Are you tired of feeling like a ship lost at sea when it comes to controlling the speed of your putts? Well, get ready to chart a new course towards success on the greens.
In this discussion, we will explore the fascinating world of ‘Putting Speed Control Made Simple,’ where a straightforward approach can unlock the secrets to consistent and accurate putting.
So, grab your putter and prepare to discover the key to revolutionizing your game.
The Importance of Speed Control
Speed control is a critical aspect of putting, as it requires the precise combination of line and speed to successfully sink a putt. Mastering speed control is essential for achieving distance control and consistently making putts. The key to effective speed control lies in the putting stroke. A smooth and fluid stroke, with the right amount of power, is crucial for controlling the speed of the ball. To develop this skill, it’s important to spend time on the practice greens, challenging yourself with different lag putts to improve your distance control.
When it comes to speed control, there are two basic approaches: ‘dying it in’ and ‘hitting it firm.’ Both approaches have their place in putting, and the combination of both is necessary for proper speed control. For short putts under 10 feet, it’s crucial to focus on making them by finding the right balance of speed. On the other hand, for mid-length putts, it’s important to work on consistent distance control.
Improving speed control requires practice, effort, and a willingness to dedicate time to the practice greens. By honing your putting stroke and fine-tuning your distance control, you can become more confident and successful in controlling the speed of your putts.
Narrow Stance for Short Putts
For optimal speed control on short putts, adopting a narrow stance is crucial. A narrow stance allows for a consistent stroke length, which is essential for controlling the speed of your putts. Here are three reasons why a narrow stance can greatly improve your putting performance on short putts:
- Consistency: By positioning your feet closer together, you create a stable base that promotes a more repeatable stroke. This consistency is key when it comes to controlling the speed of your putts, especially on short ones.
- Distance control: With a narrow stance, you can develop a better sense of distance and control over your putts. The closer your feet are together, the more precise your stroke becomes, allowing you to gauge the perfect amount of power needed for each putt.
- Confidence: A narrow stance enables you to create a small cluster of putts with the same distance on the putting green. This repetition builds confidence in your ability to control the speed of your putts, giving you a psychological advantage when facing short putts.
Putter Back to Trail Foot
To achieve optimal speed control in your putting stroke, focus on the placement of your putter in relation to the toe of your trail foot. This concept, known as ‘Putter Back to Trail Foot,’ is crucial for improving your chances of making putts from various distances. By only taking the putter back to the toe of your trail foot, you can ensure a consistent and effective roll on the ball, leading to more successful putts.
When the putter head reaches the toe of your trail foot, it allows for a symmetrical movement in your putting stroke. This symmetry promotes a smooth and reliable pendulum-like motion, which is essential for controlling the speed of your putts. By maintaining this consistent movement, you can enhance your ability to gauge the speed and distance of your putts, ultimately leading to more accurate and successful results on the green.
Practicing putting drills that incorporate the Putter Back to Trail Foot concept can greatly improve your speed control. By focusing on the placement of the putter in relation to your trail foot, you can fine-tune your stroke and develop a better feel for distance. This will enable you to make more putts from various distances, as your ability to control speed from these distances will dramatically improve.
Symmetrical Putting Stroke
When focusing on the placement of the putter in relation to the toe of your trail foot, the symmetrical movement in the putting stroke becomes crucial for achieving consistent distance control. By using a symmetrical putting stroke, you can ensure that the putter moves back and through the ball in a consistent manner, resulting in a reliable distance control.
Here are three reasons why the symmetrical putting stroke is essential for putting speed control:
- Consistent Stroke Length: The symmetrical movement encourages a consistent stroke length of 6-8 inches back and through the ball. This consistent stroke length allows you to develop a reliable feel for distance control, ensuring that your putts travel the same distance every time.
- Pendulum Motion: The symmetrical putting stroke involves moving the putter back to the toe of your trail foot and then forward in a pendulum motion. This pendulum motion promotes a smooth and rhythmic stroke, minimizing the chances of deceleration or acceleration in your putting stroke.
- Practice for Consistency: The symmetrical putting stroke provides a solid foundation for practice. By using a symmetrical movement and practicing with five balls, you can develop consistency in your stroke and train your muscles to produce consistent speed and distance control.
