For this week's podcast, LISTEN now (audio, 10 min, 32 secs.).
This short podcast tip on the Putter Fitting -- Computers vs Coaches aired on Golf Smarter Tips.com Friday, 5 December 2008.
"Hello, Dave."
"I'm sorry, Dave. I can't do that."
The putting podcast is now available for free on the Golf Smarter Tips website and also is archived on the PuttingZone and in the iTunes podcast "store" (also a FREE download). Anyone wishing to pose a question for response on the Golf Smarter Tips.com "Fridays Free" program, please use the "Ask the Experts" link on the Golf Smarter Tips.com website. If your question is chosen for the air, you will receive a FREE gift from me, such as a free copy of the new book Optimal Putting, a free "PuttingZone" logo shirt, sweater, wind breaker or the like in your specified size, a "PuttingZone Preferred" training aid, or similar gift as Thanks!
To subscribe to the Golf Smarter Tips podcasts on iTunes, click here.
To subscribe to this PuttingZone podcast for delivery into your email, click here.
Cheers!
Geoff Mangum
Putting Coach and Theorist
Geoff Mangum's
PuttingZone
PuttingZone Clinics
PuttingZone Blog & Podcasts
Flatstick Forum
PuttingZone Channel on YouTube
PuttingZone Picasweb Image Gallery
Add a widget with all my podcasts to your website with automatic updating.
Golf's best putting instruction book: Optimal Putting: Brain Science, Instincts, and the Four Skills of Putting (published 2008, 282-pages, $34.95 hardcover with free shipping [NB: The hardcover is TEMPORARILY OUT OF STOCK but the ebook is available], $15.95 ebook download -- click this link for details and to order your copy today).
Golf's most advanced and comprehensive putting instruction -- you're either in the PuttingZone, or not.
Over 2.5 million visits -- 200,000 monthly from 50+ countries -- and growing strong.
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Putter Fitting -- Computers vs Coaches: Golf Smarter Tips Podcast 12-05-08
Selecting a Putter: Golf Smarter Tips Podcast 11-28-08
For this week's podcast, LISTEN now (audio, 11 min, 54 secs.).
This short podcast tip on the Selecting a Putter aired on Golf Smarter Tips.com Friday, 28 November 2008.
The putting podcast is now available for free on the Golf Smarter Tips website and also is archived on the PuttingZone and in the iTunes podcast "store" (also a FREE download). Anyone wishing to pose a question for response on the Golf Smarter Tips.com "Fridays Free" program, please use the "Ask the Experts" link on the Golf Smarter Tips.com website. If your question is chosen for the air, you will receive a FREE gift from me, such as a free copy of the new book Optimal Putting, a free "PuttingZone" logo shirt, sweater, wind breaker or the like in your specified size, a "PuttingZone Preferred" training aid, or similar gift as Thanks!
To subscribe to the Golf Smarter Tips podcasts on iTunes, click here.
To subscribe to this PuttingZone podcast for delivery into your email, click here.
Cheers!
Geoff Mangum
Putting Coach and Theorist
Geoff Mangum's
PuttingZone
PuttingZone Clinics
PuttingZone Blog & Podcasts
Flatstick Forum
PuttingZone Channel on YouTube
PuttingZone Picasweb Image Gallery
Add a widget with all my podcasts to your website with automatic updating.
Golf's best putting instruction book: Optimal Putting: Brain Science, Instincts, and the Four Skills of Putting (published 2008, 282-pages, $34.95 hardcover with free shipping [NB: The hardcover is TEMPORARILY OUT OF STOCK but the ebook is available], $15.95 ebook download -- click this link for details and to order your copy today).
Golf's most advanced and comprehensive putting instruction -- you're either in the PuttingZone, or not.
Over 2.5 million visits -- 200,000 monthly from 50+ countries -- and growing strong.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
PuttingZone Learning Curve: Golf Smarter Tips Podcast November 14, 2008
For this week's podcast, LISTEN now (audio, 13 min, 55 secs.).
This short podcast tip on the What Does it Take: The Learning Curve for PuttingZone Skills aired on Golf Smarter Tips.com Friday, 14 November 2008.
COMMON NOTION OF LEARNING CURVE (smooth steady progress that planes off):
HALF-HUMOROUS NOTION OF LEARNING CURVE AS MANY MISTAKES AND LUCKY ACCIDENTS (but showing progress):
MORE REASONABLE VIEW (if a bit too straight and regular -- really should be a jump up at the very start and then a dipping and then a "takeoff" and then another plateau, a crisis of faith, a resurgence followed by incremental and small but steady progress, and then another plateau busted thru by virtue of specific-skill work and goal setting to get another "takeoff" etc. etc. with a generous sprinkling of mistakes and luck all along the way.)
Sports performance Learning Curve with Plateaus
We think our progress at acquiring as skill is linear with time but in fact it is made up of a series of improvements interspersed with periods of minimal improvement, the plateau. If we do not know about plateau, it can be very demotivating to the learner (and the coach).
The putting podcast is now available for free on the Golf Smarter Tips website and also is archived on the PuttingZone and in the iTunes podcast "store" (also a FREE download). Anyone wishing to pose a question for response on the Golf Smarter Tips.com "Fridays Free" program, please use the "Ask the Experts" link on the Golf Smarter Tips.com website. If your question is chosen for the air, you will receive a FREE gift from me, such as a free copy of the new book Optimal Putting, a free "PuttingZone" logo shirt, sweater, wind breaker or the like in your specified size, a "PuttingZone Preferred" training aid, or similar gift as Thanks!
To subscribe to the Golf Smarter Tips podcasts on iTunes, click here.
To subscribe to this PuttingZone podcast for delivery into your email, click here.
Cheers!
Geoff Mangum
Putting Coach and Theorist
Geoff Mangum's
PuttingZone
PuttingZone Clinics
PuttingZone Blog & Podcasts
Flatstick Forum
PuttingZone Channel on YouTube
PuttingZone Picasweb Image Gallery
Add a widget with all my podcasts to your website with automatic updating.
Golf's best putting instruction book: Optimal Putting: Brain Science, Instincts, and the Four Skills of Putting (published 2008, 282-pages, $34.95 hardcover with free shipping, $15.95 ebook download -- click this link for details and to order your copy today).
Golf's most advanced and comprehensive putting instruction -- you're either in the PuttingZone, or not.
Over 2.5 million visits -- 200,000 monthly from 50+ countries -- and growing strong.
Saturday, November 08, 2008
Optimum Putter Lie: Golf Smarter Tips 11-07-08
For this week's podcast, LISTEN now (audio, 11 min, 56 secs.).
This short podcast tip on the Optimum Putter Lie aired on Golf Smarter Tips.com Friday, 07 November 2008.
Mitchell Golf Putter Bending Machine
The putting podcast is now available for free on the Golf Smarter Tips website and also is archived on the PuttingZone and in the iTunes podcast "store" (also a FREE download). Anyone wishing to pose a question for response on the Golf Smarter Tips.com "Fridays Free" program, please use the "Ask the Experts" link on the Golf Smarter Tips.com website. If your question is chosen for the air, you will receive a FREE gift from me, such as a free copy of the new book Optimal Putting, a free "PuttingZone" logo shirt, sweater, wind breaker or the like in your specified size, a "PuttingZone Preferred" training aid, or similar gift as Thanks!
