Post by TheJokker on Apr 23, 2010 0:07:16 GMT -5
These are my thoughts regarding putting and how I figure my putts. This is intended for Classic putting but I use the same technique for Precision putting with the exception of power levels. I also use the Motion Plus with ALL my putts, regardless of Classic or Precision putting.
Experience is they key to reading your grid blips correctly of course, the more you play, the better you will get at it. I have read several postings as to how some players line up they're putts, players calculate they're putts in a variety of ways. This is the process I use for almost every putt, although it may look time consuming or difficult perhaps, it is actually quite easy to do after a few times of trying it
For an uphill putt, I adjust one grid line for each 8 inches of elevation climb to the hole. For a downhill putt, I adjust one grid line for each 6 inches of elevation drop to the hole
I have found that a putt with extra power is way more forgiving regarding a slight variation in actual power executed, versus power used during the preview. Of course to much power will glide over the hole or pop out off the back edge. An uphill putt is way more forgiving to extra power than a downhill putt, so I always give extra power for uphill putts, I am MUCH more careful of power level for downhill putts
With Classic putting, I have certain power levels that I always try to use for my putt preview because I am good at hitting those power percentages. The power levels I use are 60%, 75%, 88%, 93% 100%. I never use less than 60% power for any putt. I adjust for my elevation change as described below and then round up to one of my preferred power levels, never down.
Here are the steps I use for almost every putt except the little tap ins
Step 1
The very first thing I do for almost every putt is to hit my 'A' button for the top overhead view and move my marker right onto the cup. Then I read my elevation AT THE CUP and quickly adjust straight up or straight down to establish the power I need for my putt. After I move my marker up or down to adjust for elevation change I always give an extra couple feet to make certain it has a touch more power than needed
Step 2
After I establish the power for my putt I click my 'A' button to return to my putting view. Then I watch the grid blips as they move and adjust left or right, I hesitate a second or two while watching the grid blips again to see if it looks right to me and adjust a bit more or less if it don't quite look right
Step 3
I hit putt preview and quickly click the 'A' button again to return to the overhead view and check my ball travel arc. If I need to adjust from my preview I will almost always adjust my aim rather than my power since my power is almost always close enough to make the putt. I never adjust both my power and my aim, normally it is simply the aim. When the aim is close it is usually easy to make the adjustment with a touch or two one way or the other. I cancel the putt preview, and hit the ‘A’ button to return to my putting view, then move my marker a touch or two as needed
Notes:
If my ball rims out of the hole during a putt preview, the direction I need to move my marker is the same as the direction the ball rims out. So if the ball rims the hole and goes to the right, then I adjust a touch right
If my ball travel arc in my putt preview is off by 6 inches or more, then I will check the distance from the cup to the nearest horizontal grid line. I mentally draw horizontal line from the cup over to my ball travel arc. Where that imaginary line intersects the ball travel arc is where I need to move the cup of course. I will do my best to estimate the distance from that imaginary intersection point of the travel arc and my imaginary line, to the nearest vertical grid line. Then I do my best to move the cup to that spot. I do all of this from the overhead view rather than my putting view
When my preview travel arc is very close or rims out with severely sloped greens, I will sometimes adjust my power instead of my aim, but NEVER both aim and power. Especially with longer putts I am more likely to adjust power rather than aim. The more severe the slope is, the more likely I am to adjust my power
As I stated above, experience is the key, but a basic technique that works for you is important for consistently dropping putts. We all think a bit differently so each of us needs to have a standard technique that works for us. To change your technique all the time will not establish consistent putting. If your process is basically the same all the time then you will get better and better at it until you feel comfortable with it. If I land on the green I ALWAYS count the ball in the hole in one putt, regardless of slope or distance. My putting is the MAIN part of my game that I always feel I can rely on, confidence is the key to this game, if you think you can . . . then you can. If you have doubts . . . well why go there ?
Hope this is understandable
TheJokker
Experience is they key to reading your grid blips correctly of course, the more you play, the better you will get at it. I have read several postings as to how some players line up they're putts, players calculate they're putts in a variety of ways. This is the process I use for almost every putt, although it may look time consuming or difficult perhaps, it is actually quite easy to do after a few times of trying it
For an uphill putt, I adjust one grid line for each 8 inches of elevation climb to the hole. For a downhill putt, I adjust one grid line for each 6 inches of elevation drop to the hole
I have found that a putt with extra power is way more forgiving regarding a slight variation in actual power executed, versus power used during the preview. Of course to much power will glide over the hole or pop out off the back edge. An uphill putt is way more forgiving to extra power than a downhill putt, so I always give extra power for uphill putts, I am MUCH more careful of power level for downhill putts
With Classic putting, I have certain power levels that I always try to use for my putt preview because I am good at hitting those power percentages. The power levels I use are 60%, 75%, 88%, 93% 100%. I never use less than 60% power for any putt. I adjust for my elevation change as described below and then round up to one of my preferred power levels, never down.
Here are the steps I use for almost every putt except the little tap ins
Step 1
The very first thing I do for almost every putt is to hit my 'A' button for the top overhead view and move my marker right onto the cup. Then I read my elevation AT THE CUP and quickly adjust straight up or straight down to establish the power I need for my putt. After I move my marker up or down to adjust for elevation change I always give an extra couple feet to make certain it has a touch more power than needed
Step 2
After I establish the power for my putt I click my 'A' button to return to my putting view. Then I watch the grid blips as they move and adjust left or right, I hesitate a second or two while watching the grid blips again to see if it looks right to me and adjust a bit more or less if it don't quite look right
Step 3
I hit putt preview and quickly click the 'A' button again to return to the overhead view and check my ball travel arc. If I need to adjust from my preview I will almost always adjust my aim rather than my power since my power is almost always close enough to make the putt. I never adjust both my power and my aim, normally it is simply the aim. When the aim is close it is usually easy to make the adjustment with a touch or two one way or the other. I cancel the putt preview, and hit the ‘A’ button to return to my putting view, then move my marker a touch or two as needed
Notes:
If my ball rims out of the hole during a putt preview, the direction I need to move my marker is the same as the direction the ball rims out. So if the ball rims the hole and goes to the right, then I adjust a touch right
If my ball travel arc in my putt preview is off by 6 inches or more, then I will check the distance from the cup to the nearest horizontal grid line. I mentally draw horizontal line from the cup over to my ball travel arc. Where that imaginary line intersects the ball travel arc is where I need to move the cup of course. I will do my best to estimate the distance from that imaginary intersection point of the travel arc and my imaginary line, to the nearest vertical grid line. Then I do my best to move the cup to that spot. I do all of this from the overhead view rather than my putting view
When my preview travel arc is very close or rims out with severely sloped greens, I will sometimes adjust my power instead of my aim, but NEVER both aim and power. Especially with longer putts I am more likely to adjust power rather than aim. The more severe the slope is, the more likely I am to adjust my power
As I stated above, experience is the key, but a basic technique that works for you is important for consistently dropping putts. We all think a bit differently so each of us needs to have a standard technique that works for us. To change your technique all the time will not establish consistent putting. If your process is basically the same all the time then you will get better and better at it until you feel comfortable with it. If I land on the green I ALWAYS count the ball in the hole in one putt, regardless of slope or distance. My putting is the MAIN part of my game that I always feel I can rely on, confidence is the key to this game, if you think you can . . . then you can. If you have doubts . . . well why go there ?
Hope this is understandable
TheJokker