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Downhill putts

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Wed, Aug 22 2012 1:52 PM (4 replies)
  • jiggsie
    478 Posts
    Wed, Aug 22 2012 5:02 AM

    I seem to remember a posting that showed how much to back off putts going downhill. ie: for every inch, foot, yard etc back off X amount.

    also you add 2 to the basic yards on very fast greens  do you add two to all others greens

    thanks for the help

    jiggsie

  • Choppography
    2,166 Posts
    Wed, Aug 22 2012 6:08 AM

    Jiggsie, the very first entry to Choppo's Tips in our country club forum will explain this to you.  Also, at the top of this forum is a nice article titled "Putting Tip:  Distance Control."  It explains nearly the same thing.  Heck, maybe even better.

    Either of those two places are good resources from which to start.

     

  • gr8flbob
    592 Posts
    Wed, Aug 22 2012 11:54 AM

    what you do is also dictated by green terrain, course and even wind (yes, wind does impact distance for longer putts).

    Plain downhillers, use the known reductions for green speed (slow = +10%, STD = 0, Fast = -10%, VF = -20%, Tourney = -30%), then deduct a foot for each inch of drop. Finally, add 1-2 ft 'safety factor) to make sure it gets to hole. 

    If you have a strong tail wind (>10mph or so) and a longer putt, drop the 1-2 ft safety factor.

    If it's a big breaking putt, you'll need to add a bit more for the long path of the roll.

    Oakmont and Olympic downhill putts want to run; I drop the safety factor or reduce it - depending on wind.

    If you're putting from an upper tier to a lower one, consider breaking the putt into 2 parts (reverse the procedure if you're putting uphill to a higher tier):

    - Part A is getting the ball to the edge of tier you're on; calculate distance (as above) to point where you want the ball to reach the upper edge of tier (including safety factor). this part of the putt may even need uphill correction.

    - Part B is the remaining distance, corrected for green speed and remaining elevation drop, with NO ADDITIONAL SAFETY FACTOR.

    Longer putts that go up and over a high point, or through a dip, I treat like a plain putt.

     

     

  • gmaster007
    2,101 Posts
    Wed, Aug 22 2012 12:06 PM

    downhill putts are harder, but I kinda like them more,because there's less chance
    for the ball to stop short, which I hate as hell :)

    most important thing to remember in downhill putts, especially long ones,
    is that the ball will break hard on a slow roll,
    here for example (if I recall correctly) I moved the line over 50 degrees,
    and you can see why :)

     

  • dario2589
    202 Posts
    Wed, Aug 22 2012 1:52 PM

    For example, on tourney green, 20fts 5▼ 20-5=15 -> 15-6=9 the first five comes out of the downhill and the six is the variable that I use for tourney greens on 15+ fts putts so in a flat putt from 15fts I will use 15-6=9/10fts power on the meter. Its not absolutly precise but with practice you adquire the necessary feel to fine tune the final result. Dont like to trust 100% in a formula so for me works better something like this, a reference formula + some feel to fine tune. And like gmaster said you need to use more break because the ball gonna roll slower.

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