Just a couple of thoughts:
Imagine you are hitting an eight-foot putt with the hole as your "spot" for the break. You could hit it pretty hard and it would still go in, I imagine.
Otherwise - practice closing your eyes and hitting them one-handed. It helps to get rid of the "must make" mindset.
Short putts are like free throws. Just try and get out of your own way.
Good luck!

DD: Good advice! I've tried putting to a point beyond the hole, hoping the ball would just drop in on its way, but didn't stick w/ this method. I'll experiment more with that approach. I really like your idea about closing your eyes and putting one-handed. Sounds like I may have that "must make" mindset too! I need to learn to "let" the ball go to its home ;)

Expectations play a factor. We don't expect to make an 18 footer and are elated to leave a tap in. Tension creeps in on the 2-3 footers because we can't imagine missing one.

For me, and I stress, only me, I have trouble believing that break is a factor on 2-3 footers. I see it, but don't think it will make a difference on such a short putt if I hit the putt firmly. So, I hit through the break and have the same coming back. I'm working on trusting the break I see and using a more moderate speed. So far, so good. Subject to change without notice.

Those are excellent tips. I think grip pressure is so key on feel shots, even long shots. And slowing down, or tempo, is also crucial. A lot of missed short putts are due to getting quick, being a little tense or jabby.

Here's one more: Keep the head down and still. Gary Player's advice to Trevor Immelman heading into the final round of the Masters was to keep his head down on his putts longer.

Bobbio: yes, I think expectations play a huge role with this problem!

After posting this entry, I started rereading Fred Shoemaker's book on Putting. He states, "on the golf course, whatever has our mind has our body - whatever has our attention has an effect on our body. The first thing to realize is that if our mind is concerned with difficulty or meaning (something at stake), our body will tighten up."

And when we tighten up, we loose the light grip, still head, and slow tempo that we naturally putt with - and that Armchair suggests.

I definitely struggle to stay present and truly "let go" on the short putts, mostly because I know I'm "expected" to make them... and hate missing them!

But I also have some visual issues up close. I've had others check to see if my putter is lined up where I think it is on short putts and I've learned I'm always closed by several inches. Last round, I really opened up my stance and that seemed to help me see the short line better and also to line up my putter better.

Check out these articles by David Wright regarding alignment:

* Crossing Lines at Impact
* Crossing Lines and Clubface Aim

(http://www.mindunderpar.com/tips/previous.php)

The information on alignment was truly enlightening.

a-train: that's great stuff. I could sit here all night reading these articles! I really like the info about shoulder alignment when reading putts too and the influence right and left eye dominance when changing that alignment. I've discovered on my own that as I turn my shoulders slowly from being square to the hole towards being square to my eventual target line, I see or feel when I'm lined up square to the line that the ball needs to start on to reach the hole. I'm pretty confident after reading this that my hip and shoulder lines are crossing ;)

Something that seems to help me on the little 'uns is holding the putter right at the bottom of the grip, so that your lower hand is almost on the steel (or graphite). The putter feels lighter for more control and a slower deliberate rhythm results. Just something to try, boss.

...an afterthought. Maybe because this technique makes one bend down further thus having your head closer to the ground also helps in seeing the correct line. As I say, it works for me.

anonymous: You must have seen me putt before! After struggling to make short putts one round, I'll often choke up down to the steel in my next round - works great! Not sure why I don't just stick with it.

Yesterday, I practiced picking a very small spot to putt to, focused on that spot, then let it go. Shot an even-par round following the practice! Had 3 birdies and 3 bogies. Even though that included 2 3-putts, I didn't miss any short ones! Greens were fast!!

Hi

Much of the key to short putts (and almost any shot to be honest) is contained in what Tiger said to himself before his put yesterday.

“Make sure you stay committed to it - make a pure stroke. If it plinkles in and plinkles out it doesn’t matter as long as I make a pure stroke.”

This is absolutely the key. What I do is visualise it going in a couple of times (and actually hear the noise) focus hard on the back of the ball (and nothing else) and then hit the back of the ball and not worry about the hole or whether it's going in or not. I'm just concentrating on hitting the ball in a perfectly executed fashion. So by doing this I remove all emphasis on how important the putt is.

