Putting Tips - Putting in a Barrel
Putting tips can come from the strangest places. I was watching the Memorial Touranment over the weeked when one of the golfer was lining up a long putt. The announcers started talking about the putt. Nick Faldo was asked if he would try to get it close or make the putt. What he said was very instructional.
Nick said that he alway putts to make the putt. He doesn't believe in trying to putt into a 3 foot barrel. If you miss that barrel, you'll be more than three feet away. If you putt to sink it and miss by three feet, you'll only have a 3-footer left.
I thought about this because I had come off a green just a few days earlier after a three putt. After two good shots to get on the green, I sent my putt seven feet beyond the hole.. I was just trying to get close for a two putt. I'm really challenging that thought after what Nick Faldo said.
Well, I thought let's experience. I got in the Jeep and headed to the putting green for an unscientific experiment. There were ten holes on the green. The test was to strike 10 putts using each of the approaches. I had to be careful because my putting would adjust after the 1st putt and the second putt would be better regardless of whether I trying to sink it or just get within 3 feet.
Here's what I did. First, I warmed up by hitting long putts of 20-40 feet, but not at the holes. I picked discolored spots for targets. I didn't want to be tight and skew the test, that's why I got warm first. Then, for the test, I alternated approaches from opposite sides of each of the 10 holes. On the first hole, I focused the first putt on sinking it. For the second putt I putted to get within 3 feet. For the second hole, I alternated with the first putt to within 3 feet and the second putt right at the hole. I set the distance at 30 feet for a good test.
I wasn't surprised by the results. I got better at both as the test went on. It appears I was training myself. In itself, this was instructive. More time spent executing a focused task will generally improve results. On 7 of 10 holes, I was closer to the hole with putting to sink the putt. Those putts were outside of three feet on only two holes. For the putts where I was aiming within three feet, 4 were outside of the 3 foot zone.
At least in my case, the test shows that aiming at the hole to make the putt improves my lag putting results. The proof will be over the course of time as I change my approach during actual rounds. I will also be adding this approach to my putting drills. Your results may be different, but until to take the same test you won't know. So take 15 minutes, head out to the putting green and see what happens. Wouldn't it be worth it to knock a couple strokes per round off your score?
Nick said that he alway putts to make the putt. He doesn't believe in trying to putt into a 3 foot barrel. If you miss that barrel, you'll be more than three feet away. If you putt to sink it and miss by three feet, you'll only have a 3-footer left.
I thought about this because I had come off a green just a few days earlier after a three putt. After two good shots to get on the green, I sent my putt seven feet beyond the hole.. I was just trying to get close for a two putt. I'm really challenging that thought after what Nick Faldo said.
Well, I thought let's experience. I got in the Jeep and headed to the putting green for an unscientific experiment. There were ten holes on the green. The test was to strike 10 putts using each of the approaches. I had to be careful because my putting would adjust after the 1st putt and the second putt would be better regardless of whether I trying to sink it or just get within 3 feet.
Here's what I did. First, I warmed up by hitting long putts of 20-40 feet, but not at the holes. I picked discolored spots for targets. I didn't want to be tight and skew the test, that's why I got warm first. Then, for the test, I alternated approaches from opposite sides of each of the 10 holes. On the first hole, I focused the first putt on sinking it. For the second putt I putted to get within 3 feet. For the second hole, I alternated with the first putt to within 3 feet and the second putt right at the hole. I set the distance at 30 feet for a good test.
I wasn't surprised by the results. I got better at both as the test went on. It appears I was training myself. In itself, this was instructive. More time spent executing a focused task will generally improve results. On 7 of 10 holes, I was closer to the hole with putting to sink the putt. Those putts were outside of three feet on only two holes. For the putts where I was aiming within three feet, 4 were outside of the 3 foot zone.
At least in my case, the test shows that aiming at the hole to make the putt improves my lag putting results. The proof will be over the course of time as I change my approach during actual rounds. I will also be adding this approach to my putting drills. Your results may be different, but until to take the same test you won't know. So take 15 minutes, head out to the putting green and see what happens. Wouldn't it be worth it to knock a couple strokes per round off your score?
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