To subscribe to the Golf Smarter Tips podcasts on iTunes, click here.
To subscribe to this PuttingZone podcast for delivery into your email, click here.
Cheers!
Geoff Mangum
Putting Coach and Theorist
Geoff Mangum's
PuttingZone
PuttingZone Clinics
PuttingZone Blog & Podcasts
Flatstick Forum
PuttingZone Channel on YouTube
PuttingZone Picasweb Image Gallery
Add a widget with all my podcasts to your website with automatic updating.
Golf's best putting instruction book: Optimal Putting: Brain Science, Instincts, and the Four Skills of Putting (published 2008, 282-pages, $34.95 hardcover with free shipping, $15.95 ebook download -- click this link for details and to order your copy today).
Golf's most advanced and comprehensive putting instruction -- you're either in the PuttingZone, or not.
Over 2.5 million visits -- 200,000 monthly from 50+ countries -- and growing strong.
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Putting Preround Warmup: Golf Smarter Tips Podcast 10-31-08
For this week's podcast, LISTEN now (audio, 14 min, 06 secs.).
@@@ Voting October 23 - November 6: These Golf Smarter Tips podcasts have been nominated among the top 10 best podcasts for the "People's Choice" and "Sports" Categories -- vote for us as NUMBER 1 by visiting this link (PodcastAwards.com) between October 23 and November 6!! Vote in both categories by ticking the box, and you may vote again each 24 hours. You may be asked by email to verify your vote. Thanks for the support. @@@
This short podcast tip on the A Putting Preround Warmup Routine aired on Golf Smarter Tips.com Friday, 31 October 2008.
The "Putting Clock", Miami 1905 (US Library of Congress)
The putting podcast is now available for free on the Golf Smarter Tips website and also is archived on the PuttingZone and in the iTunes podcast "store" (also a FREE download). Anyone wishing to pose a question for response on the Golf Smarter Tips.com "Fridays Free" program, please use the "Ask the Experts" link on the Golf Smarter Tips.com website. If your question is chosen for the air, you will receive a FREE gift from me, such as a free copy of the new book Optimal Putting, a free "PuttingZone" logo shirt, sweater, wind breaker or the like in your specified size, a "PuttingZone Preferred" training aid, or similar gift as Thanks!
To subscribe to the Golf Smarter Tips podcasts on iTunes, click here.
To subscribe to this PuttingZone podcast for delivery into your email, click here.
Cheers!
Geoff Mangum
Putting Coach and Theorist
Geoff Mangum's
PuttingZone
PuttingZone Clinics
PuttingZone Blog & Podcasts
Flatstick Forum
PuttingZone Channel on YouTube
PuttingZone Picasweb Image Gallery
Add a widget with all my podcasts to your website with automatic updating.
Golf's best putting instruction book: Optimal Putting: Brain Science, Instincts, and the Four Skills of Putting (published 2008, 282-pages, $34.95 hardcover with free shipping, $15.95 ebook download -- click this link for details and to order your copy today).
Golf's most advanced and comprehensive putting instruction -- you're either in the PuttingZone, or not.
Over 2.5 million visits -- 200,000 monthly from 50+ countries -- and growing strong.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
A Smooth Putting Backstroke: Golf Smarter Tips Podcast 10-24-08
For this week's podcast, LISTEN now (audio, 8 min, 46 secs.).
@@@ Voting October 23 - November 6: These Golf Smarter Tips podcasts have been nominated among the top 10 best podcasts for the "People's Choice" and "Sports" Categories -- vote for us as NUMBER 1 by visiting this link (PodcastAwards.com) between October 23 and November 6!! Thanks for the support. @@@
This short podcast tip on the A Smooth Putting Backstroke aired on Golf Smarter Tips.com Friday, 17 October 2008.
The putting podcast is now available for free on the Golf Smarter Tips website and also is archived on the PuttingZone and in the iTunes podcast "store" (also a FREE download). Anyone wishing to pose a question for response on the Golf Smarter Tips.com "Fridays Free" program, please use the "Ask the Experts" link on the Golf Smarter Tips.com website. If your question is chosen for the air, you will receive a FREE gift from me, such as a free copy of the new book Optimal Putting, a free "PuttingZone" logo shirt, sweater, wind breaker or the like in your specified size, a "PuttingZone Preferred" training aid, or similar gift as Thanks!
To subscribe to the Golf Smarter Tips podcasts on iTunes, click here.
To subscribe to this PuttingZone podcast for delivery into your email, click here.
Cheers!
Geoff Mangum
Putting Coach and Theorist
Geoff Mangum's
PuttingZone
PuttingZone Clinics
PuttingZone Blog & Podcasts
Flatstick Forum
PuttingZone Channel on YouTube
PuttingZone Picasweb Image Gallery
Add a widget with all my podcasts to your website with automatic updating.
Golf's best putting instruction book: Optimal Putting: Brain Science, Instincts, and the Four Skills of Putting (published 2008, 282-pages, $34.95 hardcover with free shipping, $15.95 ebook download -- click this link for details and to order your copy today).
Golf's most advanced and comprehensive putting instruction -- you're either in the PuttingZone, or not.
Over 2.5 million visits -- 200,000 monthly from 50+ countries -- and growing strong.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Eye Dominance in Putting: Golf Smarter Tips Podcast 10-17-08 (Fixed Link)
For this week's podcast, LISTEN now (audio, 11 min, 30 secs.).
@@@ Voting October 23 - November 6: These Golf Smarter Tips podcasts have been nominated among the top 10 best podcasts for the "People's Choice" and "Sports" Categories -- vote for us as NUMBER 1 by visiting this link (PodcastAwards.com) between October 23 and November 6!! Thanks for the support. @@@
This short podcast tip on the Eye Dominance in Putting aired on Golf Smarter Tips.com Friday, 17 October 2008.
Eye Dominance Test
The putting podcast is now available for free on the Golf Smarter Tips website and also is archived on the PuttingZone and in the iTunes podcast "store" (also a FREE download). Anyone wishing to pose a question for response on the Golf Smarter Tips.com "Fridays Free" program, please use the "Ask the Experts" link on the Golf Smarter Tips.com website. If your question is chosen for the air, you will receive a FREE gift from me, such as a free copy of the new book Optimal Putting, a free "PuttingZone" logo shirt, sweater, wind breaker or the like in your specified size, a "PuttingZone Preferred" training aid, or similar gift as Thanks!
To subscribe to the Golf Smarter Tips podcasts on iTunes, click here.
To subscribe to this PuttingZone podcast for delivery into your email, click here.
Cheers!
Geoff Mangum
Putting Coach and Theorist
Geoff Mangum's
PuttingZone
PuttingZone Clinics
PuttingZone Blog & Podcasts
Flatstick Forum
PuttingZone Channel on YouTube
PuttingZone Picasweb Image Gallery
Add a widget with all my podcasts to your website with automatic updating.
Golf's best putting instruction book: Optimal Putting: Brain Science, Instincts, and the Four Skills of Putting (published 2008, 282-pages, $34.95 hardcover with free shipping, $15.95 ebook download -- click this link for details and to order your copy today).
