PLEASE NOTE -
This tutorial was written for the WGT Starter Putter on Standard Green Speeds. If you are on slow or fast greens or using a different putter then the ranges and "movements" discussed within will vary for you. However, regardless of what the green speed is or the putter you are using the formula to discover your ranges and movements is the same.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The ability to putt well is the most important tool in your bag because putting represents a whopping 42% of your score.
As Josh Zander says, "Distance control is the key to great putting. The speed you hit the putt determines its line;
therefore, every putt other than a straight putt is determined by how
hard you hit it."
This guide will show you how to more consistently control your distance with the putter, so that you can shave a few more strokes off your score.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you're just getting started on the World Golf Tour then you may be having a little trouble getting used to the distance control. Chances are you've played a golf game with some sort of meter before, however most of the time there were little markers to indicate 50%, 75% and so on. Not so here on WGT. You are greeted with a blank swing meter with no visual aids what so ever.
On the real golf course we gauge the power of putts by how far back the putter is drawn in the backswing, but what you may not know is that you can do the same thing on the virtual course. Check out the pictures below.
On the 30 foot scale, the Starter putter has a total of 5 backwards movements.
Obviously this is the rest position. Click your mouse and drag it slowly forward.
Right about here, we see the first movement.
Now the 2nd... (see how the putter's back is touching the line)
The 3rd... (the back is crossing the line now)
The 4th... (now the front of the putter is on the line)
Finally, the 5th motion back happens when you reach full strength. You can see nearly the entire putter is over the line now. Try this out for yourself. You will clearly be able to see the distinct movements.
This was a 30 foot scale with 5 equal backwards movements. 30 divided into 5 is 6, so each backwards movement of the putter translates into 6 feet of power. On the 60 foot scale there are 7.5 movements, each representing 8 feet (up to 56, the last one is worth only 4 feet because it's a half movement). On the 150 foot scale there are 10 equal movements with each representing 15 feet of power.
TIP: Watch the green speeds! On faster greens you may find your 6 foot putts travel an additional foot or two. You'll need to adjust your ranges for the varying green speeds.
If you're using a putter other than the Starter, you'll need to apply the formula and figure out the movements for yourself. Draw the putter back slowly and start counting the times your avatar moves. Note the space between the increments to see if they are the same or not. If they are the same simply divide the number of feet (30, 60, 90 etc) by the number of movements. If all but the last movement is equal then most likely the last movement is a half and you'll need to do a little guessing. The 60ft Starter putter scale has 7 full movements and 1 half movement. If we multiply 7.5 x 8, we get 60. After a few putts of verification, you'll know if you guessed right. To aid in your guessing, remember that WGT has yet to release a putter where the movements (and half-movements) did not break down into whole numbers. No decimals.
TIP: When you purchase a new putter, always map your distances first in a practice round!
BONUS TIP: Male and Female avatars have different ranges and movement numbers on the same putters! For example, Female avatars are 6 x 5 instead of 5 x 6 on the Starter 30ft meter. Be sure to watch out for this ladies!
Having plenty of speed is important, because an ideal putt does not fall in the front door drunk. If you're not familiar with the phrase 'Never up, never in', it's all about leaving your putt short. You'll never go in the hole if you don't get it there, so good putts will always have enough speed to run 2 or 3 feet beyond the hole. The added speed helps the putt 'hold the line' and it will roll more true.
When it comes to elevation changes, the general rule of thumb is to add 1 foot of power for every inch uphill and to subtract 1 foot for each inch downhill. Please remember that this is not an exact formula. You'll also need to keep in mind green speed and tinker with it to find the right touch that works for you.
Downhill putts generally go slow. We strike them with less force because we don't want to ram it way past the hole. When you are putting downhill, expect the break to have a more noticeable effect. Conversely, uphill putts move fast because they are struck firmly. When you're putting uphill, you're not usually worried about going too far past the hole, so don't be afraid to hit it. Give it a good stroke and expect less break than normal. Familiarize yourself with the topography of the greens and try to remember where the best spots are to put yourself in position for a straight uphill putt every time. Uphill is always preferred.
Finally, always... ALWAYS pay extra special attention to the color of the putting grid. Black sections are flat, blue sections indicate an uphill swing and red sections indicate downhill. The more vibrant the color, the more severe the change in elevation. Look at the picture below...
You've probably seen this putt before. This is on Kiawah's 3rd hole when your approach shot lands short of the pin. It looks like a pretty innocent putt. The break is minimal as you can see by my aim however, I see the vast majority of players leave this putt short and here's why.
Look at the info box (the blue box). The hole is 12 feet away from me and it's telling me that I have 0 inch uphill putt. Good spot to be, but it's lying to me. You should always treat a 0 inch uphill putt as a 1 inch uphill putt. If you look closely at my aim line, you can see that it is gradually changing to blue as it nears the hole. In fact, it actually starts to change about 2 feet from the hole. We know that blue on the grid indicates uphill, so this supposedly flat putt actually has an uphill swing right at the very end! Most putts are moving slowly when they're only 2 feet away. Once they hit the uphill section they lose momentum fast and the putt winds up short. Keep an eye out for this in the future and be sure to compensate for it when you see it.
TIP: A golfer's notepad is his best friend! Don't be afraid to jot down tendencies when you see them so you can be better prepared for the next time you face a similar putt.
That's about all I have right now. I didn't touch on compensating for break but, that's not really something I can give you tips for. Once you learn to control your distance well, figuring out the break becomes a lot easier. I hope this helps some of the players out there who've been having a little trouble getting the hang of putting.
Remember folks, you drive for show, but you putt for dough!
Suggestions for improving this are welcome.