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Tips for Distance Control with Putting

Posted on 12/20/21 at 10:19 am
Posted by EyeOfTheTiger311
Lafayette, LA
Member since Aug 2005
4584 posts
Posted on 12/20/21 at 10:19 am
Any of you guys have some good tips, videos, articles, or drills for getting better at distance control with medium to long length putts? I'm typically a good putter, and had been having a solid year so far, but the last 3 months or so I just cannot get good control over the speed of those longer putts. I typically hit them too hard, but it can vary. The last 3 rounds I've played, I've had 4, 5, and 3 three-putts. It's really killing my scores.
For reference I am a 9 handicap, typically shoot low to mid 80's but I've been in the 88/89 range lately because of all these lost strokes on the greens.
Posted by Big Ole Baw
Member since Dec 2021
352 posts
Posted on 12/20/21 at 10:19 am to
Hit it closer. Makes putting way easier
Posted by TaderSalad
mudbug territory
Member since Jul 2014
25113 posts
Posted on 12/20/21 at 10:25 am to
I’ve started looking at where I want to putt the ball to and locking on that spot. I rarely look at the ball anymore when I putt and my putting has improved a bunch.

Pick a spot that you want to hit factoring in break and speed and then putt to it. Feels awkward for a few rounds, but once you get use to it, it’s stress free putting.
Posted by CoachChappy
Member since May 2013
33928 posts
Posted on 12/20/21 at 10:49 am to
quote:

The last 3 rounds I've played, I've had 4, 5, and 3 three-putts



I would love to see your putting strike. I can only guess that you are either snatching the club back and decelerating through, you are looking up before you make contact, or worst of all BOTH!

Go back to the basics and do the ladder drill. Start making them from inside 1-3 feet and back up from there.
Posted by ChrisBurky
Hill Valley, California
Member since Jul 2009
700 posts
Posted on 12/20/21 at 10:52 am to
As part of your pre-shot routine take 2-3 strokes looking at the hole. This will allow you eyes to give your brain feedback and also make sure your stroke is smooth and consistent. Much easier to control distance with a smooth, consistent equa-distant stroke vs a short, quick, popping stroke. Good Luck!!
Posted by BeaverPRO
Tampa
Member since Aug 2009
16259 posts
Posted on 12/20/21 at 10:55 am to
i'm pretty sure you gave me this trick when i was working camps for you back in 2012-13...I still use this routine today!
Posted by EyeOfTheTiger311
Lafayette, LA
Member since Aug 2005
4584 posts
Posted on 12/20/21 at 10:58 am to
quote:

I’ve started looking at where I want to putt the ball to and locking on that spot. I rarely look at the ball anymore when I putt and my putting has improved a bunch.

Pick a spot that you want to hit factoring in break and speed and then putt to it. Feels awkward for a few rounds, but once you get use to it, it’s stress free putting.



I like this idea. Thanks. I have found before that when I'm really locked in on the line itself and not so much the hole or the ball, I get better results.
I think what you're saying is, try to get the ball to a spot and use that as your speed reference, and then let the ball roll just roll out the rest of the way.
Posted by EyeOfTheTiger311
Lafayette, LA
Member since Aug 2005
4584 posts
Posted on 12/20/21 at 10:58 am to
quote:

As part of your pre-shot routine take 2-3 strokes looking at the hole. This will allow you eyes to give your brain feedback and also make sure your stroke is smooth and consistent. Much easier to control distance with a smooth, consistent equa-distant stroke vs a short, quick, popping stroke. Good Luck!!


Will try this too. Thanks
Posted by EyeOfTheTiger311
Lafayette, LA
Member since Aug 2005
4584 posts
Posted on 12/20/21 at 11:02 am to
quote:

I would love to see your putting strike. I can only guess that you are either snatching the club back and decelerating through,


I honestly couldn't tell you, which is the crazy part. It feels like my stroke is fine. On the practice green I really don't have any issues. It's once I get out on the course where everything goes to shite. I play at OCC which has typically faster and more sloped greens than anywhere but I haven't had this issue before and I've been playing here for 11 years.
It's got to be a mental thing at this point
Posted by CoachChappy
Member since May 2013
33928 posts
Posted on 12/20/21 at 11:03 am to
quote:

I play at OCC


The only answer is to take me to OCC with you. Ill diagnose the problem in person out on the course. Ill be off for 2 weeks starting Wednesday.
Posted by TaderSalad
mudbug territory
Member since Jul 2014
25113 posts
Posted on 12/20/21 at 11:31 am to
quote:

I think what you're saying is, try to get the ball to a spot and use that as your speed reference, and then let the ball roll just roll out the rest of the way


Correct with an emphasis on not ever looking at the ball at impact. Your brain will learn the speed a lot quicker than your eyes to your arms to your putter. By me not looking down at the ball, I rely on my brain to activate.

