Putting Practice

[Dave Jackson]

I agree. Although, my original post had nothing to do with techniques for putting. It was how people practiced putting. Apparently people don't practice. Ha, not sure why I see most of them putting before a tournament or league round. If its to "warm up" then why not just do some jumping jacks or something else if practicing putting isn't needed.

I agree 100% that confidence is key. Without it you will miss even the shortest putts, however, I often hear people complain about being rusty from the winter (lack of play) which makes me think that practicing is important. I may play 1-2 times a week maybe 3 when I'm lucky with time constraints from work and family so I'm thinking putting practice will help keep up my confidence.

I watched Tom Southwick put his heart out at Charlton woods putting league and something tells me that he putts outside of a league or tourney play. I have a feeling that an ongoing putting league would do everyone good.

The original question I asked though was with intent to see how the good putters practice. If you're good and don't practice I don't wanna hear it!

Wanna watch some good putting, watch on youtube Anthon vs Heeren putting.

Tom gets practice by routinely beating me in putting games. Whore's, 21, you name it and he wins. As for playing, it's been quite some time since he played a single round... All you guys at the Charlton Woods putting league got worked by a guy who does not even play the game anymore. Do you really think it's practice?? I'm thinking technique is the answer...
So, go practice your technique.

[Titan Bariloni]

ha....true

[Matt Grayum]

So, how does one practice putting technique? New thread?

I'm one who would believe there is a BEST technique for everything. In a perfect world, what would that technique look like? For instance, Feldberg was teaching how to do the power grip on a full drive and was very detailed and everything had a reason.

I realize some people will have tendencies towards certain grips and body stances but is there a statistically proven technique that SHOULD work best for putting?

Besides confidence, I want to give myself the best chance of a putt consistently going in, by working on technique (as worm was saying).

[Andy Gallerani]

IMO putting seems to be all about the finger spring and maintaining a purely vertical line with your arm angle. Any deviation from vertical opens you up to missing l-r whereas if you are truly verical you just need to worry about height. Ive been using a somewhat more [bleep] grip lately to enable better finger spring and that seems to be working, especially for those damn 25-32 foot putts

[Karl Molitoris]

So, how does one practice putting technique? New thread?

I'm one who would believe there is a BEST technique for everything. In a perfect world, what would that technique look like? For instance, Feldberg was teaching how to do the power grip on a full drive and was very detailed and everything had a reason.

I realize some people will have tendencies towards certain grips and body stances but is there a statistically proven technique that SHOULD work best for putting?

Besides confidence, I want to give myself the best chance of a putt consistently going in, by working on technique (as worm was saying).

Matt,

While I applaud you on your quest for "perfection" (I usually do this also), it may come in the guise of something you're not looking for ! Case in point: Rick Berry perennially led the NBA in free throw shooting - yet did so using a 2-handed underhand shot! Now before he was successful doing it this way, that type of shot was chided (by many) as being "for girls" and "players who didn't have the strength to shoot 1-handed". Yet HE made it work for him...and led the league many years with it. So "perfection" may be 1) not what YOU would normally think it would be, 2) not what the best are now doing it as, and 3) may be something VERY specific to the person (as perfection may be "individualized")...or "perfect for you may not be perfect for me".

Karl

[Matt Grayum]

So, how does one practice putting technique? New thread?

I'm one who would believe there is a BEST technique for everything. In a perfect world, what would that technique look like? For instance, Feldberg was teaching how to do the power grip on a full drive and was very detailed and everything had a reason.

I realize some people will have tendencies towards certain grips and body stances but is there a statistically proven technique that SHOULD work best for putting?

Besides confidence, I want to give myself the best chance of a putt consistently going in, by working on technique (as worm was saying).

Matt,

While I applaud you on your quest for "perfection" (I usually do this also), it may come in the guise of something you're not looking for ! Case in point: Rick Berry perennially led the NBA in free throw shooting - yet did so using a 2-handed underhand shot! Now before he was successful doing it this way, that type of shot was chided (by many) as being "for girls" and "players who didn't have the strength to shoot 1-handed". Yet HE made it work for him...and led the league many years with it. So "perfection" may be 1) not what YOU would normally think it would be, 2) not what the best are now doing it as, and 3) may be something VERY specific to the person (as perfection may be "individualized")...or "perfect for you may not be perfect for me".

