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Sun, Jul 20 2014 6:55 PM (7 replies)
  • miker06437
    156 Posts
    Sat, Jul 19 2014 3:40 AM

    Newbie question here-what is the best/quickest way to improve your putting. I'm hitting the ball ok,and my short game I think is reasonable for a newbie. But I am wasting a lot of strokes missing short putts. I bought a putting guide which helps some but not enough. Is it just a matter of practice? I was thinking a nice add to the game would be a practice putting green.

  • WGTdbloshoe
    2,840 Posts
    Sat, Jul 19 2014 7:32 AM

     Sorry to say but there is no big secret.  You got to practice.  I would recommend though playing a practice round and using the mulligan feature so you can repeat the same shot or putt and figure out the best way of executing that shot.     - WGTdbloshoe

  • alosso
    21,092 Posts
    Sat, Jul 19 2014 8:11 AM

    First priority IMHO would be to get the length right, observing the different green speeds (you should be at "Normal"), the putter scales and the up and down sloping surface. Any close approaching putt with an easy second one would be great!

    Next, try to read the greens regarding the side slope in order to get even closer.

    Third, only buy a putter when you see that most of the mishits aren't your fault. My old rule of thumb still stands: No putter below 500 crs.

    There are a lot of putting tips around - search for them!

    As a side remark, me thinks that your Srixon balls are too expensive for your Starter equipment. Try B-ES or Tour-SD instead.

  • ApexPC
    3,164 Posts
    Sat, Jul 19 2014 8:46 AM

    Your 'lifetime' stats only show 138 putts, but you're already doing pretty good by averaging just under 2 putts per hole. 

    Par is established to include 2 putts per hole.

    As mentioned above distance control is very important so if a second putt is needed it's a short putt. You want to avoid 3-putting.

    Each putt needs to be hit so it will go past the hole (about 2 feet) if you miss, because there is no way a putt left short of the hole can go in. By the same token, any breaking putt you miss under the hole never has a chance to go in the hole either. 

    WGT sells a putting stroke strength measuring aid called Putter Pal. You can get the 10 hits for 10 credits version and copy the Putter Pal scale to a piece of paper you then stick to your screen under the stroke meter. 

    Outside WGT there are a couple of similar aids available. I use and recommend VGG Caddy. There is a free version of VGG Caddy, and a $3 minimum 'donation' Pro version that has more features.

    Learning to 'read' the break of a putt is about experience. The more you play, the better you will get at reading the greens.

    My lifetime stats show that to date I have made just under 30,000 putts (29,965) playing WGT over 28 months.

  • MichaelStroke
    2,066 Posts
    Sat, Jul 19 2014 11:43 AM

    Putting is more of an art than a science.  Therefore, practice is the best teacher, and learning from feel and intuition is better than reading a bunch of written "tips".

  • alosso
    21,092 Posts
    Sat, Jul 19 2014 2:35 PM

    A very poetic approach Mike, but only one between many IMHO.

    I agree 100% concerning real golf putting, getting the feel of the stroke probably helps more than any calculation (though I have seen a very successful calculating player (HCP 15)).

    But here, a technique is required on the most (mathematically) linear field in a computing game - some numerical support might be essential.

    One of my friends has the "feel" approach and outperformed me a while ago as a TL, but for a mere mortal some calculations of green speed and slope and power etc. may be helpful and necessary (speaking of myself).

    Obviously, we cannot inhale all of these tips - some selection will be necessary. I'd say that feel and intuition should allow to separate between the tips which work for an individual and the other tips of less importance.

    Have fun!

  • garypinhunter
    1,049 Posts
    Sat, Jul 19 2014 2:56 PM

    Golf tips website my give a little help.

    Gary

  • SRudy
    37 Posts
    Sun, Jul 20 2014 6:55 PM

    ApexPC:

    Outside WGT there are a couple of similar aids available. I use and recommend VGG Caddy. There is a free version of VGG Caddy, and a $3 minimum 'donation' Pro version that has more features.

    I tried VGG Caddy and I can't see paying $3 for something that crashes all of the time.

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