We need to find out what makes you miss from short range.
Do you change putters?
Did you ever putt alot better and changed trying to improve?
What style of putter?
Miss everywhere or left or right, short or long.
Mental side. Are you severly damaged? I mean -- is it so bad you can't even picture a putt go in during visualization.
How many putts a round do you try to wish in?
On a six footer that reads just outside left edge, what are you thinking. Do you get really committed.
Are you standing over the putt wondering about your alignment? Or is it after you have missed. Describe in detail your preshot.
Answer the questions in here before you get more.
HB
We need to find out what makes you miss from short range.
I don't think I ever trust that my line is right. It could be a vision thing. I wear glasses and have a pretty bad stigmatism (sp?). Not sure
Do you change putters? What style of putter?
I used to change putters like I change my drawz . . . every other week. I was into Camerons loved 'em. I'm over it. I've had the same putter now for about 2 years. It's Cameron MidSur (belly putter) but it has been cut down to 34 inches. I like it because it's dope looking and I don't have to put one of them stoopid headcovers on it. Plus I like it because it's heavy and has a thick top line (opposite of my iron preference).
Did you ever putt alot better and changed trying to improve?
Naw. I never practice putting too much. I think it's boring. Waiting to be chastized here . . .
Miss everywhere or left or right, short or long.
Pretty much everywhere. If I start out missing right or left then I usually end up missing long because I start trying to cram it in. But from a distance perspective on on the short ones I'd say I tend to hit them too soft. I like to see it die in.
Mental side. Are you severly damaged? I mean -- is it so bad you can't even picture a putt go in during visualization.
Damaged . . . oh hell yes . . . To be honest I don't really visualize that well period in putting or nowhere . . . well I do pretty good in the bathroom
How many putts a round do you try to wish in?
On a bad day . . . every putt from 6 to 3 feet.
On a six footer that reads just outside left edge, what are you thinking. Do you get really committed.
Depends on where I'm at in the round . . . early on I'm positive . . . around the turn I'm thinking I hope that big fat lady made the hot dawg slaw and if she did I may marry her. . . . by the time I'm around 14 and I've missed a few I'm just trying not to cry.
Are you standing over the putt wondering about your alignment? Or is it after you have missed. Not early on. But if I miss I'm wondering after the shot for awhile. Then I'm tweekin' from the get before the putter goes back.
Describe in detail your preshot.
Well . . . I kinda start looking at the green as I walk to it from the fairway (I like to walk). The after I catch my breath . . . Start looking for the high spot. I walk to it. I kinda verify what my eye see with what I feel under my feet. The I get to the ball look at my high spot and kinda let my instincts take over as far as aiming. I have found when I'm hot I just feel my alignment by just letting my braincell do it's thang. Then I take two practice strokes looking at the hole trying to feel the putter swing and feel my hands. I address the ball. Look at my spot and just try to swing him back schmooove. People have said that my stroke looks good. Hell it feels good and feels like it would look good. It just don't work too good.
Ah . . . but I AM a good putter and I'm due to make the next 'un.
We need to find out what makes you miss from short range.
I don't think I ever trust that my line is right. It could be a vision thing. I wear glasses and have a pretty bad stigmatism (sp?). Not sure
Do you change putters? What style of putter?
I used to change putters like I change my drawz . . . every other week. I was into Camerons loved 'em. I'm over it. I've had the same putter now for about 2 years. It's Cameron MidSur (belly putter) but it has been cut down to 34 inches. I like it because it's dope looking and I don't have to put one of them stoopid headcovers on it. Plus I like it because it's heavy and has a thick top line (opposite of my iron preference).
Did you ever putt alot better and changed trying to improve?
Naw. I never practice putting too much. I think it's boring. Waiting to be chastized here . . .
Miss everywhere or left or right, short or long.
Pretty much everywhere. If I start out missing right or left then I usually end up missing long because I start trying to cram it in. But from a distance perspective on on the short ones I'd say I tend to hit them too soft. I like to see it die in.
Mental side. Are you severly damaged? I mean -- is it so bad you can't even picture a putt go in during visualization.
