Golf Tips
Positive Putting Practice
Last Updated on Saturday, 15 November 2008 02:27
Written by Pdaddy
Saturday, 15 November 2008 02:10
Confidence has a lot to do with how well you putt. But how do you practice confidence? When most golfers go to the practice putting green they hit a lot of putts from 8 feet and further from the hole. From 8 feet and out, you would be lucky to make 30% of your putts.
Read More
Add Comment (0)
Hits: 81
Looking at the Whole: Is looking at the hole the cure for your yips?
Last Updated on Tuesday, 30 November 1999 00:00
Written by J.R. Remspecher
Tuesday, 06 May 2008 06:45
Abstract
The research study I will presents involves the comparing the performance results of two different putting methods. We will learn from this study how our performance improves or deteriorates when using a different putting technique. We compared the traditional putting method, looking at the ball, against a method that calls for looking at the hole during the stroke. We used different length putts to analyze the two strokes. The results were surprisingly similar for the two methods. Maybe this study will help your yips maybe it won’t.
Introduction
Golfers of all levels are always trying new things to try and gain an advantage over other players. Look at the way putters have changed just over the last fifteen years. We have seen players with very short putters, long putters, belly putters, alignment putters, and MOI putters just to recognize a few. The putting grip has always been and individuals preference. But now we have grips like the ‘claw.’ These are just a few examples of what people are trying to get a pure roll off the flat-stick.
Many of the new age putting techniques have allowed players to enjoy the game more. What if I were to tell you that it does not matter what grip you use, what length or style your putter is, or practice is not the best way to become a better putter. This study, I’m presenting suggests that golfers might have been wrong in their vision of an ideal stroke.
We have all heard that it is important to keep our heads down while putting. I have always concentrated on keeping my head still and my eyes fixated on the golf ball. Most of the time I could keep my head down but it is SO tempting to peak at a four-footer. Could the cure to the yips be right in front of our eyes since we first rolled a putt? This study aims to compare a new style of putting to the traditional method. The new style of putting involves looking at the hole instead at the ball.
I’m sure a lot of people claim that they would completely whiff if they were not looking at the ball. With just a little practice you would be surprised on how easy it is to make a good stroke while looking at the hole. Golf is the only sport I can think of that doesn’t require the player to look at the target. Every other sport uses our sense of depth perception with both eyes to evaluate our target.
Jim Dent, a Champions Tour player has looked at the hole on putts longer than fifteen feet for years. He believes that his lag putting improves when he can see and ‘feel’ the target. He says his distance control is exponentially better looking at the hole. Jim has a few years of experience and practice with this technique. I however would not be surprised if our data reflected better distance control on lag putts. I also hypothesize that looking at the hole on short putts is detrimental to our performance results.
Methods
Results
I will now present to you our findings in this study. Each finding will include a small brief so I can guide you through the study.
This table represents the number of putts holed from each distance categorizing them by what method was used. (Table A)
The following graphs represent the number of putts holed. Each bar represents a different method.
The research study I will presents involves the comparing the performance results of two different putting methods. We will learn from this study how our performance improves or deteriorates when using a different putting technique. We compared the traditional putting method, looking at the ball, against a method that calls for looking at the hole during the stroke. We used different length putts to analyze the two strokes. The results were surprisingly similar for the two methods. Maybe this study will help your yips maybe it won’t.
Introduction
Golfers of all levels are always trying new things to try and gain an advantage over other players. Look at the way putters have changed just over the last fifteen years. We have seen players with very short putters, long putters, belly putters, alignment putters, and MOI putters just to recognize a few. The putting grip has always been and individuals preference. But now we have grips like the ‘claw.’ These are just a few examples of what people are trying to get a pure roll off the flat-stick.
Many of the new age putting techniques have allowed players to enjoy the game more. What if I were to tell you that it does not matter what grip you use, what length or style your putter is, or practice is not the best way to become a better putter. This study, I’m presenting suggests that golfers might have been wrong in their vision of an ideal stroke.