And as Terry says - light grip is absolutely essential.

Thanks John for sharing Tiger's quote from yesterday's US Open!

Since my original post, I've really improved on picking a spot and committing to it, then making a smooth putting stroke while letting go of results. Went out last week and played 21 holes even par - 3 bogies, 3 birdies, and the rest pars. Putting was excellent!

I also spent quite a bit of time reading David Wright's articles, shared in a post above by a-train. In most of these articles, he stressed the importance of "seeing the line" from a balanced stance, but in one article he shared information about "spot putting", more in line with how I started putting recently. I've used his advice about "seeing the line" by squaring my shoulders from behind the ball, but then pick a very precise spot on the line I want to start the putt on and let go of the hole and path to the hole.

I sent David an email and received the following reply:

To address your point, there are 5 types of putters...

1. "Who cares..." and strokes the putt with no target focus or mechanical goal.

2. "The mechanic"... trying to make a stroke

3. "The spot putter"... Good speed and seldom 3 putts but they don't see lines

4. "The line putter"... sees line behind and the same line over the ball

5.. "Line and motion"... sees the line and the speed of the ball into the hole behind, over and through the stroke.

my best putters are the 5th type...

You are correct, your ability to see the line comes out of your set up... balance...and posture.. and grip on the putter... I would encourage you to have somebody assist you in setting a line on a ball at a toothpick using a string line from 3 feet. Set up and keep adjusting your set up until you see the line on the ball intersecting that toothpick. The first line you want to see is a straight line. Once you can see the straight line consistently, you will be able to see the line into the hole...

Next, set up 3 feet from a hole, look at the hole and close your right eye. Now see the speed of the ball into the hole... first see it roll up hesitate and drop in the hole... then see it rolling over the front edge then see it hit the back of the cup... Stroke the putt as you look at the hole and hold these images one at a time. you will quickly learn you can control speed by the image you hold, not thinking. Lastly you blend the line and perception of the speed of the ball into the hole.

Both of these processes take a lot of practice... You will be right there with the best putters in the world when you master it. In my schools, I measure each individual's biomechanical characteristics and place them in balance, teach grip and look at grip size. Every one of my students sees lines when they have the correct alignment, ball position, distance from the ball and grip. I also use a line on a ball to a toothpick at 3 or 4 feet. Their set up is marked on a vinyl set up template that they practice walking on at home or in their office, like a dance step. Once they practice enough on the mat, it becomes automatic on the course. Then they can practice the image of speed as they see lines. Whatever you do, Stay Visual!

Great response and very interesting. Great shooting too.

David writes some excellent advice there and the only thing I would add is that during that visualisation process actually hear the ball fall into the hole. This strongly reinforces the sense that you can and will hole the putt by using more of your senses. It becomes much more like a "done deal" which is crucial.

how pretty pic!!
is this real? or CG?

When I play a round of golf, the casual observer could be forgiven for thinking I had never played before.

Putting, however, is a completely different story. I sink them from all over the place with monotonous regularity.

When I first started playing I noticed that I never missed tap-ins up to about 8 inches away from the hole.

I then placed some balls 8 inches away from the hole, but to the side and putted them as if I was tapping them in.

I was amazed to find that they rolled anywhere between 4 and 12 feet past the hole, depending on the speed of the green.

I have used this information as the basis for my putting ever since.

When I get a 2 or 3 foot putt,I just aim at the hole and hit it as if I was tapping in one from 8 inches. I very rarely miss.

Try it, it works.

Cheers

Thanks for all the putting tips! John and Sandy's advice remind me of how Reid Sheftall approaches his putting. He shared with me months ago that he views ALL putts as tap-ins.

BTW, there's a great new article about Sheftall (The Artful Surgeon) at MIT's Technology Review.

The Doctor of Second Chances

What happened to the list of Blogs. Admittedly a productivity killer but quite fun

John

I moved the blogroll to its own page instead of posting it as a blog entry. I'll add a link on the main navbar to make it easier to find. It was alread listed under "Artful Links" in the right column, but not often found.

