COMMUNITY

Assuming I have the time, I usually take 3 or 4 balls to the green, place them around the hole (3ft). Putt until I get all 3 or 4 in. After that I place them at 6',12' and 18'. While I am trying to hole the puts, the main concern is on distance. Worry less about missing and worry more about leaving putt way short or blowing by the hole.
On the 6,12 &18 thing, I tr to do it on a flat area, a downhill and an uphill. It just helps me get a feeling for the green speeds.

If I have more time, I will put the balls down around the hole at 3ft, make all three... move them back to 6', repeat move back to 9' etc.

Again, on the 6ft and less puts, I am worried about getting it in the hole, on the longer puts, I am more concerned with distance (< 1 foot)

Jack Nicklaus had the best tip of all.

On the practice green, the very last thing you do before going to play is to hit (and make) a bunch of 2-foot putts. Just put a few balls around the hole and putt them all in.

That way, you can walk to the first tee knowing that you can make the last putt on the hole.

i try and save putting for last. mostly i'm just trying to get a feel for the speed. i'll also put 5 or 6 balls in a circle anywhere from 4-6 feet from the hole to hit putts i have a chance at making and usually they'll give me different breaks. if i have time i try and find a spot to hit some downhill putts to get that feel too.

Yep, make a bunch of shorties. It keeps me from tensing up and being nervous over the 2- and 3-footers, the range which tends to determine if I shoot 78 or 85.

WOW.....funny, th eold saying you learn something new everyday, well I just changed my routine!

the only thing I try to learn on the practice green before a round is the speed. if I can get the balls I'm putting to go equal distance, I'm good. sometimes, I'll just putt toward the fringe of the putting green.

this suits my game because I'm not knocking down flags (generally speaking). if I can 2 putt or less on most holes, it's a good day on the greens

Yes ... speed first, shorties second. That's my full routine when I have the time. I even try to a quick version of Harvey Penick's 30-29-28-27-26 drill just to get a feel for the speed, then jar a bunch of 2- to 4-footers.

I'll also putt to the fringe from 20 or 30 feet, forcing the focus on speed and not on a hole.

But making a bunch of short putts is really important for me. It always helps my confidence before teeing off. It makes me feel like if I can't hit the ball, at least I can try scrambling hard for pars.

Well I see some of us do the same. I putt distance when possible not hole then put in some 2-3 ft putts for confidence. Seems to help as on days I don't get to do this I will usually have a couple 3 putts I would not normally see.

If I only have a few minutes before teeing off; I'd lag putt from 30' then concentrate to sink those 3-4 feet putts.
Lag putt gives you a good feel for distance, sinking a bunch of 3'-4' putts will give you confidence.

Very Nice, I like this alot. go out there to play after you have made 10 or 20 putts even if they were 5 foot putts. if you can not hit the line from 5 feet what makes you think you can from 20 feet away? Many times I don't even putt at a hole, just pick a spot on the green to try and feel the speed.

I usually start at about 30 feet and try to lag putt amout ten shots to get the speed of the greens then I go to 10 feet and put for the hole . Just before I leave the green I drop afew balls around the hole and drop some putts from short range to build my short putt confidence.

:)