Karl

I'll keep working on it. I analyze everything and try and learn why it works or doesn't work the best. I might get the putter to fall into the basket, but statistically was it the best way it could be done. I want to increase my odds for getting putts to stick. I know, I know, hit the chains in the sweet spot and don't worry, but how do I make sure to hit the "sweet spot" everytime! Practice is my answer, but some people here are agreeing (and I agree partly) that confidence is key. I think they go hand in hand.

[John DeBois]

Some good resources that might help confirm/dispell any ideas that you are currently working with:

Disc Golf Review:
12 essential putting tips: http://www.discgolfreview.com/resources ... tips.shtml
Putting technique repair: http://www.discgolfreview.com/resources ... ml#putting

Ken Climo's how-to article:
http://www.kenclimo.com/howto_putt.htm

45 minute video of a Feldberg putting clinic:
http://vimeo.com/19847946

Cam Todd putting clinic video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtO3pwFesZ0


These sites have helped me a lot with working on my practice putt. Now I just need to find a way to transition the practice putt to the course. Lately my tournament putt looks like like a gust of wind took a paper plate off the ground and sent it in the general direction of a basket ... fun times

[Adam McGahey]

I haven't gone through all those links yet good stuff, but one thing I found interesting I never thought to do was Climo's advice on a windy day to try to land so you your putt will be in a tailwind which I'd much rather putt in than a strong headwind. Now if only all discgolf baskets had flags on them..

[Craig Cutler]

If we were that accurate wouldn't we want to land under the pin? haha.

Push Putt
Practice from 15-25 feet.
keep track of %'s out of 100. 15 footers. 90% is very very good.
20 minute sessions
All wind angles
develop a routine
(but do not torture yourself and your fellow golfers with a long stressful routine)
love to putt, if you hate it, it will be harder

[Karl Molitoris]

I agree with Craig (his 15-25'ers thing).

I heard (about 5 years ago now) that one of the Gateway stable guys (like 1010+ rated) was in a 4-round tournament and was "secretly" statistic'd by Dave Mac. Turns out that (the player) thought he "played pretty well". Maybe he did, but Mac said he missed something like 12 putts inside 25'. IFFFFF he had made HALF of those 12, he would have won going away.

Moral of the story is: Even really good players miss WAY too many putts. And I don't mean the 45'er that make the highlight reel. We tend to remember (and tell anyone in earshot range about) the bomb putt we made but it - in morbid reality - is erased by that 14'er we missed later the same day.

Karl

Ps: It's sort of like this...
I know a couple of PGA Touring Pros (of the 70's and 80's) where Freddy Couples was leading the tour with avg. driving distance of ~285-290yds, and they were asked you could have 1 of 2 things (A or B), which would it be...
A = increase your driving distance by 20yds per drive or
B = decrease your driving distance by 20yds BUT have 100% of your drives in the "correct half" of the fairway.
They both chose B.

The analogy to us in dg is...
Would you rather increase your driving distance by 50' or make 100% of your putts inside of 15'?

Putting is just SO important.

[Matt Grayum]

If we were that accurate wouldn't we want to land under the pin? haha.

Push Putt
Practice from 15-25 feet.
keep track of %'s out of 100. 15 footers. 90% is very very good.
20 minute sessions
All wind angles
develop a routine
(but do not torture yourself and your fellow golfers with a long stressful routine)
love to putt, if you hate it, it will be harder

Thanks for the input. I think I will be trying this idea for practice. I must get better.

[Chris Mergemekes]

practice the confidence it takes to make putts.

I like this.

I utilize all the methods that have been posted so far. I'll stack some putters from one spot and scatter from different locations. I approach each putt as it were my only one. If I shoot multiple putts from one location, it helps correct mistakes. I'll end a set with a group of putts from a distance that I'm confident that I can make. I'll use different makes and models too, because from 10/ 15/ 20 feet, It doesn't matter if a putter is stable, overstable, etc. since it's pretty much a straight shot to the chains. Depending on the distance, slope, and wind, I aim at different locations on the target. If it's the chains, I'll pick one link of a chain to aim at. I agree with 20 minute sets. For longer shots, one technique I utilize a lot is the "Doubles" technique: I'll use two putters/ approach discs, put the first one close, then run the other one. I once read something about remembering what it feels like physically to makie a putt and I have to say that at first it took some getting used to, but now, I know immediately after release, if it's going in, if I rushed, if I followed through, or if my aim was off.

Good post Matty!

[Josh Connor]

Get made fun of by your friends for not being able to putt for a few years. Worked wonders for me...

NDJ no more!