Artful Golf Blogroll

Sinking short putts is something that I think I know a thing or two about. I have recovered from the putting yips and have also been credited with helping Aaron Baddeley become a better putter.

My best advice is as follows;

1. Forget about technique. I believe we think too much about it and it makes the game harder than it needs to be. How hard it it to roll the ball along the grass? Not difficult if you ask me.

2. Stop reading greens. It's ok to get an approximation, but don't worry about picking the exact line. I don't believe reading greens perfectly is possible - it relies on speed as well and we don't know how hard we are going to hit it until after we;ve done it.

3. Automate you stroke. Learn to stroke the putts without fear or worry and you'll be the best putter you can be.

4. Practice your putting more. Obvious but people don't practice.

I have written a putting book and give it away at, www.perfect-putting.com if you're interested.

Cheers,

Cameron

Wow, found this site googleing "sinking short putts" feels like family. Last week 1 over par going into last hole, missed a 2 footer. Yesterday, 2 UNDER after 3, missed an 18 incher. I usually have a VERY light grip and a good putter from 4 feet and out. Reflection told me I didn't grip the club the same, I think it's the old tension issue. Light grip IS critical. See the line, stroke on it...and trust as you do any other putt eh? PRAY for me! :)

This is from my "book", Old Jews Can't Golf.

I have Odyssey Putters to thank for this chapter. I went to my local driving range/golf shop to buy some balls, and as I was paying for them the salesman said, “Odyssey is having a putting
contest on the putting green.

They’re giving away divot tools and golf towels if you sink enough putts”. Just what I need, another divot tool. But a golf towel: you never know, they might have one that matches my golf bag…AND FOR FREE!! Enough said.
So I go back there, and they are having the Phil Mickelson Challenge; in other words, ten balls around the hole, three feet away, and if you sink them all, you go on to play in The Masters, or something like that. Anything short of that, you win the booby prizes.

So now I’m taking this seriously. I get thrown right back to when I’m 12 years old in downtown Cleveland, Ohio during the promotion of the 1963 Cleveland Open. I’m working for my father,delivering transcripts, and I walk into the Bank Building, and they’re having a putting
contest.

There must have been a thousand people participating…okay, may dozens, but it seemed like a lot. And of course I sunk two putts from 20 feet away and won a sleeve of balls. But the way everyone cheered, I felt like I really had won the Masters.

Anyway, that’s what I mean by, taking it seriously: I’m still 12 years old about these
kinds of challenges.

I miss the first two putts, then sink seven in a row, and miss the last putt: good for a golf towel. But the Odyssey pro said something after I’d sunk about three in a row, he said, “Now you’ve got your rhythm".

Funny word, rhythm. It doesn’t even have rhythm
in the way it’s spelled. It should be rhythem, or something like that. But I knew what he
meant.

So regarding rhythm, before this putting challenge, I would have told you that rhythm was entirely about the swinging of the shoulders/torso and arms and legs in the backswing and downswing, and that tempo meant the same thing; and that meaning was simply this: a smooth swing.

After my encounter with the Odyssey pro, it was evident he was
speaking about the rhythm of the putter head going back and forth, and the rhythm of my shoulders and arms going back and forth.

I am convinced that when we’re talking rhythm, we’re not talking about tempo. I don’t believe they are the same thing.

When the Odyssey pro said, “Now you’ve got your rhythm,” he was talking about an
inner-type metronome, almost a music-oriented experience.

To illustrate, my mind drifts
back to the movie, Mr. Holland’s Opus, where Mr. Holland is trying to get this jock to "get" rhythm.

The jock wants to play drums in the school band, and there’s this scene where Mr. Holland is using drum sticks, and drumming on the helmeted head of the jock while music is playing. He’s literally trying to drum rhythm into his head.

Here are two e-definitions from Dictionary.com:

RHYTHM – The regularity of movement.

In the case of golf, I consider this the movement generated by the weight shift in the backswing, moving the weight from a neutral position to increased weight on the back foot, or in the case of putting, the movement of the shoulders from a neutral position to their farthest position in the backswing.

