GolfHos

I know that you use your shoulders and not your hands to putt.
I don't know if my arms should be straight and stiff, loose, close to my body, or even bent at the elbows.  Everybody seems to have a different style.
What do you recommend!

Depends on how you miss putts.... long, short, wide??

At the moment it is everyway!!!!
I really lost a lot of confidence with my putter at the moment.

Hmmm... what sort of putter are you using??

A very expensive two ball odessy putter. ;D

LOL

I find that the technique for using a two ball as opposed to say, a centre shaft is slightly different.  Often a two ball is heavier than the Centre Shaft as well.

Generally what you need to remember is not to grip to tightly.  A firm grip is all that is needed. You arms should remain relaxed, not tense and ideally you want to turn with your shoulders.  A longer swing is often better than a short jerky swing...

Do you think that I should bring the putter straight back at the same level, or bring it back, in an arch, lifting it up a bit.

Straight back and level, you shouldn't try and concsiously lift it up... That will happen naturally...

Well at least I am doing that right.
I noticed that Russell brings his back in an arch.

Is he a good putter?

He is, he has changed his odessey putter to a blade one, and is doing better.

I like the odessey, as it is weighted, and I don't wobble on the back swing.

I was putting  :airquotes: fairly :airquotes: well today. I found beer helped.

tight y, slight forward press, all shoulders, head down...

Disclaimer: I am not God's gift to the putting green.

Honestly, whichever method and stroke mechanic set you choose, the thing that most benefited me was reading the green to get a desired line, then forgetting about that line and focusing solely on feeling the right stroke to impart the desired pace.

I realize some don't like Bob Rotella, but his way of focusing on making the best stroke you can and NOT on the results of the putt (whether you make or miss) really do help a lot of people.  My stroke is smoother, freer and typically better when I just try to execute to the best of my ability, with no thought as to consequences.  The times I do think about results, tension creeps in and easiness departs.  I try to never think "I need this putt to avoid double-bogey" or similar.  I read it, I get a sense for the feel of it, then I try to replicate that feel with the ball in the way.  Period.

A few drills that seem to make me better (until I get lazy and recede):
1. Putt to a target that isn't a hole.  A tee stuck in the green, a scar, anything.  I seem to putt more freely.
2. Putt to the edge of the green, thinking just about pace.  There's no pinpoint target and especially no hole to miss, so you relax and also work only one skill (pace, not green-reading).
3. Putt to the hole from three feet away and below the hole.  A lot.  You'll face these, they're slightly miss-able, but you'll make tons of them.  Builds a large stock of positive memories of your ball dropping into the hole.  Calms you when you do have a three-footer to save par.

Wow! People might start confusing GH for a real golf forum. :D

Most certainly if Clive shills about his putter. [sm_devil]

Clive's not shillin'. He's just gellin' like Magellan.

Shillin' like a villain.

Uh-oh. ;)

1. Draw a line on the ball and line up your putt with it.
2. Concentrate on your putting mechanics, not the ball going in the cup.
3. If there is a golf store nearby, practice putting with a Heavy putter. It forces you to use your shoulders.
4. I had a 2-ball putter but I had trouble lining up the putt. I found a mallet style putter with a line on the top that made it easier. YMMV.

Thanks for the info DancesWithGolf, and welcome to golfhos!!! ;D

Welcome, DancesWithGolf!

 [sm_beertoast]

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Ditto! (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v285/Minnesnowta_Girl/Smileys/Welcome.gif)

Newb here and not a great golfer but I try not to get to wrapped up in all the technical advice.  I keep 3 things in mind, I try to put to within 3 feet of the hole, bring my putter slow and start forward slow gradually increasing speed until I strike the ball and last I try to imagine I am tossing ball'd up paper into a garbage can underhand from across the room.  I have lots of problems on the course, putting is the least of my worries.  ???

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No worries, mate. Soon putting will be a major problem. :)
Welcome to Golfhos

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Let the clubhead follow the ball down the line of the putt. It's simple and can really help.

2 noobs in a putting thread?  nice.

Jules, sorry I'm really late to this thread.

Here's my advice, FWIW.  First, get a range ball.  Second, go to a part of the green where there are no holes.  Third, put the range ball down so the red line is pointing toward an imaginary target.  Fourth, roll the range ball and watch the red line. 

If it looks blurry or wobbly, go through all the steps again, and try to make the red line look perfectly focused and rolling in a perfectly straight line.  Once you can make it do that, do it over and over again. 

The key to good putting is to put a good roll on the ball.  The exercise outlined above will let you know whether you are able to do that.  Once you can consistently put a good roll on the ball, go back to putting at targets and see what happens. 

Good luck.

Thanks Fisherking, I will try that!!!! :D

Jules:

Your friend Walfredo can attest to the fact that I'm horrible until I'm about 40 feet off the the green, but my chipping & putting are OK.  I feel the below advice is quite good, putting both pieces together.  Putting is usually the least of my worries on the course also.  The main thing is tension is bad.  I laugh at myself, but sometimes I think of Stars Wars & Obi Won telling me that the force is with me when I'm putting, then I relax & make a good putt.

so whatever happened from this ?

My putting has improved, I feel more confident with my putter now.

I still have days though, when I feel like I am three putting all day. [sm_disgust] [sm_disgust]

According to Chubbs Peterson;  Just tap it in.