We have all heard that it is important to keep our heads down while putting. I have always concentrated on keeping my head still and my eyes fixated on the golf ball. Most of the time I could keep my head down but it is SO tempting to peak at a four-footer. Could the cure to the yips be right in front of our eyes since we first rolled a putt? This study aims to compare a new style of putting to the traditional method. The new style of putting involves looking at the hole instead at the ball.
I’m sure a lot of people claim that they would completely whiff if they were not looking at the ball. With just a little practice you would be surprised on how easy it is to make a good stroke while looking at the hole. Golf is the only sport I can think of that doesn’t require the player to look at the target. Every other sport uses our sense of depth perception with both eyes to evaluate our target.
Jim Dent, a Champions Tour player has looked at the hole on putts longer than fifteen feet for years. He believes that his lag putting improves when he can see and ‘feel’ the target. He says his distance control is exponentially better looking at the hole. Jim has a few years of experience and practice with this technique. I however would not be surprised if our data reflected better distance control on lag putts. I also hypothesize that looking at the hole on short putts is detrimental to our performance results.
Methods
- The study was conducted in the morning September 22, 2005. There were no extremes in the weather.
- Pine Creek Golf Club hosted our study. The study took place on their putting green that was prepared at normal speed. The putting green was of adequate size for the subjects to putt all the different lengths in a timely fashion.
- The subjects studied consisted of 31 BIO 345 PGM students (26 men, 5 women). The students are all hopeful PGA Professionals of the future.
- The subjects were allowed to use their own putters. Hogan golf balls were used as a control function.
- Each subject first warmed-up on the putting green for at least 5 minutes, getting a feel for speed and slope. During this practice, subjects were instructed to alternate putting methods: one standard, one looking at the hole.
- Each
research station in this study consisted of a pre-selected teeing area
corresponding to one of three holes.
The resulting putts were as follows: - A 6 foot putt, which read straight and slightly uphill.
- A 20 foot putt, which read a right to left break, slightly downhill.
- A 50 foot putt, which also read a right to left break, however this putt was relatively flat.
- Each subject’s performance results were measured after each putt of three taken using each method. The order of method used was randomized as protocol, reducing the chance of an ordering or practice effect.
- The results were measured by the distance between the ball and the edge of the hole. All results were measured in inches, after the putt had come to a rest. All holed putts were recorded at zero inches from the hole.
Results
I will now present to you our findings in this study. Each finding will include a small brief so I can guide you through the study.
This table represents the number of putts holed from each distance categorizing them by what method was used. (Table A)
|
|
|
|
Holed |
Missed |
TOTAL |
|
Totals
- putts holed |
6’ putt |
Traditional |
43 |
50 |
93 |
|
|
|
Looking at hole |
33 |
60 |
93 |
|
|
|
TOTAL |
76 |
110 |
186 |
|
|
20’ putt |
Traditional |
16 |
77 |
93 |
|
|
|
Looking at hole |
12 |
81 |
93 |
|
|
|
TOTAL |
28 |
158 |
186 |
|
|
50’ putt |
Traditional |
5 |
88 |
93 |
|
|
|
Looking at hole |
1 |
92 |
93 |
|
|
|
TOTAL |
6 |
180 |
186 |
The following graphs represent the number of putts holed. Each bar represents a different method.
Graph A1: This graph
represents the number of 6 foot putts made using each method.
Graph A2: This graph
represent similar data for the medium or 20’ putt.
Graph A3: This graph
represents the number of putts holed from 50’ using each method.
The next set of graphs, are meant to illustrate the possibility
of a learning effect. A learning effect
would occur if the second and third putts were statistically better than the
first putt. A learning effect could
occur because the player gets a feel for speed and break after learning from
the first putt. The lines, above each
bar, represent the data’s standard deviation.
Graph
B1: Graph representing analysis of 6’ putt for each of three trails and method.