Not sure if you shoot guns, but the equivalent would be shooting your pistol where your looking rather than aiming it. So much can get out of alignment when you look down at the ball. Square the club in your grip and let the brain putt to your aim spot
Posted by ell_13
Member since Apr 2013
86756 posts
Posted on 12/20/21 at 11:58 am to
Distance control has a ton of variables. People only think of uphill and downhill. But the grass matters. The grain matters. The moisture matters. Shaded/sunny green matters. People will think they lost their feel but really they just don’t understand something as simple as into grain and down grain. Same goes for chipping around the green too. They’ll get mad when a chip rolls out one green and then checks on the next even though they hit the same shot.

All that being said, like tiger said this weekend you have to dig it out the dirt. Work on all of it. Find putts into the grain and short/long/slopes. Work on it when it just rained and when it’s really dry. Line up balls 5 ft behind the next in a straight line from 5 to 30 ft.
This post was edited on 12/20/21 at 11:59 am
Posted by wutangfinancial
Treasure Valley
Member since Sep 2015
11670 posts
Posted on 12/20/21 at 12:06 pm to
Get a putting mirror and get reps in during the week when you're on work calls. It's helped me a ton. It trains you on alignment, straightening out your putting stroke and making straight contact with the ball.

Distance control is another subject though because course conditions factor in the most. Getting reps in at the course practice green before rounds is an easy solution to get a feel for how they're rolling and can instantly whack some of the 3 putts that happen early in your rounds.
Posted by GeauxTigers0107
South Louisiana
Member since Oct 2009
10342 posts
Posted on 12/20/21 at 1:47 pm to
Forgot where I heard this tip but it stuck with me and I still use it when I have long putts, which are often...because my iron game sucks. I stand facing the hole and imagine the ball in my right hand. I "toss" the ball to the hole a couple of times and pay attention to the arm speed I'm using then convert that to the putter.

I obviously never really toss a ball to the hole. I simulate doing it and it helps me a lot. Just what works for me.
Posted by htcthc321
Member since Oct 2010
1721 posts
Posted on 12/20/21 at 2:51 pm to
I'm sure I'll get downvoted, but do yourself a favor and try out a BGT Stability Tour or LAGP shaft. Even Accra makes a decent one in their FXP line.

I've used a Stability Tour exclusively for well over a year now and my distance control has been the best it's ever been, regardless of what putter head is attached
This post was edited on 12/20/21 at 2:52 pm
Posted by EyeOfTheTiger311
Lafayette, LA
Member since Aug 2005
4584 posts
Posted on 12/21/21 at 9:37 am to
quote:

I'm sure I'll get downvoted, but do yourself a favor and try out a BGT Stability Tour or LAGP shaft. Even Accra makes a decent one in their FXP line.

I've used a Stability Tour exclusively for well over a year now and my distance control has been the best it's ever been, regardless of what putter head is attached



I just looked up those shafts. I think I'd rather just figure it out on my own somehow than pay $400 for a damn putter shaft.
Posted by PureBlood
The Motherland
Member since Oct 2021
4888 posts
Posted on 12/21/21 at 12:06 pm to
OP, have you tinkered with counterbalancing? Pretty simple to do and it does improve distance control. Next to you pop the grip off, drop a clevis pin down in there from Lowes. Wrap tape around it so it wont rattle then regrip. I've done this before on one of my putters and bought 2 or 3 different length ones for different weights. Held it in my hand closest to the butt of the grip and rolled some puts till I found one that felt just right and returned the others.
Posted by EyeOfTheTiger311
Lafayette, LA
Member since Aug 2005
4584 posts
Posted on 12/21/21 at 1:08 pm to
quote:

OP, have you tinkered with counterbalancing?


I used to exclusively use counterbalanced putters. I rarely change or get new putters as I don't really want to mess with anything. I used an Odyssey Tank #7 CB 38" putter for many many years, then upgraded to a Scotty Golo 5 CB 38" and used that for a couple of years. About 3-4 years ago I randomly tried out a TM Spider Tour (original models like DJ uses) 34" and I couldn't miss with it. I switched to that and have been using that since. Up until a couple of months ago I've had supreme confidence with it, now I can't do shite.

I tried going back to the Tank but I hate the feel now. I tried messing with the weights in the Spider... they come standard with 2g weights on each side, so I went to 10g on each side... that was a little too much so now I'm trying 6g on each side. Feels a little better.

I'm going to try and grind it out with the Spider before I go down the rabbit hole and start getting all kinds of new shite because I know I can putt well with it, just have to get it back.
Posted by ReeseWee
Geismar, LA
Member since May 2019
514 posts
Posted on 12/21/21 at 1:54 pm to
After you set up, putt with your eyes closed.
Posted by mule74
Watersound Beach
Member since Nov 2004
11840 posts
Posted on 12/21/21 at 2:01 pm to
On long putts I pretend like I’m hitting to a three foot round hole. That helps me to lag and I make a surprising number of longer puts. Don’t just thing about getting it in the hole. Think about stopping it in that radius.
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