Golf's most advanced and comprehensive putting instruction -- you're either in the PuttingZone, or not.
Over 2.5 million visits -- 200,000 monthly from 50+ countries -- and growing strong.
The Long Putter and Belly Putter: Golf Smarter Tips Podcast 10-10-08 (Fixed Link)
For this week's podcast, LISTEN now (audio, 7 min, 39 secs.).
This short podcast tip on the The Long Putter and Belly Putter aired on Golf Smarter Tips.com Friday, 10 October 2008.
The putting podcast is now available for free on the Golf Smarter Tips website and also is archived on the PuttingZone and in the iTunes podcast "store" (also a FREE download). Anyone wishing to pose a question for response on the Golf Smarter Tips.com "Fridays Free" program, please use the "Ask the Experts" link on the Golf Smarter Tips.com website. If your question is chosen for the air, you will receive a FREE gift from me, such as a free copy of the new book Optimal Putting, a free "PuttingZone" logo shirt, sweater, wind breaker or the like in your specified size, a "PuttingZone Preferred" training aid, or similar gift as Thanks!
To subscribe to the Golf Smarter Tips podcasts on iTunes, click here.
To subscribe to this PuttingZone podcast for delivery into your email, click here.
Cheers!
Geoff Mangum
Putting Coach and Theorist
Geoff Mangum's
PuttingZone
PuttingZone Clinics
PuttingZone Blog & Podcasts
Flatstick Forum
PuttingZone Channel on YouTube
PuttingZone Picasweb Image Gallery
Add a widget with all my podcasts to your website with automatic updating.
Golf's best putting instruction book: Optimal Putting: Brain Science, Instincts, and the Four Skills of Putting (published 2008, 282-pages, $34.95 hardcover with free shipping, $15.95 ebook download -- click this link for details and to order your copy today).
Golf's most advanced and comprehensive putting instruction -- you're either in the PuttingZone, or not.
Over 2.5 million visits -- 200,000 monthly from 50+ countries -- and growing strong.
Saturday, October 04, 2008
The Wrecking Ball Putting Stroke: Golf Smarter Tips Podcast 10-03-08
For this week's podcast, LISTEN now (audio, 11 min, 14 secs.).
This short podcast tip on the The Wrecking Ball Putting Stroke aired on Golf Smarter Tips.com Friday, 3 October 2008.
The putting podcast is now available for free on the Golf Smarter Tips website and also is archived on the PuttingZone and in the iTunes podcast "store" (also a FREE download). Anyone wishing to pose a question for response on the Golf Smarter Tips.com "Fridays Free" program, please use the "Ask the Experts" link on the Golf Smarter Tips.com website. If your question is chosen for the air, you will receive a FREE gift from me, such as a free copy of the new book Optimal Putting, a free "PuttingZone" logo shirt, sweater, wind breaker or the like in your specified size, a "PuttingZone Preferred" training aid, or similar gift as Thanks!
To subscribe to the Golf Smarter Tips podcasts on iTunes, click here.
To subscribe to this PuttingZone podcast for delivery into your email, click here.
Cheers!
Geoff Mangum
Putting Coach and Theorist
Geoff Mangum's
PuttingZone
PuttingZone Clinics
PuttingZone Blog & Podcasts
Flatstick Forum
PuttingZone Channel on YouTube
PuttingZone Picasweb Image Gallery
Add a widget with all my podcasts to your website with automatic updating.
Golf's best putting instruction book: Optimal Putting: Brain Science, Instincts, and the Four Skills of Putting (published 2008, 282-pages, $34.95 hardcover with free shipping, $15.95 ebook download -- click this link for details and to order your copy today).
Golf's most advanced and comprehensive putting instruction -- you're either in the PuttingZone, or not.
Over 2.5 million visits -- 200,000 monthly from 50+ countries -- and growing strong.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Kids and Distance Control in Putting: Golf Smarter Tips Podcast 09-26-08
For this week's podcast, LISTEN now (audio, 11 min, 11 secs.).
This short podcast tip on the Kids and Distance Control in Putting aired on Golf Smarter Tips.com Friday, 26 September 2008.
The putting podcast is now available for free on the Golf Smarter Tips website and also is archived on the PuttingZone and in the iTunes podcast "store" (also a FREE download). Anyone wishing to pose a question for response on the Golf Smarter Tips.com "Fridays Free" program, please use the "Ask the Experts" link on the Golf Smarter Tips.com website. If your question is chosen for the air, you will receive a FREE gift from me, such as a free copy of the new book Optimal Putting, a free "PuttingZone" logo shirt, sweater, wind breaker or the like in your specified size, a "PuttingZone Preferred" training aid, or similar gift as Thanks!
To subscribe to the Golf Smarter Tips podcasts on iTunes, click here.
To subscribe to this PuttingZone podcast for delivery into your email, click here.
Cheers!
Geoff Mangum
Putting Coach and Theorist
Geoff Mangum's
PuttingZone
PuttingZone Clinics
PuttingZone Blog & Podcasts
Flatstick Forum
PuttingZone Channel on YouTube
PuttingZone Picasweb Image Gallery
Add a widget with all my podcasts to your website with automatic updating.
Golf's best putting instruction book: Optimal Putting: Brain Science, Instincts, and the Four Skills of Putting (published 2008, 282-pages, $34.95 hardcover with free shipping, $15.95 ebook download -- click this link for details and to order your copy today).
Golf's most advanced and comprehensive putting instruction -- you're either in the PuttingZone, or not.
Over 2.5 million visits -- 200,000 monthly from 50+ countries -- and growing strong.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
The "Bermuda Triangle" of Short Putts: Golf Smarter Tips Podcast 09-19-08
For this week's podcast, LISTEN now (audio, 10 min, 16 secs.).
This short podcast tip on the "Bermuda Triangle" of short putts between 2 and 8 feet aired on Golf Smarter Tips.com Friday, 19 September 2008. 
To view a 22-minute television program on the Bermuda Triangle from the History Channel (2006), hosted by Leonard Nimoy, click here.
The putting podcast is now available for free on the Golf Smarter Tips website and also is archived on the PuttingZone and in the iTunes podcast "store" (also a FREE download). Anyone wishing to pose a question for response on the Golf Smarter Tips.com "Fridays Free" program, please use the "Ask the Experts" link on the Golf Smarter Tips.com website. If your question is chosen for the air, you will receive a FREE gift from me, such as a free copy of the new book Optimal Putting, a free "PuttingZone" logo shirt, sweater, wind breaker or the like in your specified size, a "PuttingZone Preferred" training aid, or similar gift as Thanks!
To subscribe to the Golf Smarter Tips podcasts on iTunes, click here.
Cheers!
Geoff Mangum
Putting Coach and Theorist
Geoff Mangum's
PuttingZone
PuttingZone Clinics
PuttingZone Blog & Podcasts
Flatstick Forum
PuttingZone Channel on YouTube
PuttingZone Picasweb Image Gallery
Golf's best putting instruction book: Optimal Putting: Brain Science, Instincts, and the Four Skills of Putting (published 2008, 282-pages, $34.95 hardcover with free shipping, $15.95 ebook download -- click this link for details and to order your copy today).
Golf's most advanced and comprehensive putting instruction -- you're either in the PuttingZone, or not.