Graph B2: Graph
representing analysis of 20’ putt for each of three trails and each method
Graph B3: Graph
representing analysis of 50’ putt for each of three trails and each method.
The final graphs represent the data we targeted in our
study, distance putts finished from the hole.
The distance from the hole was measured in inches from the edge of the
hole. From these graphs you can notice a
trend difference in the two putting methods
Graph
C1: Performance results for the 6’ putt using each method.
Graph
C2: Performance results for the 20’ putt using each method.
Graph
C3: Performance results for the 50’ putt using each method.
Discussion
The data we collected represents
the performance results for all 93 trials with each technique. The Golf Magazine Article claimed that using
the looking at the hole technique was statistically better than the traditional
or standard style. Our data does not
correlate to their Study. In all the
above graphs we can see that a traditional method produced better performance
results. Each graph allows us to analyze our results utilizing accurate
statistics.
The first set of data presented in
the results section (refer to Table A) looked at the number of putts holed
using each method. The table is
formatted into a standard form breaking the puts into a few categories, length
of putt, method used, and if the putt was holed or missed. In each category we can see that the number
of putts holed using the traditional/standard method was greater than alternate
technique. Just holing more putts with
the traditional method did not prove anything about which is the better
technique. In order for an accurate
comparison statistics were employed.
CHI-Square analysis established that the total number of putts made (out
of 93) using the standard method were not statistically significantly greater
than those made using the look-at-the-hole method, for all length putts. The differences for the long and short putts
approached a statistical significance. The 20’ putts were not close to being
significantly different. Even though the
results were not statically significant, I was surprised that my hypothesis,
that the medium or long putts would improve with the looking at the hole
technique, did not hold true for the 50’ putt.
The second set of data confirmed or
denied the presence of a Learning Effect
in our study. If our data (exhibit B1,
B2, and B3) displayed a positive learning effect the performance results would
become better from each subsequent trail.
Both methods were analyzed across the three attempts form each
distance. The data did not suggest a
positive learning effect. The second and
third putt results tended to be better (closer to the hole.) However the difference between each trail was
not statically significant. There was a
trend in the results to improve from putt 1 to putt 2. A very interesting trend in this data is the
slight decrease in performance results from putt 2 to putt 3. Since the data proved that there was not a
statically significant learning effect we can pool the data for the subsequent
analysis.
Since the data was able to be
pooled for the final analysis we could view each putting method on its
own. The data (graphs C1, C2, and C3)
represented the distance the putts finished from the hole. Comparing the difference in distance of each
method allowed our study to evaluate each putting method against the
other. The data proved that the standard
or traditional method of putting was more effective than looking at the
hole. This difference was statistically
significant yielding a p-value <.05. The other length putts were not different
statistically. There was a trend toward
the traditional method being the most effective in the 20’ and 50’ putt.
Conclusion
Our study does not verify the Golf Magazine claim that looking at the hole will improve
putting. My hypothesis was not entirely
correct or entirely false. My hypothesis
was based on Jim Dent’s success with the looking at the hole method. I believe that my claim was correct in
stating that a traditional putting style is more effective than looking at the
hole for short putts.
The medium and long putts statistics illustrated that there
was no difference between the two methods.
I hypothesized that the lag putts would improve. The lag putts did not improve but, with very
little practice our results were statistically similar to a traditional putting
style. I believe, that with practice,
the lag putting statistics would shift to show looking at the hole is an
effective technique.
This study probably needed a few more controls to show how
effective looking at the hole can be.
First I believe that the number of putts taken were too few. I believe that the results would be stronger
with more data. I also believe that
increasing the number of distances to possibly 6’, 12’, 24’, 48’ and 60’ would
reveal that the looking at the hole method is better suited for lag
putting. Finally, the last adjustment I
would make is to instruct the participants for 5 minutes on how to use the new
method then allow 5 minutes for practice.
