COMMUNITY

First, let me start by thanking all of you for your responses and tips. I have to admit, Friday night, I went to the course and practised putting for about an hour and a half. When I went to the courseve

First, let me start by thanking all of you for your responses and tips. I have to admit, Friday night, I went to the course and practised putting for about an hour and a half. When I went to the course yesterday, I felt MUCH more confident over my putter. It didn't translate in to the lowest putting scores of the year, but did result in 5 one putts. Unfortunately, that was offset by one really bad putting effort (a 4 putt) and one really bad luck hole (4 putt that was NOT my fault).

Ok, I will explain the "Not my fault" putt. I had a decent lag up a hill from about 40 feet. Of course, now I was over the hole with a little 5 footer going back down. The green was in BAD shape. Very bad! I tapped the ball, it hit a spot in the green and went straight up and hit my putter a second time and it shot past the hole on the way downhill. I recovered on the shot back up, but that was two strokes on one stroke because it hit my putter twice! hahah. Oh well.

I am going to continue to pound away on the practise green and try to regain the confidence I need to have over the putts. After a few more sessions, I will work the chips in to the routine.

Thanks again for all of your comments!

-St

First, let me start by thanking all of you for your responses and tips. I have to admit, Friday night, I went to the course and practised putting for about an hour and a half. When I went to the courseve

First, let me start by thanking all of you for your responses and tips. I have to admit, Friday night, I went to the course and practised putting for about an hour and a half. When I went to the course yesterday, I felt MUCH more confident over my putter. It didn't translate in to the lowest putting scores of the year, but did result in 5 one putts. Unfortunately, that was offset by one really bad putting effort (a 4 putt) and one really bad luck hole (4 putt that was NOT my fault).

Ok, I will explain the "Not my fault" putt. I had a decent lag up a hill from about 40 feet. Of course, now I was over the hole with a little 5 footer going back down. The green was in BAD shape. Very bad! I tapped the ball, it hit a spot in the green and went straight up and hit my putter a second time and it shot past the hole on the way downhill. I recovered on the shot back up, but that was two strokes on one stroke because it hit my putter twice! hahah. Oh well.

I am going to continue to pound away on the practise green and try to regain the confidence I need to have over the putts. After a few more sessions, I will work the chips in to the routine.

Thanks again for all of your comments!

-St

I little practice routine that might help:
Take five balls, hit 5 putts in a row from each side of the hole (if you are looking at a clock, start at the 6, then 9, then 12, then 3). At each location start over if you miss a putt. Start at about 3ft. If you have time, back up and do it again at 5 ft. After a few months, you can start at 5ft.

Next, for lag putting. Pick a hole a good 30-40 feet away (you can very the distance). hit 5 putts close enough to two-putt. Do the same thing the other direction (you learn how the slope and grain effect the roll). Do this until you two-putt all five in both directions.

Next, do the same thing with short chips. Hit chip shots until you get up and down for all five shots. Eventually, you like this drill so much it will be hard to stop even after you accomplish the up and downs 5 times, so make it harder and do it twice before you stop.

If you will do these three routines every time you practice (Before going to the range). It will only take you about 30 minutes once you get used to it. I promise it will do much more good than slamming balls for 30 minutes. Once you get to the range, be smart there too. Work hard to be accurate

I little practice routine that might help:
Take five balls, hit 5 putts in a row from each side of the hole (if you are looking at a clock, start at the 6, then 9, then 12, then 3). At each locatiowith your short irons first, and work you way up to long irons and driver. You can hit the best drive in the world, but if you can't hit the green from 120 yards it doesn't matter. As you get closer to the hole the shot becomes more important.
Sorry for the long response, I hope it helps some.

BTW, I was shooting over 100 almost every round 2 years ago. I shot a 77 two weeks ago, and an 82 this week. I mainly stuck to the routines described about especially the last 1.5 years.

I little practice routine that might help:
Take five balls, hit 5 putts in a row from each side of the hole (if you are looking at a clock, start at the 6, then 9, then 12, then 3). At each location start over if you miss a putt. Start at about 3ft. If you have time, back up and do it again at 5 ft. After a few months, you can start at 5ft.

Next, for lag putting. Pick a hole a good 30-40 feet away (you can very the distance). hit 5 putts close enough to two-putt. Do the same thing the other direction (you learn how the slope and grain effect the roll). Do this until you two-putt all five in both directions.

Next, do the same thing with short chips. Hit chip shots until you get up and down for all five shots. Eventually, you like this drill so much it will be hard to stop even after you accomplish the up and downs 5 times, so make it harder and do it twice before you stop.

If you will do these three routines every time you practice (Before going to the range). It will only take you about 30 minutes once you get used to it. I promise it will do much more good than slamming balls for 30 minutes. Once you get to the range, be smart there too. Work hard to be accurate

I little practice routine that might help:
Take five balls, hit 5 putts in a row from each side of the hole (if you are looking at a clock, start at the 6, then 9, then 12, then 3). At each locatiowith your short irons first, and work you way up to long irons and driver. You can hit the best drive in the world, but if you can't hit the green from 120 yards it doesn't matter. As you get closer to the hole the shot becomes more important.
Sorry for the long response, I hope it helps some.

BTW, I was shooting over 100 almost every round 2 years ago. I shot a 77 two weeks ago, and an 82 this week. I mainly stuck to the routines described about especially the last 1.5 years.

Don't buy the $12 bucket of balls. Just work on chipping and putting. That is what will help you break 90. I shoot in the low 80's and I can't remember the last time I bought a bucket of balls. I go to the course, chip and putt, and if some one leaves a few balls on the range i'll go hit a few shots. Mainly with my SW, PW, 7 iron, and Driver. No reason to waste your time hitting every club in your bag. SW and Driver are specialty clubs, PW and 7i should give you confidence for your short irons and longer irons (respectively). Sometimes I'll switch it up and hit 9i, 6i instead of PW, 7i. That is good to do as well. But the big thing is committing most of your practice time to chipping and putting. If you will devote yourself to this, I promise you it will help your game.

Don't buy the $12 bucket of balls. Just work on chipping and putting. That is what will help you break 90. I shoot in the low 80's and I can't remember the last time I bought a bucket of balls. I go to the course, chip and putt, and if some one leaves a few balls on the range i'll go hit a few shots. Mainly with my SW, PW, 7 iron, and Driver. No reason to waste your time hitting every club in your bag. SW and Driver are specialty clubs, PW and 7i should give you confidence for your short irons and longer irons (respectively). Sometimes I'll switch it up and hit 9i, 6i instead of PW, 7i. That is good to do as well. But the big thing is committing most of your practice time to chipping and putting. If you will devote yourself to this, I promise you it will help your game.