Over 2.5 million visits -- 200,000 monthly from 50+ countries -- and growing strong.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Conscious Thought in Putting: Golf Smarter Tips Podcast 09-12-08
For this week's podcast, LISTEN now (audio, 10 min, 11 secs.).
This short podcast tip on conscious thoughts in putting aired on Golf Smarter Tips.com Friday, 12 September 2008. It is now available for free on this website and also is archived on the PuttingZone and in the iTunes podcast "store" (also a FREE download). Anyone wishing to pose a question for response on the Golf Smarter Tips.com "Fridays Free" program, please use the "Ask the Experts" link on the Golf Smarter Tips.com website. If your question is chosen for the air, you will receive a FREE gift from me, such as a free copy of the new book Optimal Putting, a free "PuttingZone" logo shirt, sweater, wind breaker or the like in your specified size, a "PuttingZone Preferred" training aid, or similar gift as Thanks!
To subscribe to the Golf Smarter Tips podcasts on iTunes, click here.
Cheers!
Geoff Mangum
Putting Coach and Theorist
Geoff Mangum's
PuttingZone
PuttingZone Clinics
PuttingZone Blog & Podcasts
Flatstick Forum
PuttingZone Channel on YouTube
PuttingZone Picasweb Image Gallery
Golf's best putting instruction book: Optimal Putting: Brain Science, Instincts, and the Four Skills of Putting (published 2008, 282-pages, $34.95 hardcover with free shipping, $15.95 ebook download -- click this link for details and to order your copy today).
Golf's most advanced and comprehensive putting instruction -- you're either in the PuttingZone, or not.
Over 2.5 million visits -- 200,000 monthly from 50+ countries -- and growing strong.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Shoulder Swing for putting: Golf Smarter Tips 09-05-08
For this week's podcast, LISTEN now (audio, 08 min, 49 secs.).
This short podcast tip on the shoulder swing in putting aired on Golf Smarter Tips.com Friday, 5 September 2008. It is now available for free on this website and also is archived on the PuttingZone and in the iTunes podcast "store" (also a FREE download). Anyone wishing to pose a question for response on the Golf Smarter Tips.com "Fridays Free" program, please use the "Ask the Experts" link on the Golf Smarter Tips.com website. If your question is chosen for the air, you will receive a FREE gift from me, such as a free copy of the new book Optimal Putting, a free "PuttingZone" logo shirt, sweater, wind breaker or the like in your specified size, a "PuttingZone Preferred" training aid, or similar gift as Thanks!
To subscribe to the Golf Smarter Tips podcasts on iTunes, click here.
Cheers!
Geoff Mangum
Putting Coach and Theorist
Geoff Mangum's
PuttingZone
PuttingZone Clinics
Flatstick Forum
PuttingZone Channel on YouTube
PuttingZone Picasweb Image Gallery
Golf's most advanced and comprehensive putting instruction -- you're either in the PuttingZone, or not.
Over 2.5 million visits -- 200,000 monthly from 50+ countries -- and growing strong.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Consistent Tempo for Putting: Golf Smarter Tips 08-29-08
For this week's podcast, LISTEN now (audio, 09 min, 08 secs.).
This short podcast tip on consistent tempo for putting aired on Golf Smarter Tips.com Friday, 29 August 2008. It is now available for free on this website and also is archived on the PuttingZone and in the iTunes podcast "store" (also a FREE download). Anyone wishing to pose a question for response on the Golf Smarter Tips.com "Fridays Free" program, please use the "Ask the Experts" link on the Golf Smarter Tips.com website. If your question is chosen for the air, you will receive a FREE gift from me, such as a free copy of the new book Optimal Putting, a free "PuttingZone" logo shirt, sweater, wind breaker or the like in your specified size, a "PuttingZone Preferred" training aid, or similar gift as Thanks!
To subscribe to the Golf Smarter Tips podcasts on iTunes, click here.
Cheers!
Geoff Mangum
Putting Coach and Theorist
Geoff Mangum's
PuttingZone
PuttingZone Clinics
Flatstick Forum
PuttingZone Channel on YouTube
PuttingZone Picasweb Image Gallery
Golf's most advanced and comprehensive putting instruction -- you're either in the PuttingZone, or not.
Over 2.5 million visits -- 200,000 monthly from 50+ countries -- and growing strong.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Uphill-Downhill Distance Control: Golf Smarter Tips Podcast 08-22-08
This short podcast tip on controlling distance on uphill-downhill putts and on tiers aired on Golf Smarter Tips.com Friday, 22 August 2008. It is now available for free on this website and also is archived on the PuttingZone and in the iTunes podcast "store" (also a FREE download). Anyone wishing to pose a question for response on the Golf Smarter Tips.com "Fridays Free" program, please use the "Ask the Experts" link on the Golf Smarter Tips.com website. If your question is chosen for the air, you will receive a FREE gift from me, such as a free copy of the new book Optimal Putting, a free "PuttingZone" logo shirt, sweater, wind breaker or the like in your specified size, a "PuttingZone Preferred" training aid, or similar gift as Thanks! For this week's podcast, LISTEN now (audio, 14 min, 33 secs.).
To subscribe to the Golf Smarter Tips podcasts on iTunes, click here.
Cheers!
Geoff Mangum
Putting Coach and Theorist
Geoff Mangum's
PuttingZone
PuttingZone Clinics
Flatstick Forum
PuttingZone Channel on YouTube
PuttingZone Picasweb Image Gallery
Golf's most advanced and comprehensive putting instruction -- you're either in the PuttingZone, or not.
Over 2.5 million visits -- 200,000 monthly from 50+ countries -- and growing strong.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Square Putter Face at Impact: Golf Smarter Tips Podcast 08-08-08
This short podcast tip on stroking thru the ball with a square putter face at impact aired on Golf Smarter Tips.com Friday, 8 August 2008. It is now available for free on this website and also is archived on the PuttingZone and in the iTunes podcast "store" (also a FREE download). Anyone wishing to pose a question for response on the Golf Smarter Tips.com "Fridays Free" program, please use the "Ask the Experts" link on the Golf Smarter Tips.com website. If your question is chosen for the air, you will receive a FREE gift from me, such as a free copy of the new book Optimal Putting, a free "PuttingZone" logo shirt, sweater, wind breaker or the like in your specified size, a "PuttingZone Preferred" training aid, or similar gift as Thanks! For this week's podcast, LISTEN now (audio, 8 min, 38 secs.).
To subscribe to the Golf Smarter Tips podcasts on iTunes, click here.
Cheers!
Geoff Mangum
Putting Coach and Theorist
Geoff Mangum's
PuttingZone
PuttingZone Clinics
Flatstick Forum
PuttingZone Channel on YouTube
PuttingZone Picasweb Image Gallery
Golf's most advanced and comprehensive putting instruction -- you're either in the PuttingZone, or not.
Over 2.5 million visits -- 200,000 monthly from 50+ countries -- and growing strong.
How to Know Your Putting Is Improving: Golf Smarter Tips Podcast 08-15-08
To subscribe to the Golf Smarter Tips podcasts on iTunes, click here.
Cheers!
