GolfHos

How does everyone putt? Do you line up your putt from behind, pick a spot in front of the ball to aim at or just wing it?

I tend to look at the line for a couple seconds and get a feel for the line. Then as I stand over the putt I make the small adjustments. I am not a great putter but I am pretty close to the line most of the time. Once in a while I get a putt that fools me and I stand there wondering where the break was or that I didn't see the one that was there.

I'm a feel player all the way.  I like to walk the line of my putt then get behind it, pick a point and just trust it.  I don't think about the line at all once I'm over the ball.  At that point I'm thinking 100% about speed.

But I usually have 34+ putts per round too so what do I know.  I'm hitting more GIRs these days though so 34 today is probably better than 32 a year or two ago.

I usually try to read the break while I'm walking up to the green or while I'm waiting for others to putt.  At that point I've usually picked my aiming point and just try visualize my target (ex. 2 balls right & 1 foot past the hole, or left edge & let the ball die at the hole, etc.)

I tried getting behind the ball for a while, but I found myself second-guessing the line I already had in mind.

With the target in mind, I take a practice swing looking at my target to get an idea of the feel/distance.  Then I line up and putt, picturing a channel/trough from my ball to my aim point/target.

But then again, my putting average has also gone up (from 31-32 to 34-35) in recent times, and I haven't been increasing my GIRs. :sad3:

I read the break then set up a target.  Take a practice swing or two then putt. 

Yep, same here for me.

I tend to just walk up to the ball, hit it and hope for the best. Really, that sort of describes my entire game.

When it comes to putting, I'm a real "line" guy.  I stand behind, and visualize the line, pick a spot (old ball mark, green spot, bird poop, etc.) and really try to have the ball on that line.

I also subscribe to the theory of "There are no curvy putts, only straight putts to a spot that the decline in the terrain will take the ball in a different direction."

So, say the putt "breaks", or needs to be 3 inches left of the cup.  I aim, and putt straight, 3inches left, as if thats where the cup is.

Having said that.  I'm not a great putter, but it is (as of previous years) the strongest part of my game.  That and drinking beer, while I play.

[soapbox]While I'm at it.  I hate that line: Never up, never in.  No *feces*.  But, it has also been my experience that putts that go past the hole on the wrong line, or too much speed, don't go in either. Dumbass.[/soapbox]

I am of the opinion that ALL golf clichés suck.

I have a nasty habit of trying to make it die right at the hole, i.e. all putts are basically lags. I tend to leave many more than I should short. That being said, I'd rather leave it short with a tap in than leave myself a 3 footer coming back.

Boy howdy.

I get the general idea of the green's slopes and mounds as I walk up to it, then read my putt from behind the ball to confirm and get the specific line.  Pick a spot on the initial aiming line, align the 2" line on my ball to that, and completely forget about line from that point on.  Set up next to the ball, take two practice strokes looking at the hole, set up over the ball.  Look at the hole, look at the ball, putt.  (Miss.)

I would rather give every first putt a chance to drop and endure the occasional 3- or 4-footer coming back than have half my putts NEVER drop because they didn't reach the hole.  At least you get to see the break when your ball rolls by the hole.

With full disclaimer that my putting memory rivals Nicklaus' (i.e. I forget how many times I miss or three-putt): do Pelz's 3-foot circle practice drill.  Get used to seeing 3-footers drop every time you stroke them.  They won't intimidate you on the course, and you won't mind running your birdie putt 3 feet by.

True dat.

I get the lay of the green prior to it being my turn.  Then I get behind it and try and see the line.  Pick a spot to hit the ball based on that line.  Line my ball's aiming line to the spot.  Take a few practice strokes focusing on the spot.  And hit it without thinking about speed to the spot.  Some days I putt very well and others I don't.  I try to be aggressive with my putts and make everything.  It seems when I do that I two putt more often despite leaving the occasional 4 footer.  If I am tentative and trying to lag then I'm more likely to 3 putt.  I try to read "Putting out of your mind" a few times a season and do what he says.  Stick to my routine.

If Chin doesn't get my putter sent out soon I'm taking up shuffleboard.

That's why.