Damaged . . . oh hell yes . . . To be honest I don't really visualize that well period in putting or nowhere . . . well I do pretty good in the bathroom
How many putts a round do you try to wish in?
On a bad day . . . every putt from 6 to 3 feet.
On a six footer that reads just outside left edge, what are you thinking. Do you get really committed.
Depends on where I'm at in the round . . . early on I'm positive . . . around the turn I'm thinking I hope that big fat lady made the hot dawg slaw and if she did I may marry her. . . . by the time I'm around 14 and I've missed a few I'm just trying not to cry.
Are you standing over the putt wondering about your alignment? Or is it after you have missed. Not early on. But if I miss I'm wondering after the shot for awhile. Then I'm tweekin' from the get before the putter goes back.
Describe in detail your preshot.
Well . . . I kinda start looking at the green as I walk to it from the fairway (I like to walk). The after I catch my breath . . . Start looking for the high spot. I walk to it. I kinda verify what my eye see with what I feel under my feet. The I get to the ball look at my high spot and kinda let my instincts take over as far as aiming. I have found when I'm hot I just feel my alignment by just letting my braincell do it's thang. Then I take two practice strokes looking at the hole trying to feel the putter swing and feel my hands. I address the ball. Look at my spot and just try to swing him back schmooove. People have said that my stroke looks good. Hell it feels good and feels like it would look good. It just don't work too good.
Ah . . . but I AM a good putter and I'm due to make the next 'un.
Bucket,
We've got potential. I like the reading and routine. Esp. smooth stroke and letting the braincell do the aiming. I like letting the talent do its part rather than manual override.
Good putters putt with the same putter or style of putter. Once asked a really good tour putter how long he had been putting with his putter (within earshot of my player who was wanting to change). He said, "About five years." Then I asked what he putted with before that. He said, "One just like it."
I'm not a big believer in spending alot of time on the putting green unless you really like putting. I see a tendency to experiment, further confusing the computer. I want results in a short amount of time. I rarely putt for more than ten minutes. Love short game and full game practice.
A drill from a really good putter. Three balls in a line about two feet apart, starting two feet from hole. So a two footer, a four footer, and a six footer all on the same line. The shortest lets you make a bunch (good for brain). The next two give you alot of practice holing the kind of putts you need to make to keep a round going. Putt these three, get them out of the hole, repeat. If you don't make a bunch of putts at first, don't worry, you will improve. Practice some longer putts. Do a little putting around the practice green with one ball for touch. If you want to work on your stroke, do it indoors with some kind of reference tool. I learned to putt watching my stroke over a threshold.
Die putting is for longer putts. You don't have to ram the short ones, but make a nice positive stroke. If you take too high a line, you will put a little steer on it to help it break enough to go in. Practice some breaking putts at three different speeds. Big break, medium break. Minimal break. It helps with touch and seeing putts. Learn to putt with medium break.
Visualize. We have to use our talents as we find them. Some guys go to the movies. Some see a straight line. Sounds like you get a feel for the shot. That's OK.
Confidence depends on where in the round. This is a problem. If you want to putt better, you have to think better. You can control your mental process. From now on, act like you know what you are doing as you walk into the putt. Just try it for the next few rounds. Every putt. Let me know.
HB
I'm a little afraid to ask. Lets hear about your management and mental game.
It sounds, on one hand, like you don't need my advice. It sounds like you get the most out of your ballstriking.
Maybe I can help. I always knew that I was not the calm, causual type. I swing more like Nick Price than Bob Murphy. So my goal was always to build a swing that would work at that speed. I'm more relaxed than I was early on, but I'm still on the quick side. When I practice, contary to some common advice, I try to get my swing ramped up to on course speed. I think you want to swing at a pace that fits your personality.
Trying to fix your swing on the course just does not work, as a rule. If you are mechanical on the course, it can interrupt the flow of your swing and cause steering and other problems. You might have one tendency you can think of and have a few practice swings with some special feel before you start your routine. Once you walk in, if you take practice swings, they should be directed towards the shot at hand and not away from the current miss.