Geoff Mangum
Putting Coach and Theorist
Geoff Mangum's
PuttingZone
PuttingZone Clinics
Flatstick Forum
PuttingZone Channel on YouTube
PuttingZone Picasweb Image Gallery
Golf's most advanced and comprehensive putting instruction -- you're either in the PuttingZone, or not.
Over 2.5 million visits -- 200,000 monthly from 50+ countries -- and growing strong.
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Seeing Break from Different Perspectives: Golf Smarter Tips Podcast 08-01-08
To subscribe to the Golf Smarter Tips podcasts on iTunes, click here.
Cheers!
Geoff Mangum
Putting Coach and Theorist
Geoff Mangum's
PuttingZone
PuttingZone Clinics
Flatstick Forum
PuttingZone Channel on YouTube
PuttingZone Picasweb Image Gallery
Golf's most advanced and comprehensive putting instruction -- you're either in the PuttingZone, or not.
Over 2.5 million visits -- 200,000 monthly from 50+ countries -- and growing strong.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Golf Smarter Tips Podcast: Putter Face Aim
To subscribe to the Golf Smarter Tips podcasts on iTunes, click here.
Cheers!
Geoff Mangum
Putting Coach and Theorist
Geoff Mangum's
PuttingZone
PuttingZone Clinics
Flatstick Forum
PuttingZone Channel on YouTube
PuttingZone Picasweb Image Gallery
Golf's most advanced and comprehensive putting instruction -- you're either in the PuttingZone, or not.
Over 2.5 million visits -- 200,000 monthly from 50+ countries -- and growing strong.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
The Putting Grip Form: Golf Smarter Tips Podcast 07-18-08
To subscribe to the Golf Smarter Tips podcasts on iTunes, click here.
Cheers!
Geoff Mangum
Putting Coach and Theorist
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Friday, July 11, 2008
Golf Smarter Podcast: How to Read Putts
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Why Is Tiger Not Yet a Great Putter?
Tiger has had a long-standing problem with touch -- dating back to his junior years -- and he hasn't figured it out yet. If you think he's the best now, watch the heck out!!
Tiger after missing eagle putt at 2006 Masters 13th Hole
The REAL story is that Tiger currently wins 1 out of 4 events he enters, but if he can get a handle on this one aspect of his game, he can win THREE TIMES AS OFTEN, notching a W every 3 events out of 4. Lights out, boys. Welcome to the Tiger TV Tour, complete with 153 other "competitors" as cannon fodder.
Don't believe me? Here's what Tiger says, what his caddie Steve Williams says, and what Hank Haney says:
Tiger, 2006 Masters: "This is the most amount of three-putts I've ever had here. If I just putted normal today I would have given Phil a run. It was frustrating. It's the best I've hit it in years. Just the way you want to hit it in a major championship. But I absolutely lost it on the greens. I'm probably going to go snap this putter in about eight pieces."
Tiger, 2006 PGA Championship: "Hank, you’ve never seen me putt good."
Hank, 2006 PGA Championship: "With all this focus on his swing, putting is the one thing that's gone neglected. But he's worked hard on it, and it's starting to show."
Steve, after 2006: "I keep very comprehensive details of Tiger's statistics. No question, the difference between his winning and not winning comes down to putting. My statistics tell you that if he plays 72 holes without a three-putt, his chances of a victory are about 80 percent. In 2000 he had several stretches of more than 100 straight holes without a three-putt -- I believe he got to 258 at one point. He had only one stretch longer than 100 holes this year."
We're all very sorry that Tiger's hobbled right now with his bum knee, but then again this allows him to work on his putting issue. Look out!
Here is a radiograph thru time of Tiger and this touch issue:
1. Tiger Woods on learning over the first five years on Tour to slow down his stroke, changing from aggressive to a softer touch (Golf Digest September 2000):
"How to lag putt: Cutting down on three-jacks
I've always been an aggressive putter. During my junior golf and amateur days, I would knock it four or five feet past and drill it coming back. However, the greens on tour are faster and more undulating. Most of the time on tour you have to be "passively aggressive."
You're not always going to hit your approaches close, so I had to learn how to control my speed on long putts to avoid those knee-knockers coming back. The key is pace of stroke and pace of ball, controlled by a longer, slower stroke. When I'm rolling it well, my backstroke and forward stroke are almost identical in length. If one is shorter, it will not be my forward stroke; you don't want to decelerate. I lag putted great at this year's U.S. Open, but what set that up was growing confidence over the previous year. The National Car Rental at Disney in 1999 is a perfect example. I didn't strike the ball that well all week but managed a one-shot lead going to the 72nd hole. I hit a very conservative approach about 35 feet away, then rolled the putt within tap-in distance. I've learned to love tap-ins.
The lesson for you: Employ a longer, slower stroke on long putts."
Tiger Woods, The lessons I've learned: And what you can learn from them, Golf Digest, Sep 2000.
2. Here's his take on his "atrocious" putting at the 2004 PGA Championship:
"TIGER WOODS: It's frustrating because I didn't win, simple as that. I felt like I was playing so well coming into this event, and I was. It's unfortunate that I just didn't continue that way, that first day when I played decent but putted so poorly. It just put me so far back that it was very frustrating.
Q. (Inaudible.)
TIGER WOODS: First day was mechanics. Today I just didn't feel it at all. To feel that poorly over a putt is just very unusual, especially this year."
Tiger Woods Interview, 86th PGA Championship, 15 Aug 2004.
3. Here is Tiger Woods on why he lost the 2006 Masters with terrible, spasmotic putting:
"As Tiger Woods signed his scorecard near the 18th green, a member of his entourage had his putter and mimicked snapping it over his knee. Woods' caddie agreed.
"Break the ...," Steve Williams said, throwing the putter to one of Woods' agents.
No Woods fan would have argued. Only three players in the field needed more putts in their final round. The four-time Masters champion finished in a disappointing five-way tie for third place.
"I hit it great today," Woods said. "As good as I hit it today, that's as bad as I putted. ... It was frustrating. I felt in so much control of my ball from tee to green. The best I have hit it in years. The final round of a major that's exactly how you want to hit it. But then again, I absolutely lost it out there on the greens. I putted so bad. I am probably going to go snap this putter in about eight pieces."
Greens that perplexed Woods all day made him pine for his typical game on the final day of a major championship.
"The way I controlled my ball today, I felt like today was the day," Woods said. "If I would have just putted normal. I didn't have to play great. Just had to putt normal. I had so many putts in there inside 10 feet for birdies and eagles, and I missed them all."
"If I knew (what went wrong) I would have fixed it," Woods said. "I was both pulling them and pushing them. Bad speed. Short. Long. You name it. I had it all today."
Gary D'Amato, Tiger's putting game off course - Struggle on greens dooms Woods, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 9 Apr 2006.
The same:
"Done in by a horrible day on the greens for the first time in a major championship in which he was in contention, Woods fell short in his bid to win his fifth Masters and his 11th major title Sunday.
"I putted atrociously today," he said. "As good as I hit it, that's as bad as I putted it. I felt so in control of my game, but once I got on the green I was a spaz."
How bad was his putting?
He three-putted on No. 11, waved at a 10-foot birdie putt on the next hole, missed eagle putts shorter than 10 feet on Nos. 13 and 15 and then, after giving himself a breath of hope with a birdie on No. 16, gave the stroke right back with a three-putt bogey on No. 17.