[Drew Smith]

If you visualize a monkey throwing poo, you've got it. It's kinda funny when you think about it. Every time from now on when you watch someone putt, think of that person as a monkey throwing poo.

[Dave Jackson]

Whoa Drew!!!!

It worked

[Sean Curcio]

If you visualize a monkey throwing poo, you've got it. It's kinda funny when you think about it. Every time from now on when you watch someone putt, think of that person as a monkey throwing poo.

Don't know if this will help me when I'm putting, but it will sure help me smile while watching others putt.

[Gary Cyr]

Practice is my answer, but some people here are agreeing (and I agree partly) that confidence is key. I think they go hand in hand.

Confidence comes with repetition. Not that I'm the poster child for great putting. We all know this is not the case. This year is the first year I have been taking time for true practice. Daily putting of 15' to 30's. Usually about 300 a day. And like Craig says (a great putter) from all angles. It's helped without a doubt. I feel like I can hit all my putts because I have been hitting them in the back yard. Bad habits do creep back in when under the pressure of Tournament play. But you can shake it off easier. Getting to the next level of play once you are in the range of a 940 player takes less play and more work. Practice putting is work. It's not as fun as playing a round with your buds. It's takes the dedication of keeping yourself off the course and in the backyard doing the work you need to become 980 or better.

[Drew Smith]

Yeah practice is king. Do 30 footers 100 times and the 50 footers look a lot easier.

What's this?

[Matt Grayum]

So there is the practice and confidence train of thought and the confidence only train of thought.

I believe practicing will bring confidence. Thanks for the input from everyone. I believe I need to start a practice regiment in my backyard. I'll let you know how it goes.

[Gary Cyr]

So there is the practice and confidence train of thought and the confidence only train of thought.

I believe practicing will bring confidence. Thanks for the input from everyone. I believe I need to start a practice regiment in my backyard. I'll let you know how it goes.

The hidden gem of confident putting is better relaxation on the tee. When you don't feel like you must absolutley park everything it makes driving much easier. I'm my opinion it leads to better driving.

[Matt Grayum]

So there is the practice and confidence train of thought and the confidence only train of thought.

I believe practicing will bring confidence. Thanks for the input from everyone. I believe I need to start a practice regiment in my backyard. I'll let you know how it goes.

The hidden gem of confident putting is better relaxation on the tee. When you don't feel like you must absolutley park everything it makes driving much easier. I'm my opinion it leads to better driving.

That's a good point, start a new thread called "driving practice"...

[Bobby Direnzo]

I think its just a natural gift from the gods.

[Dave Jackson]

If we were that accurate wouldn't we want to land under the pin? haha.

Push Putt
Practice from 15-25 feet.
keep track of %'s out of 100. 15 footers. 90% is very very good.
20 minute sessions
All wind angles
develop a routine
(but do not torture yourself and your fellow golfers with a long stressful routine)
love to putt, if you hate it, it will be harder

That's a damn good practice routine. 15-25' is it.

[John DeBois]

Another good link:

Avery and Jussi HD putting video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLowvHyhSWU

edited: thanks chris

[Chris Mergemekes]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLowvHyhSWU

[Matt Grayum]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLowvHyhSWU

Videos are well done and they hit on most of the same things we brought up in this thread... I can't wait to keep getting better.

Only issue with the video is that they spelled "Practice" wrong by spelling it "practise"... oh well, we are disc golfers after all...

[John DeBois]

Ummmm Discmania and Jussi are from Finland. In Finnish practise is used for the verb.

smfh

[Chris Mergemekes]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLowvHyhSWU

Videos are well done and they hit on most of the same things we brought up in this thread... I can't wait to keep getting better.

Only issue with the video is that they spelled "Practice" wrong by spelling it "practise"... oh well, we are disc golfers after all...

In the last two days, since I watched the video, and applying Avery's technique, I noticed a difference in my putting.

[Matt Grayum]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLowvHyhSWU

Videos are well done and they hit on most of the same things we brought up in this thread... I can't wait to keep getting better.

Only issue with the video is that they spelled "Practice" wrong by spelling it "practise"... oh well, we are disc golfers after all...

In the last two days, since I watched the video, and applying Avery's technique, I noticed a difference in my putting.

A difference for the better? ha, just messin.

What are you trying differently than before? Fan grip? Push put? Leg lift?

[Gary Cyr]

What are you trying differently than before? Fan grip? Push put? Leg lift?

Hitting the chains!