If you are more calm and casual in normal life, you need to look at what causes you to speed up. Are you clear about what causes the left shots? Can you take some video while you play and compare it to the range? Have you taken the whole bottle of pills with regard to being overplane? Understanding the cause of your left shots may go a long way towards solving your problem with getting it to the course.
HB
HB,
I think you have it the nail on the head. I think I have not gotten over my overplane swing issues enough to be comfortable on the course. It seems I always revert back to bad habits. I need to keep grinding and working on what Lynn, Ted, and Jeff taught me at Falcons fire and learn to trust it on the course. I also think I could greatly help myself if I could learn to carry the same mentality on my full swing as I do my putter. When I am on the greens I have no swing thoughts, I am very much a feel putter. I just make the putt in my mind, then let my body execute. Of course, a putting stroke is much easier to execute than a full swing. I need tips on how to play and think on the course like a good feel player does. When I am hitting full shots on the course I am so wrapped up in the mechanics and my own swing thoughts I rarely think much about the target or visualizing the shot.
Bucket and I are going to get together for a day at the course in the next couple of weeks. I think it will be eye-opening to have him evaluate me on the range, and then see what happens on the course.
We've got potential. I like the reading and routine. Esp. smooth stroke and letting the braincell do the aiming. I like letting the talent do its part rather than manual override.
HB
I'm a little afraid to ask. Lets hear about your management and mental game.
Question on the above . . . Should talent and braincell deal be throughout the game?
Management
This part of my game is a strength. I pretty much try to play shots that I can play. I pick really good targets and play the percentages well. I always have a plan . . . execution is a different story. I love the strategic part of the game. I try to pick my targets from the tee that allow the most margin for error. On my course I don't hit driver on but 5 holes or so depending on conditions. You just don't get much juice for the amount of squeeze you gotta do. I play thinking pretty much "what do I have to do to make par on this hole" and let the birdies come. From 9 iron down I shoot at pins. Rest of the stuff is middle of green. I'm more like too shot at a left pin than a right pin because my natural shape wants to go left.
Some days my tee shots can be good . . . but I ALWAYS have 2 or 3 holes where hit a wildazz tee shot to somewhere you make 1,000,000 from. When I hit a bad shot I hit a BAD shot. I'm pretty good about striking it solid but it's more of a direction dealie.
MENTAL
Another stength of mine is ATTITUDE . . . I have fun on the course. I never get mad. You can't tell if I'm shootin' 100 or 75. I'm just happy to be on the golf course. I don't beat myself up after bad shots or rounds.
ROUTINE Not so good. I don't have a lot of confidence in my alignment. I have too many mechanical thoughts. I get to playing golf swing instead of playing golf. If I miss one I tend to get more mechanical. The weird thing is though . . .when I have to hit a trouble shot or work a shot I tend to hit those shots great. I have more trouble with the shots I SHOULD hit well. Maybe I get more committed. That may be something I need to explore what commitment means with regards to G.O.L.F. and golf.
OVERALL CONFIDENCE IN GAME I feel like I have enough skills that I could be a 4 to scratch but I just need to eliminate the wild shot off the tee and hit more short putts. I have the desire to get there and feel like I can . . . but I never have.
Practice some breaking putts at three different speeds. Big break, medium break. Minimal break. It helps with touch and seeing putts. Learn to putt with medium break.
HB,
I think you have it the nail on the head. I think I have not gotten over my overplane swing issues enough to be comfortable on the course. It seems I always revert back to bad habits. I need to keep grinding and working on what Lynn, Ted, and Jeff taught me at Falcons fire and learn to trust it on the course. I also think I could greatly help myself if I could learn to carry the same mentality on my full swing as I do my putter. When I am on the greens I have no swing thoughts, I am very much a feel putter. I just make the putt in my mind, then let my body execute. Of course, a putting stroke is much easier to execute than a full swing. I need tips on how to play and think on the course like a good feel player does. When I am hitting full shots on the course I am so wrapped up in the mechanics and my own swing thoughts I rarely think much about the target or visualizing the shot.
Bucket and I are going to get together for a day at the course in the next couple of weeks. I think it will be eye-opening to have him evaluate me on the range, and then see what happens on the course.