He finished with 33 putts. Only three players needed more in the final round.
When Woods won the 1997 Masters, setting the 72-hole record of 18-under 270, he didn't have a single three-putt. He also putted brilliantly in his victories at Augusta National in 2001, '02 and '05.
"This is the most amount of three-putts I've ever had here," he said. "If I just putted normal today I would have given Phil a run.
"It was frustrating. It's the best I've hit it in years. Just the way you want to hit it in a major championship. But I absolutely lost it on the greens. I'm probably going to go snap this putter in about eight pieces."
Asked if he knew what went wrong, Woods said, "If I knew, I would have fixed it. I was pulling 'em, pushing 'em, bad speed, (missing) short and long. You name it and I did it."
Jeff Sentell, Putting ends Woods' chances, Masters.org, 10 Apr 2006.
4. Hank Haney on Tiger's putting in 2006 at Medinah:
"The missing piece for Woods was his putting. At Hoylake he prevailed even though he had three three-putts on the back nine on Saturday, typical of an uneven year on the greens.
"With all this focus on his swing, it's the one thing that's gone neglected," Haney said last week of Woods's putting. "But he's worked hard on it, and it's starting to show.""
Doug Ferguson, Tiger's putting in PGA simply amazing - Forget about length off tee, Woods won with his flat stick, nbcsports.com, 23 Aug 2006.
And the same:
"But he was equally proud of the most boring shot in golf, a special gift for swing coach Hank Haney.
“He told me Saturday afternoon, ‘Hank, you’ve never seen me putt good,”’ Haney said Monday night from his home in Dallas. “And I told him after he got done, ‘I’ve seen you putt good now.”’
The one club Woods singled out in his five-shot victory at Medinah was his putter.
He started his final round with a 10-foot birdie to seize the lead, then pulled away with a pair of 40-foot birdie putts, both of them tumbling into the cup with perfect speed.
“I just felt like if I got the ball anywhere on the green, I could make it,” Woods said. “It’s not too often you get days like that, and I happened to have it on the final round of a major championship.”
Alan Shipnuck, Playing like it was 1999 all over again, Tiger Woods returned to Medinah and lapped the field at the PGA, showing off a putting stroke that seems to make him, well, unbeatable, Golf.com, 28 Aug 2006.
5. Here's what Steve Williams says about Tiger after his 2006 season -- that he now wins 25% of the time but he could TRIPLE that if he eliminated his three-putting:
"On Woods' putting struggles in the first half of '06: "I keep very comprehensive details of Tiger's statistics. No question, the difference between his winning and not winning comes down to putting. My statistics tell you that if he plays 72 holes without a three-putt, his chances of a victory are about 80 percent. In 2000 he had several stretches of more than 100 straight holes without a three-putt -- I believe he got to 258 at one point. He had only one stretch longer than 100 holes this year."
Steve Williams Speaks Up, ESPN, 28 Dec 2006.
6. One month later Tiger slumps with bad putting to lose a match 4 and 3:
At Wentworth in September, losing 4 and 3 to Micheel with bad putting.
"Woods was undone by uncharacteristically poor putting, missing a putt from less than three feet at the ninth.
"I felt like I hit the ball pretty decent all day but I just didn't make any putts," said the world number one.
"I had my chances but had a hard time with my pace on the greens."
Woods slumps to Match Play defeat, BBC Sports, 12 Sep 2006.
7. Tiger Woods on putting lead tape on his putter to adjust his putter mass in an attempt to account for faster or slower greens while leaving the size of his strokes the same from fast to slow greens (Congressional 2007):
"Q. Was the lead tape on the putter today?
TIGER WOODS: Yeah, well, the whole idea, like I told Stevie when we did it was to build continuity for next two tournaments, this tournament and the next, because you know the British Open never has fast greens. So it was nice to have an adjustment like I've made for this week probably going to last until the next event."
Tiger Woods Interview, AT&T National hosted by Tiger Woods, 7 Jul 2007.
8. Tiger on losing the 2008 US Open with bad putting:
"Woods has lost his past two tournaments in large part because of his putter. This week, he had 28 putts Thursday, 31 on Friday and Saturday and 30 on Sunday.
That totalled 120 putts in the tournament, which ranked in a tie for 29th in the field. Immelman had 112 putts.
After he rolled in a birdie putt on No. 18, Woods waved one of his hands in disgust, showing his disappointment with his putting. His main problem was dragging the blade on his shorter putts, he said.
"I just didn't quite have it this week," Woods said. "I didn't make the putts I needed to make this entire week. I had the speed, just didn't get the line right. You have good weeks and have bad weeks. Certainly, this was not one of my best."
David Westin, Immelman holds off Tiger for green jacket - South African shoots his worst round of tournament but outlasts a struggling Woods for Masters victory, Topeka Capital Journal, 14 Apr 2008.
The PuttingZone lesson for today: Even the "best" need to get better! Touch is more important than stroke mechanics, and without touch a golfer cannot be a great reader of putts to start with, so stroke mechanics won't matter if the read is off. Tiger really needs to fix this, and he probably will if he can figure it out. But, hey, that's why the Chinese Golf Gods "Ty" and "Ming" created putting instructors. :-)
Cheers!
Geoff Mangum
Putting Coach and Theorist
Geoff Mangum's
PuttingZone
PuttingZone Clinics
Flatstick Forum
PuttingZone Channel on YouTube
PuttingZone Picasweb Image Gallery
Golf's most advanced and comprehensive putting instruction -- you're either in the PuttingZone, or not.
Over 2.5 million visits -- 200,000 monthly from 50+ countries -- and growing strong.
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Basic Training for Putting Skills
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To keep things as simple as possible, use training aids that train specific skills -- reading putts, aiming the putter, stroking straight, and controlling distance. Here are a few basic tools:
READING PUTTS:
You need to learn to perceive the orientation of the fall line straight uphill/downhill thru the hole; to perceive the curvature of the path over the last three feet or so into the cup at your usual delivery pace; and to perceive the starting line that matches this final curvature as well as the energy or pace in terms of how far along this start line to imagine a straight putt.
Fall line: a wide jar cap and a marble works great to show you the orientation of uphill / downhill. Get a jar cap that is 3-4 inches wide (wider is better, more sensitive to slope), set it down flat on the green, and place a marble inside it. The marble will roll to the lowest point inside the cap, and the fall line at that location on the green is then the line from the marble thru the center of the cap to the opposite highest point in the cap. If you draw an arrow inside the jar cap with a Sharpie pen, the marble will settle at the low point and then you rotate the cap until the back end of the arrow is beneath the marble and then the arrow aims straight uphill.
Stracka.com Green Imaging Showing Equal-Eleveation Contour Lines and Perpendicular Fall Lines (Arrows) Aiming Downhill
CD Disc as Model of Sloping Green at Hole, with Fall Line Indicated 6-12 Uphill
General "Spider" Pattern of Breaks Into Hole once fall Line Orientation is Perceived
Exelys Breakmaster Digital Green Reader
Swash Bubble Reader
Curvature of final line into cup: use two tee pegs at the lip of the cup to form a "gate" for the ball to pass thru into the hole to indicate the correct entry path of the curve you perceive. For example, an uphill right-to-left breaking putt might enter the hole somewhat to the right of the point on the lip that is closest to you, slightly uphill. see this entry path and then orient a nice gate with two tee pegs to remind yourself what you perceive.