This study’s results are useful but they are not definitive
in nature. I believe that minor
adjustments in the study have the potential to produce a major shock in putting
techniques.
Old Vhs Tapes Can Help you Make Short Putts
Last Updated on Tuesday, 30 November 1999 00:00
Written by Kris Ruiter
Wednesday, 19 March 2008 17:58
Do you have any VHS cassettes lying around your house? If so, you have a great tool for improving your putting. Specifically putts inside of 10 feet. I know you may have to dig deep to find them, but trust me, go dust them off and I will show you a drill that will help lower your scores in a hurry.
Are you trying to lower your scores? If so, you will need to make more putts, plain and simple. You can’t lower your scores by having 3 putts, missing the putt on an up and down, or not converting a great birdie opportunity.
Many players who struggle with making short putts suffer from a poor putter path. Putts that are less than ten feet should be struck with a putting stroke that is straight back and straight through. However, many players strike their balls with a putting stroke that cuts across the ball. That type of stroke makes it harder to start the ball on line towards the hole.
This drill is designed to help you develop a consistent putting stroke that goes straight back on the backswing and straight through on the follow through. This is the best way to get the ball started on line. Since we are working on shorts putts, distance control is not as big an issue. Most short putts that are missed are because of poor aim or a ball hit offline. Pace is typically not the issue.
Please use the following steps to make your path straight to hit your putts on line and lower your scores.
* Take 4 VHS tapes and lay them on the ground.
* Put them in 2 rows.
* Take your putter and separate the two rows so that they are slightly wider apart than the width of your putter head.
* Place a ball in the middle of the cassettes.
* Set up to the ball.
* After hitting a few putts. Place a soda can 3-5 feet in front of where you are aiming. The can is smaller than a regular hole which makes your practice even more effective.
The object of the drill is to not let your putter touch the cassettes. By grooving this path between the cassettes you will develop a consistent move back and through that will give you the best opportunity to start your ball on line and make more short putts.
This putting tip is available in picture format at free-golf-lessons.com. Please use this drill often to keep your putting stroke smooth and effective.
Kris Ruiter is a certified golf professional in Ottawa, Canada.
Make More Putts With These 5 Simple Steps
Last Updated on Wednesday, 19 March 2008 17:44
Written by Steve A Madigan
Wednesday, 19 March 2008 17:37
The way to have success on the putting greens is to remember to keep your system and routine as simple as possible. Putting is an entirely personal thing and I think that is the way that it should be. It should be your own style.
There are some basics in putting that will help you, for example having your eyes directly over the ball, but after that there is really not a right way that you have to setup or stand over the ball. Look at how Sam Snead used to putt, with the side saddle style. One thing that you don't want to do is to have a bunch of mechanical thoughts running through your head when you are about to putt. You really just want to think of the pace you want the ball to roll at and how far to the right or left side of the hole the ball should start.
You have to start to think of your putting in this light. Your object when you are putting is to see how close you can get the ball to the hole. There is a good part about this method, if the ball goes in the hole, it is a bonus. Watching golf evolve over the years, there have been some very successful putters, that have had some very different styles.
That tells you that you can do whatever is comfortable for you.
Want to be a better putter? These putting tips will help you do that.
1.) You need to be relaxed and comfortable before you putt. If your body is tense and your arms are as stiff as boards and don't forget all the other tensing up things that are done prior to hitting the ball, your success rate is not going to be very good. Stay relaxed
2.) If you want to make more putts, you need to strike the ball in the middle of the putter face. You can usually hear and feel a solidly struck putt. This should be your #1 goal, to hit the ball in the middle of the putter face.
By the way, a lot of putts miss because they were not hit in the middle of the clubface. Not because you picked the wrong line or speed.
3.) What you must try to do each time you putt is to hit the ball solid. Don't go switching up your putting stroke all the time. Hit the putt solid more often will help you more.
