Putting

Without more info not much specific advise I can give, but I can point you to this thread about the putting mirror, could help you take a look at your setup: www.titleist.com/.../eyes-over-the-ball

I'd start with your setup, and narrow down issues from there.

It would be easier to help if we knew whether you're missing due to misreads or not starting the putt on the correct line for the speed you've chosen.

Short putts are all mental. Try not giving a darn and tap them in with one hand. You could start with gimme putts so if you miss it doesn't matter, but I find short putts more stressful if I take them too seriously.

Just put it in the hole and believe that you cannot miss. If you do, you won't.

Best short putt tip I had was look for black spot where ball was. Keeps head down. Most short putts ate missed because you peak.

At the end of every practice I have my golf team create the putting wheel, all 8 members have to sink a 3’ putt consecutively before practice is over. Then during the match I remind them that it’s just the wheel and it calms them down.

I've seen other people use this before on the putting green. I would lover to have one myself because short putts cause me 1-3 strokes per round.

www.pelzgolf.com/.../_PelzLearningAids.aspx

A lot of people miss short putts because they spend too much time reading things into a putt that are not there. In other words watching too much TV, with respect. Take a quick look from both sides of the hole and trust your stroke. Line the ball up on the line you expect it to break, always take the same practice stroke regardless of the distance and follow through on your stroke. We overthink in most cases when we putt. It is a matter of feel, stroke and speed. I never watch other people putt in my matches because we do not stroke the ball the same. I use to play with a older gentleman in his 80's who was a traveling salesman who played with Hogan and Snead along the east coast. An amateur who could really putt and a shot game to die for. Always told me what you see is what you get and just stroke the **** ball Chuck. He was right. Yes, he was a hustler.....learned a lot from him.....

You are absolutely correct Chuck. Your first decision is always the best once you think too much you will miss the put. ALWAYS trust your first look it is usually the right choice.

Had one of those good putting days today. Only had 23 putts today. Nine putts on the back nine, a lot of chips close to the pin and two back to back birdies. Actually missed three birdie putts which came up short. One of those days, but did win today's blitz. Game improving thru the short game. Managed a four over par and only had one double bogey.

no secret to making short putts as with other aspects of golf. PRACTICE and practice and some more practice.

If you subscribe to Titleist on YouTube or just search for their videos, Michael Breed has a lot of content on there that can assist you.

Try the putting clock.

Set up 6 balls around the clock at 12, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10. At 3 feet away. If you miss one start all over again.

You'll get so used to it you won't feel the pressure on the course.

You can move it back to 6 feet and set up a ball on ever hour. Do the same and you'll be safe from 6 feet and in.

Hope you fix it

#TeamTitleist

So far, there have been many good ideas posted. My $0.02 is to make certain 1) your putter face is square to the intended line at impact and 2) you strike putts VERY solid.

Skip has some great putting tips and drills that are simple and helpful.

I always used to miss short puts so took some time out to do some reading and analysis and came up with a new routine, courtesy of Dave Pelz and David Leadbetter. First of all, I thoroughly tested several new models and got myself a toe heavy putter (png Zing) with a shorter shaft length as I was missing putts to the left. Dave Pelz says if you use a putter that is shorter, with your eyes over the ball, there's less likelihood for your clubface to be open at impact as your stroke is flatter. Secondly, I draw alignment lines on my balls with a permanent pen. Thirdly, I bought one of those markers with the alignment lines. It's amazing to see how far off the line you are, until you mark, step back 2-3 paces behind your marker and see the true line. When you put the ball back on the green, adjust the alignment line on the ball so it's true to the line of the putt you want towards the hole. It's a revelation trust me. Fourthly, try this drill from David Leadbetter. No back swing, just "brush the ball" straight towards a practice hole, it's amazing how straight you can do this. I then replicate this straight hands towards the hole in my putting stroke. Two more simple nuggets now from Dave Pelz. If you're unsure of the line, always go high, a putt will never role sideways uphill on the break. Finally, the part of the green which gets the most foot traffic is immediately round the hole. Think of all the indulations from players foot marks. DP says a putt length which would end up 18" past the hole, statiscally goes in the most as its impacted the least by imperfections on the green. This routine has saved me at least 2-3 putts per round. I hole longer putts than ever and hardly ever miss a short one these days.

Practice often and find and use whatever magic works for you. Watching the Pros in tournaments, I find it interesting that most putts are constantly missed to one side of the hole or the other. During a round, it becomes difficult to "see" what is happening because the mind wanders. Thoughts seem to focus on what happened the previous hole or how to make up strokes on the holes that remain. I just started to briefly employ Vipassanna Breathing Meditation before each stroke. It clears the mind and relaxes the tension in the hands, arms, and muscles. Simply put, it is focusing on the rising and falling of the abdomen associated with each breath. Not the breath itself, just the rising and falling of the abdomen. All other thoughts melt away and your mind is totally in the present. I find it helps on the short putts as well as those longer lag putts. Oh yeah, did I mention practice often?

I try to think about it like this...there is very little physical effort to putt. the more you think about it, the harder it is going to get.

read it
roll it
hole it