Mike Shannon Putting Collar
Start line: nothing beats an elevated string line. Identify a target spot near the hole (see my movie clip about using the final curve to then see a target spot on the fall line above the hole a certain distance), insert one stick of the elevated string here and insert the other stick at the ball so that the string stretches taut from target spot to ball (place the second stick well past the ball so as not to interfere with the stroke so the string runs straight above the ball to the target spot). Then aim straight under the string and imagine a dead straight level putt at the opposite stick that will arrive at the stick with your usual delivery speed, even though you actually "hope and pray" that the ball will merely start straight and then break downhill off this start line towards and ultimately into the cup, all as planned and visualized. Alternatively, without using a string line, just place a tee peg on the fall line above the cup where the target spot is located, aim straight at the tee, and imagine a straight level putt to the tee peg that just bumps it at the usual delivery speed.
Beeline String
Russ Bennett's TruePutt Aimer
Phil Kinney's ProAlign
Xtendaline
So: jar cap, marble, two tee pegs, string line.
AIMING PUTTER:
Once a specific target spot is identified, the skill of aiming the putter at the spot includes the skill of standing at the address position beside the aimed putter face and perceiving where in fact the putter face aims at some distance across the green -- whether left or right or the intended target spot or straight at the target spot. This skill breaks down into two aspects: 1) the ability to look at the ground and then roll the face sideways in a fashion that makes the line of sight travel along the ground in a straight line, and 2) the ability to set up to the aimed putter face so that this line along the ground generated by turning the face is the SAME line of aim the putter face points along.
Squaring up to a putter face with the head and eyes: This skill is whether you can orient the midline of your body to the top edge of the putter face as aimed, so a plane thru the middle of the body front to back coincides with or is parallel (usually slightly behind to the right for a right-hander) to a plane that enters the ground vertically and includes the top edge of the putter face. Holding a simple stick, or business card edgewise, or hand edgewise in front of your face so the line of the stick / card / hand is vertical when you stand with good posture, and then bending with the stick or card edge or hand moving with your bending face as you set the head and eyes downward to face the putter head will show you whether the midline of your body / head matches or parallels the top line of the putter face. This will set the horizontal line of your skull across your eyes to the same aim as the putter face.
Running the eyes in a straight line along the ground: The skill here is to face the putter sweetspot with your face as a whole by aiming the bridge of the nose at the sweetspot as if an arrow was sticking level thru the head from the back of the skull out the bridge of the nose: aim this arrow at the sweetspot to aim the face. Once the face is aimed, just look with the eyes where the face aims. That is, direct the eyeballs straight out of the face, not angled down the noise or cheek the way people usually do. The training aid here is the hand held edgewise beneath both pupils to prevent looking down the nose and to force a gaze direction that looks straight out wherever the face aims. Stand with good posture at address with the hand "saluting" horizontally level beneath both pupils so you look just above the top of the hand, bend the face and hand together into the address posture and wait until the bending makes the putter sweetspot come into view above the hand. Then you have "faced" the sweetspot and not gazed down the nose to look at the sweetspot, but are using a straight-out gaze that looks wherever the face is aimed. Alternatively, you can take a cheap pair of glasses or work goggles and place strips of tape to block the lower half of the lenses, making a nice straight top edge of tape that runs horizontally just below the line that connects the two pupils. Then, wearing these glasses will force you to bend properly to "face" the putter sweetspot and the top edge of the tape line will match the aim of the putter face.
Yes, Face and Eyes Aimed the Same
No, Face Aims Level, Eyes Gaze Down Cheeks
Eyebeam Headset
Clyde Melancon's Laser Aiming Glasses
Running the eyes in a straight line along the ground: Another aspect of this skill is rotating or swiveling the head like an apple on a stick. At address facing the ball and sweetspot, if you properly swivel the head to roll the face down the line towards the target while holding your index finger tip on the button of your golf cap, the button will merely spin beneath the finger tip and not slide out from beneath the finger tip. No training aid required other than a finger. Alternatively, to learn the proper head roll, IF the head is rolled properly when squared up to a putter face as aimed and when also "facing" the putter sweetspot, THEN the eyes will remain running along a single straight line. To learn whether the eyes are staying running along the same straight line, you need a straight line and some way to notice exactly where the eyes are aiming while the head swivels down the line. Any line works fine, such as the line of tiles on a kitchen floor or a string line or the baseboard along a wall. For noticing whether the eyes stay aimed along this line, make a telescope with your right hand fist to form a tiny tube of air no thicker than a small drinking straw, and aim this telescope tube level out of your right eye so it aims wherever the face aims. Then square up to the chosen line and bend into the address posture until the line shows up in the tiny telescope. Then rotate or swivel or roll the head like an apple on a stick and watch to see whether the line remains at all times inside the tiny view of the telescope as the face rolls the eyes down the line. So long as the line stays inside the telescope, the head roll is proceeding properly.
Running the eyes in a straight line along the ground: The final aspect to this skill is being able to identify the exact target spot once the face has rolled down the line and now points in the direction of the target spot. the trouble is that with two eyes open, the visual scene over there at the end of the line has too much information and the golfer may be puzzled about where exactly is the target spot. The training aid that identifies this is the same telescope used above with the fist: whatever blade of grass shows up in the tiny telescope at the end of the line IS where the putter face actually aims. Alternatively, you can take a cheap pair of glasses or work goggles and use a Sharpie pen to locate a single dot on the right lens that is directly opposite the right pupil when the right eyeball looks straight out wherever the face aims. Stand in front of a mirror with the glasses with good posture and look with the right eye straight and level at your own pupil in the mirror, extend the Sharpie point at the mirror as if to "touch" the pupil and then draw the point back to the right lens of the glasses while still appearing to "touch" the mirror pupil. Once the Sharpie point gets to the lens, the pen will "dot" the exact piece of the lens the line of sight passes thru when the eyeball aims wherever the face aims. Then square up to a putter face and face the sweetspot so that the Sharpie dot appears to cover the sweetspot, and then swivel the head and face to run the dot down the line like a laser dot, and at the end of the line the spot where the putter face actually aims is identified by the dot covering a spot on the ground. This spot will either be left, right, or directly aimed at the intended target, but will in any case show where in fact the putter face really aims.
So, finger, business card, stick, string line, glasses and Sharpie pen.
STROKING WHERE THE PUTTER AIMS:
Putting where the putter face aims: Once the putter face aims correctly at the target, the skill is whether the golfer can send or start the ball down the line towards the target. This translates into whether the golfer can start the ball rolling wherever the putter face has been aimed. The best aid for this is a T shape drawn into the green with your finger tip, tracing the putter face to make the top of the T and then scratching a straight line away from the sweetspot of the putter to indicate the stem of the T. Then place a ball on the stem a little lower down than the intersection point, square the putter face up to the top of the T, and make a stroke that rolls the ball off the far end of the stem. If you putt two balls off the stem with the same pace, the second ball will follow whatever contour there is on the green along the same curve the first ball took and end up bumping the first ball like two freight cars hooking up in a railway yard. Alternatively, you can use an elevated string line that has been arranged straight uphill / downhill or across truly flat and level green and putt ball beneath the string. Alternatively, you can locate a tee peg several feet away down the line of the stem and putt balls so they all bump the tee peg.