8cork,
OK. You have had lessons from the A-Team. You talk to Bucket on the phone, so you be gaining in knowledge. You understand the "process" because you use it with your short game and putter. And you are shooting good scores.
We need to find a way to help you transition from playing golfswing to playing golf. It's easy for me to say just think like you do when you putt. It really will end up like that, but it is too big a jump for you right away.
So, for a start, lets cut down on the mechanical thoughts. One swing thought. Pick one. Make it very simple. Like get to your finish. Complete your backswing (might be a good one for you).
Preshot. Again simple. Do your yardage. Go with your first instinct. First thought is seven, hit seven. Do a few practice swings with your swing thought. Do it at your pace, but send that ball away without delay.
Practicing like a pro. They do what we all do in trying to tweak their swings and get that magic feel. Then they work on shutting off the brain and reacting to the target. On the range, get your pattern going and then play a little golf. Picture real shots on the course and try to hit them. Play three or four holes. Hit the tee shot. Change clubs. Hit the iron shot. Don't worry about the chip if you miss. You already have that. Don't drag another ball over if you miss. Go on to the next hole.
For a large part of your practice, you need to behave like you want to behave on the course. It may seem slow and inefficient to practice this way, but the practice will be more valuable.
On game day. When you warm up. Make sure you have plenty of time. Be organized in your mind. Be poised. Get your body loose. Hit some shots with your swing thought. As you get into your pattern, make it more like the course. Lock in on the target. Try to hit the 100 yd. marker. Picture a fairway and hit your driver into it. Pretend there is trouble on one side and room on the other. Hit to the safe side.
Question on the above . . . Should talent and braincell deal be throughout the game?
Management
This part of my game is a strength. I pretty much try to play shots that I can play. I pick really good targets and play the percentages well. I always have a plan . . . execution is a different story. I love the strategic part of the game. I try to pick my targets from the tee that allow the most margin for error. On my course I don't hit driver on but 5 holes or so depending on conditions. You just don't get much juice for the amount of squeeze you gotta do. I play thinking pretty much "what do I have to do to make par on this hole" and let the birdies come. From 9 iron down I shoot at pins. Rest of the stuff is middle of green. I'm more like too shot at a left pin than a right pin because my natural shape wants to go left.
Some days my tee shots can be good . . . but I ALWAYS have 2 or 3 holes where hit a wildazz tee shot to somewhere you make 1,000,000 from. When I hit a bad shot I hit a BAD shot. I'm pretty good about striking it solid but it's more of a direction dealie.
MENTAL
Another stength of mine is ATTITUDE . . . I have fun on the course. I never get mad. You can't tell if I'm shootin' 100 or 75. I'm just happy to be on the golf course. I don't beat myself up after bad shots or rounds.
ROUTINE Not so good. I don't have a lot of confidence in my alignment. I have too many mechanical thoughts. I get to playing golf swing instead of playing golf. If I miss one I tend to get more mechanical. The weird thing is though . . .when I have to hit a trouble shot or work a shot I tend to hit those shots great. I have more trouble with the shots I SHOULD hit well. Maybe I get more committed. That may be something I need to explore what commitment means with regards to G.O.L.F. and golf.
OVERALL CONFIDENCE IN GAME I feel like I have enough skills that I could be a 4 to scratch but I just need to eliminate the wild shot off the tee and hit more short putts. I have the desire to get there and feel like I can . . . but I never have.
Bucket,
Talent and braincell throughout the ball. YES. "Turn off the brain. Turn on the game."
Strategy and management sound really good. It's great that you always have fun. As you progress, we may want you to fire at reasonable flags down to a six or seven iron. One thing you mentioned from last round was 6 three putts. Maybe you should try hitting it closer to the hole.
Focus on trouble shots. You have to, the shot dictates start line, height, curvature, etc. Tour players do the same thing. They hit this miracle shot out of the trees, then the next hole they miss the green with a wedge. Focus.
So the difference between the trouble shot and the one from the middle of the fairway 150 out is the definition. You can define this shot. You can picture it hit on the green, spin left a few feet, and topple into the hole. You can picture the trajectory. If you want to hit a straight shot, you can picture a tunnel of trees defining the flight. It's all mind games. Even when you are hitting a safe shot to the middle of the green, you want to be really locked in on the target.