Practicing Different Setups
Experimenting with various setups is essential for developing your confidence and control over speed on putts of different lengths. By paying attention to the details of your setup, you can make it easier to make more putts and gain better control on the greens.
Focusing on your speed is crucial in order to consistently get the ball to the hole without racing it past or leaving it short.
For short putts, between 5 and 7 feet, a narrow stance and consistent stroke length are recommended. This setup allows you to develop confidence in your speed control by creating a symmetrical movement in your stroke. By only taking the putter back to the toe of your trail foot, you can ensure a consistent stroke length and achieve a reliable roll.
As the putt lengthens to 15-21 feet, widening your stance and adopting a longer stroke and follow-through will help you adjust to the increased distance. This wider setup allows for a more aggressive stroke, generating the additional power needed to reach the hole.
When faced with longer putts, such as 30-40 feet, an even wider stance is recommended. Instead of focusing on hitting the ball, shift your attention to the feel and distance control. This setup encourages a smoother stroke, allowing you to maintain better control of your speed.
Trickle Vs. Firm Approach
As you continue to refine your speed control on the greens, the next aspect to consider is the difference between the trickle and firm approach. This article section will provide you with a technical and analytical breakdown of these two approaches, allowing you to make an informed decision on which one suits your putting style and the specific conditions on the green.
- Trickle approach:
- Putting the ball dying into the front edge of the cup creates a bigger target, reducing the chances of lip-outs and increasing the likelihood of sinking the putt.
- The dying putt can enter the hole from all sides, making it ideal for downhill or left to right putts.
- The slower speed of the trickle approach requires adding more break to the read, ensuring the putt stays on the desired line.
- Hitting it firm approach:
- By hitting putts firm, you eliminate the effect of break, making it suitable for slow greens or uphill putts where break is minimal.
- This approach reduces the chances of burning the edges of the cup but increases the risk of lip-outs and longer come back putts.
- The firmness of the stroke allows for a more aggressive and confident putting style.
Speed Control on Various Putt Lengths
To effectively control the speed of your putts on various lengths, it’s essential to understand the impact of distance on your chances of sinking the ball. Speed control is a critical aspect of successful putting, as it significantly affects your ability to make putts. Hitting putts too hard doesn’t increase your chances of sinking them and can actually make the hole appear smaller and more challenging. Therefore, it’s crucial to find the right speed for each putt to maximize your chances of success.
When it comes to putting speed control, different putt lengths require different approaches. Putting distance control is vital to avoid three-putting and to keep the ball closer to the hole, increasing the likelihood of making the second putt. For shorter putts, a more delicate touch is necessary. By employing a narrow putting stance and only taking the putter back to the toe of your trail foot, you can control your speed more effectively.
On longer putts, adjusting the speed becomes even more critical. Outside of 10 feet, the chances of making putts dramatically decrease. Therefore, it’s crucial to adapt your speed based on uphill, downhill, or slow greens.
To improve your speed control, dedicate time to practicing on the greens. Play games that challenge your lag putts, and focus on consistently striking the center of the putter face. By honing your skills and understanding the impact of distance on your putting success, you can enhance your ability to control your speed and sink more putts.
Final Thoughts and Comments
In conclusion, mastering speed control in putting is a crucial skill that can greatly impact your overall scores on the golf course. By implementing the simple techniques outlined in this article, you can improve your ability to control the speed of your putts and ultimately lower your scores.
Here are three key takeaways to consider:
- Consistency is key: Developing a symmetrical putting stroke and practicing with different setups for different putt lengths will help you achieve a consistent and repeatable motion. This will enhance your ability to control the speed of your putts with precision.
- Address three putting: Putting distance control is essential for avoiding three putts and maximizing your scoring potential. By honing your speed control skills, you can reduce the number of putts it takes to complete a hole, leading to better scores.
- Practice, practice, practice: Improving your speed control in putting requires dedicated practice. Incorporate drills, games, and simulated on-course scenarios into your practice routine to gain confidence and develop a feel for different putt distances.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the ‘Putting Speed Control Made Simple’ lesson offers players a straightforward and effective approach to improving their speed control on the greens.
By focusing on a narrow stance for short putts, positioning the putter back to the toe of the trail foot, and practicing symmetrical putting strokes, players can develop the confidence and consistency needed to master speed control.
By implementing the techniques learned in this lesson, players can revolutionize their putting game and enhance their overall performance on the greens.c
