Sam's Golf Improvement Strategy

Putting Targets

Putting Goal :   To roll the ball freely and to putt with no tension or fear.  To be more artistic on the greens rather than too technical and mechanical.

Putting targets:  To consistently complete the Dirty Dozen Test.

Putting Practice at Woburn 19th June 09

Putting practice using the mirror.  Working really hard on getting alignment correct and posture.  Making sure I'm keeping my shoulder blades down and my posture really good.  Feeling like I'm really aware of my spine and sternum, which stays very steady, and feel like my left shoulder is working around, not up and down. In the downswing, again feel like the shoulder is working around, not down.  Tend to hit a push if the shoulder works down and under.  When the right shoulder works around and the club feels like it lags slightly I hit really good putts

Putting Practice 28 Jan 09

Putting with my eyes shut. Helps me focus on the target and trust my feel. Focus on the target, trust it, let it go freely. I seem to roll the ball more freely with my eyes shut. I paint a better picture in my mind and then let the putt go into the picture. 

With my eyes open I feel like I am getting too much information and I get overloaded. This seems to result in me getting tense over the ball. This doesn't happen with my eyes closed.

Practice with the impact ball. Keeps the stroke long and low and keeps the putter working outside the hands. Make sure posture is correct. Shoulder blades down, weight going down through ankles. Don't let weight get too far forward over the ball.

Putting Practice 16 July 07

Putting practice. Just roll the logo line end over end to the target! Its really that simple. Practice rolling it end over end down the line. This can be done without a perfect stroke!

Practice the stroke without the ball, but imagine striking the ball and getting that pure roll

Lighter putter definately better, and also no line on putter but use the line on the ball. This is the way I putted in The English in 95. Just roll the ball the best you can!

Make sure the left wrist is not bowed 'up'. For some reason when the left wrist is bowed above the neutral position, the stroke feels horrible and is much less consistent. The good feeling is the 'Seve' feeling from the short game. The hands feel low and the toe of the putter feels 'up'. Flat putter !

Putting Practice 11 Jun 08

If the ball is coming off the bottom of the blade and the strike is not solid, check that the stroke is starting with the blade moving back first and the stroke is slightly soft and wristy. Don't let it get wooden. The blade goes back with the hands and then the through stroke feels like it's all body.

Also check alignment. Same 'not solid' feeling can come from setting up aligned left with the shoulders and or feet.

Longer putter is definately better in terms of getting the feelings in Stans book. That lighter Ping putter also seems easier to get started back on line. Also seems easier and simpler to see the line of the putt with no line on the ball or on the putter. No confusion when looking back to the ball. Just 'see' the line into the hole on the grass and stroke it down that line. 

If using the line, on breaking putts always hit the ball just on the 'low' side of the lie on the ball.

Putting Practice 08 Jan 08

Missing short putts can be caused by not swinging the putter back with the left hand. Make sure the putter goes back with the left hand, then is swung back through with the body leading, not the hands. The feeling is the same as all other parts of the game. The putter is released with the body turning back through, not with the hands. The 'mantra' is, ' Back with the left hand, through with the body.' Critical Variables as Foci of awareness. The line to the hole The face angle of the putter The path of the stroke ------------------

Putting Practice

Putting. Crucial, crucial, crucial!! Make sure the right arm and elbow is tucked in and the clubhead is swinging outside the hands. Practice hitting putts right hand only to get the feeling and also hitting putts with the Impact Ball.