Routine. Practice your alignment on the range. Take it for granted on the course. Nobody plays good when they are worried about it. One of the dangers in knowing alot about the swing is being able to diagnose errors and becoming focused on them. Let those thoughts go until you have made the same physical error a number of times in a row. One bad shot should go straight out the window.
Wild shots. Is it random or do you struggle with the same tee shots? Sometimes you have to do something different on a hole that does not fit your eye.
HB
Lay out your plan for improvement, as you see it.
Last edited by Hennybogan : 07-12-2007 at 12:07 PM.
Reason: forgot question
Talent and braincell throughout the ball. YES. "Turn off the brain. Turn on the game."
Strategy and management sound really good. It's great that you always have fun. As you progress, we may want you to fire at reasonable flags down to a six or seven iron. One thing you mentioned from last round was 6 three putts. Maybe you should try hitting it closer to the hole.
Focus on trouble shots. You have to, the shot dictates start line, height, curvature, etc. Tour players do the same thing. They hit this miracle shot out of the trees, then the next hole they miss the green with a wedge. Focus.
So the difference between the trouble shot and the one from the middle of the fairway 150 out is the definition. You can define this shot. You can picture it hit on the green, spin left a few feet, and topple into the hole. You can picture the trajectory. If you want to hit a straight shot, you can picture a tunnel of trees defining the flight. It's all mind games. Even when you are hitting a safe shot to the middle of the green, you want to be really locked in on the target.
Routine. Practice your alignment on the range. Take it for granted on the course. Nobody plays good when they are worried about it. One of the dangers in knowing alot about the swing is being able to diagnose errors and becoming focused on them. Let those thoughts go until you have made the same physical error a number of times in a row. One bad shot should go straight out the window.
Wild shots. Is it random or do you struggle with the same tee shots? Sometimes you have to do something different on a hole that does not fit your eye.
HB
Lay out your plan for improvement, as you see it.
Henny/Bucket,
Great stuff! I've been experimenting some with shooting at flags only from 135/140 and closer (my 9-iron), opting for the middle of the green the rest of the time (the greens on the courses I play aren't always that big). I hadn't really considered HB's comment about really "focusing in" on that sort of shot before, but it makes a bunch of sense.
So the difference between the trouble shot and the one from the middle of the fairway 150 out is the definition. You can define this shot. You can picture it hit on the green, spin left a few feet, and topple into the hole. You can picture the trajectory. If you want to hit a straight shot, you can picture a tunnel of trees defining the flight. It's all mind games. Even when you are hitting a safe shot to the middle of the green, you want to be really locked in on the target.
Wild shots. Is it random or do you struggle with the same tee shots? Sometimes you have to do something different on a hole that does not fit your eye.
HB
Lay out your plan for improvement, as you see it.
NICE!!!! I like it . . .
Wild shots. Is it random or do you struggle with the same tee shots?
OK . . . I played 9 holes for lunch. I think I may have figured out a big portion of my wild shots. I should have started here in the first place too! I hit some hard hooks with all of my clubs. Not low snappers but more like solid bombs that just curved to hard left . . . past the old stance line. I was even hooking wedges 15 yards or so.
I have really been working on #3 accumulator roll . . . which I think was a dumb thing to do with my grip type. I have a turned left hand. So it to me on a little pitch that I didn't need all that roll and it was causing to clubface movement. So I hit this little holdy blocky feeling thing . . . one hop . . . .in the hole. Next hole I carried that same holdy deal and hit it really great from a direction standpoint. My flail has to work different who gets their hands on the club 10-2-B vertical style.
The other thing I did was the whole visualization deal. Imagined that the ball was like the size of a kickball or something. It freed everything up. I tend to hit it pretty solid anyway for the most part. But I really was able to let it rip without having to be superdooper ball bound.
I feel better about it now. If I can drive it in play I hit the irons good enough that I can do awight. Putted a lil' better too. Take away the two wild hooks O.B. and I shoot decent.
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