So, finger, string line, tee peg.
CONTROLLING DISTANCE:
Controlling distance: The skill is whether you can roll a ball a specific distance across the green and stop the rolling where intended, consistently, with a fair degree of accuracy. The most important aspect to this is timing the stroke back and thru. Timing can vary, but one important timing to experience is the natural swinging timing of gravity, as this is the "floor" timing underneath all human movement. A simple way to experience and practice this is to tie a weight at the end of a string and wrap the other end of string around one of your fingers so the weight dangles not quite to the ground when your hands are positioned on the putter handle at address. Then start swinging the putter back and forth so that the weight and the putter head sync up. Alternatively, place a dime on the top of the putter head and try to swing the putter back and forth so the dime does not slide off, slowing increasing the size of the strokes. Also vary the tightness of your grip pressure to observe whether you can maintain the smoothness of the stroking even with tight grip pressure and hand-arm muscle tension, sometimes holding tightly and sometimes holding more loosely. I do not recommend a metronome, because these are either-or beats set to abstract timings and what you need instead is something that tracks or syncs up with whatever timing you personally actually use. So I recommend swinging the putter back and forth and then learning how to whistle the back and thru in a continuous rising-falling whistling that matches the timing of whatever stroke pattern you actually are using. The whistling just keeps you reminded to stay at the same timing without subtle speeding up or slowing down.
The StimpDimple -- Ball resting on platform during stroke
Harold Swash's Rhythmizer
Controlling distance: Another aspect of good distance control and its timing, at least with a no-hands shoulder stroke, is NOT using the hands or arms independently of the shoulder rocking. This translate in the body to NOT allowing the arm pits to open and close during the back and thru swinging. In the body, you can train this with a glove or ball under one or two arm pits while making strokes, or by a bathrobe sash tying the two upper arms into a stable relationship that prevents the arm pits opening or closing, or by placing a golf ball between the top of the putter handle and the inside of the left wrist (right-hander) and making strokes so the ball does not fall out due to changes in the wrist angle to the handle angle. Not using the hands or arms is more than just a "form" issue for accurate line control; done properly the non-use is also a timing issue for distance control. Combine this aspect with the weight on the string behind the handle or the dime on the putter head as described above to observe and learn that swing the shoulders without using the hands and arms also corresponds to good timing. Using the hands and arms independently of the shoulder frame "speeds up" the putter head in a complicated manner that makes "touch" control for distance harder to manage accurately and consistently, so you want to focus on using the shoulder stroking without hands or arms to time the swinging back and thru. This raises the consciousness of the golfer from awareness of hands and arms to an awareness of the shoulder frame, the shoulders (especially the lead shoulder) and the putter head as a unit, coordinating the lead shoulder motion with the putter head motion and eliminating the arms and hands from the motion.
Bickler Putting Aid
Ego Putting Aid
Putting Connection
Jim Flood / Ernie Els Rock Roller
Controlling distance: Another aspect of distance control is clear definition of the place across the green where the ball must come to a stop in its rolling. For this, simply tee up a ball on the green and then walk away from it and putt a ball to roll up to the teed-up ball and just jostle it on the tee peg without knocking it off. Alternatively, putt one ball off across the green to some "whatever" distance and then roll a second ball exactly the same line and distance to just bump the first ball. Alternatively, perch a ball on the lip of a cup and walk off to a distance and roll a ball to the cup so that the rolling ball just bumps the perched ball over into the hole. On all these, vary the distances, using the same "end location" with good focus. Alternatively, stick a tee peg down into the green so the top of the peg is just below the level of the grass and about even with the dirt: step back some goodly distance and roll balls to this tee peg with the intention of "teeing up" the putted ball and see how long it takes, for example from 15 feet away with whatever break is present, until you can tee up a putted ball. Alternatively, set up to a long breaking putt and visualize how the ball will curl into the cup at the end of the putt and make a circle beside the cup oriented off the cup so that the final curve passes straight thru this circle. Make the circle perhaps as wide as a basketball or soccer ball. Then from far away back at the ball, putt so that the ball ends up and stops inside this circle next to the hole on the high side of the hole, without entering the hole. Alternatively, identify the fall line at a cup and place a plank or golf club along the fall line above the hole so the line of the obstacle touches the far side of the cup offset parallel to the central fall line thru the cup. Then putt breaking putts to this hole so that the ball does not run quickly across the obstacle or bounce violently off the obstacle, but cozies up to the obstacle with good distance control.
Fall Line on Far Side of Cup as Distance / Touch Barrier
Ball Teed up on Green as Touch Target
Ball Perched on Lip as Touch Target -- Bump this Perched Ball into the Cup with the Putted Ball from Any Distance
Controlling distance: Another aspect of this skill is observing the rolling speed of the ball at the end of the putt, so that the ball always arrives at the hole with the same terminal speed or pace when it dives over the lip into the cup deep and safe. When putting into a cup, watch how the ball dives -- does it hit the back wall high or low, or does it dive all the way to the bottom of the cup without reaching the back wall at all. You will be looking for consistency and a pace that keeps the hole wide without going too far past in case of a miss. Physics rather convincingly suggests that a rolling speed over the lip of the cup of about 2-3 revolutions per second corresponds to a safe pace that makes a lot of the hole available without risking a long comeback in case of a miss. This pace dives deep on a center-cut line into the hole and never reaches the back wall; on a line across the cup off to the side edge, this pace still dives deep and strikes the back wall very low. Watching this pattern for consistency is the best training aid. Alternatively, you can putt a ball across the green without a hole or when the ball misses the hole and observe how the ball slows and comes to a stop on the ground. Knowing the pattern of the last 2-3 feet of roll builds a mind sense of how you intend putts to arrive at the hole. Using a ball that is half-and-half different colors (the old 1970s Ping balls) allows you to watch the orange-yellow ball flashing orange then white in a "dream-sickle ice cream" blur as it speeds across the green and then in a first orange now yellow flickering as it slows and then a slow now orange now yellow arrival and stopping. The whole looks similar to an ambulance racing to a hospital with flashing emergency lights and then pulling into a parking spot beside the emergency room. Alternatively, you can color one half of a ball with a Sharpie pen to make your own half-and-half ball.
Ping Yellow-Orange Ball
Ball Trajectory Entering Cup at 2 revolutions per Second Delivery / Terminal Speed
So, club, finger, tee peg, dime, string and weight, half-and-half ball.
In general, I would advise staying away from this or that training aid unless you have a good understanding of what the aid is really training and whether that is a good thing or not. Very, very often, training aids present a gimmick or a trick for you to perform that teaches performance of the trick and detracts the mind from learning the skill. The notion of rote use of a training aid to "groove muscle memory" is just that -- a "notion" that makers of training aids hope you believe in so they can sell you the training aid as a legitimate way to get better without paying attention, knowing how putting actually works, or taking responsibility for your own skill development. This warning cannot be given often enough.
Anyone wanting more information about any of the training aids shown here, please email me at geoff@puttingzone.com.
Cheers!
Geoff Mangum
Putting Coach and Theorist