice your mechanics, practice "target conscious" putting, Practice putting just as you play. After hours and hours of practicing the above, putting becomes pretty simple. Remember not to live in just one area of the putting game. Practice all three elements as Homer set forth.
What makes putts? A combination of speed and line makes putts. How do you make more putts? Practice your mechanics, practice "target conscious" putting, Practice putting just as you play. After hours and hours of practicing the above, putting becomes pretty simple. Remember not to live in just one area of the putting game. Practice all three elements as Homer set forth.
You should also practice reading greens or at least study how and put into practice green reading techniques. The best putting stroke in the world will miss most of the time if the putt is misread. The great putters are all great readers of the green and it is a skill that can be acquired.
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Steph
Distance is Magic; Precision is Practice.
You should also practice reading greens or at least study how and put into practice green reading techniques. The best putting stroke in the world will miss most of the time if the putt is misread. The great putters are all great readers of the green and it is a skill that can be acquired.
Hybrid Mode