4.) A main key to making more putts is your tempo. Your back and through motion. It is a main ingredient to successful putting. Your's may be fast, or slow or maybe somewhere in between. Just try to be as consistent as possible.
5.) Try not to get to anxious and see what the ball is doing, stay down and through the putt. Don't PEEK. Chances are if you PEEKED, you probably watched another putt miss the cup. This is another reason putts miss, is because you get quick picking your head up.
This will also cause you not to hit the ball squarely in the center of the putter face. Don't forget, this is a very natural occurrence to want to see where the ball is going before it's gone. Everybody has this problem even the pros. Try this, count to one after you strike the ball in order for you to remain down and through the putt.
Watch the pro's when it comes to keeping your head down. Most of them will have a 5ft. putt and they won't even see the ball going in the hole. If you want to check this, just keep an eye on the bill of their hat. Knowing this fact should tell you what you need to do to improve your putting. If the head stays down a little longer the rest of the body will follow and stay down longer through the putt, which is what we want.
Follow the steps above and your putting is going to improve. It worked for me and others. Remember the most important step is that all you are trying to do is to see how close you can get the ball to the hole.
I have developed a putting system that will drop 7-10 strokes the very next time you play, visit the site and download a free copy of Sam Snead "Golf My Way" by clicking Golf Putting Tips
There are some basics in putting that will help you, for example having your eyes directly over the ball, but after that there is really not a right way that you have to setup or stand over the ball. Look at how Sam Snead used to putt, with the side saddle style. One thing that you don't want to do is to have a bunch of mechanical thoughts running through your head when you are about to putt. You really just want to think of the pace you want the ball to roll at and how far to the right or left side of the hole the ball should start.
You have to start to think of your putting in this light. Your object when you are putting is to see how close you can get the ball to the hole. There is a good part about this method, if the ball goes in the hole, it is a bonus. Watching golf evolve over the years, there have been some very successful putters, that have had some very different styles.
That tells you that you can do whatever is comfortable for you.
Want to be a better putter? These putting tips will help you do that.
1.) You need to be relaxed and comfortable before you putt. If your body is tense and your arms are as stiff as boards and don't forget all the other tensing up things that are done prior to hitting the ball, your success rate is not going to be very good. Stay relaxed
2.) If you want to make more putts, you need to strike the ball in the middle of the putter face. You can usually hear and feel a solidly struck putt. This should be your #1 goal, to hit the ball in the middle of the putter face.
By the way, a lot of putts miss because they were not hit in the middle of the clubface. Not because you picked the wrong line or speed.
3.) What you must try to do each time you putt is to hit the ball solid. Don't go switching up your putting stroke all the time. Hit the putt solid more often will help you more.
4.) A main key to making more putts is your tempo. Your back and through motion. It is a main ingredient to successful putting. Your's may be fast, or slow or maybe somewhere in between. Just try to be as consistent as possible.
5.) Try not to get to anxious and see what the ball is doing, stay down and through the putt. Don't PEEK. Chances are if you PEEKED, you probably watched another putt miss the cup. This is another reason putts miss, is because you get quick picking your head up.
This will also cause you not to hit the ball squarely in the center of the putter face. Don't forget, this is a very natural occurrence to want to see where the ball is going before it's gone. Everybody has this problem even the pros. Try this, count to one after you strike the ball in order for you to remain down and through the putt.
Watch the pro's when it comes to keeping your head down. Most of them will have a 5ft. putt and they won't even see the ball going in the hole. If you want to check this, just keep an eye on the bill of their hat. Knowing this fact should tell you what you need to do to improve your putting. If the head stays down a little longer the rest of the body will follow and stay down longer through the putt, which is what we want.
Follow the steps above and your putting is going to improve. It worked for me and others. Remember the most important step is that all you are trying to do is to see how close you can get the ball to the hole.
I have developed a putting system that will drop 7-10 strokes the very next time you play, visit the site and download a free copy of Sam Snead "Golf My Way" by clicking Golf Putting Tips