TEMPO - The relative rate of movement.

In the case of golf, how fast or slow the shoulders/sternum/arms and club move from the backswing to the downswing, generated or instigated by rhythm.

I am now convinced that this rhythm in the backswing sets up physically, as well as physiologically, the tempo, or when and how fast or slow the shoulders/torso/legs/arms/club rotate forward in the downswing to impact.

The tempo is in correlation or connection with this rhythm. How fast or slow the tempo of the shoulders/torso/legs/ arms/clubhead moves or swings, and when, depends on the relationship or the correlation to that rhythm.

Regarding the arms, wrists and hands, the tempo of the swing is set up in the backswing by the arms, hands and wrists transferring the energy generated by the rhythm, all the way to the clubhead.

That apex, or the end or the arc, peak, or the clubhead swinging backward to its zenith, is the point at which tempo begins, whether it’s a drive or a putt.

Some pros say that you’ve got to feel where the clubhead is in your swing, and I think this is what they’re meaning to say. Feel the point that rhythm stops and tempo begins. It’s a natural part of the swing or putt, not something added at the last second.

Again, it’s a component that is set up by rhythm. It's the potential power of rhythm meeting tempo, and tempo exploding into appropriate energy released.

Oh yeah, and as my dad says, "Keep your f---ing head down.

Larry Gantverg
In Phoenix

Hi,

Just to let you know that the address for my London Golfer blog (which is in your blogroll) has changed - it is now www.thelondongolfer.co.uk

thanks!
LG

First of all, congrats on your amazing progress! I've been at it just over 6 months and have been progressing from a 30 to a 21. I did the Extraordinary Golf program which removed a lot of tension/pressure from putting and made it more fun.

I'd say putting was my strong suit for a while. In any event, I know you're not into instruction, and that's fine, but it seems it might be helpful to get an evaluation. I did and switched from the Pelz style to the more common arc style. I ended up going from the Odyssey mallet putter to the Cameron Newport one and I immediately went from occasional 3 putting, to NEVER 3 putting and a lot of 1 putts.

Here's what I came up with for those straight, 3 footers and I've shown it to others with great success:

1. I think of any straight putt less than 4' as a different kind of stroke. (straight back and through rather than my arc)
2. I place the ball back of center in my stance. When you do this, you make it almost impossible to pull or push your putt. Go ahead and experiment by putting with the ball as far back as behind your right foot! It's quite something.

3. This is from Tom Watson: give the ball a little "pop". Don't be shy. Focusing on getting that pop on the sweet spot above all else ensures you accelerate at impact even on short putts.

4. Practice putting on a day when you are not playing. Do that a few days before your round as it lets you get comfortable with new ideas. The pros practice putting sometimes for hours each day and they are pretty good. When Tiger putted that must make 15 footer in the US Open (and 2 other tournaments for that matter!) you can bet he had a database of recollections of making identical putts many times prior.

Again, I can't emphasize enough how much confidence you'll get by practicing the 3 footers in the back of your stance.

Best of luck to you!

Kevin in Santa Barbara

Thanks for all the great tips and advice! Kevin (in Santa Barbara), please contact me if you'd like to get together and play here in SLO or down your way in SB!! One of these days, I plan to attend an Extraordinary Golf clinic too ;)

Another thing I took from one of Fred's Extraordinary Golf clinics, and which he also describes in his book "Extraordinary Putting," is to putt looking at the hole instead of the ball. I find this particularly effective on short putts, especially when I place the ball just back of center in my stance. And after commiting to looking at the hole for an extended time, I now find it doesn't matter if I'm looking at the hole or the ball -- I'm really seeing everything around me inside about a body length radius with the hole dead center. I then find it easier to just feel myself stroke to that center. (Fred's clinics are amazing...)

Thanks Richard... Kevin from SB has also convinced me I need to attend one of Fred's clinics! It's now on my wish list for next year. If I could putt, I'd be dangerous ;)

Hey, from seeing you play, and from looking at that index graph of yours, you are already dangerous!

Thanks Richard... dangerous might be just the right term to describe how I've played a few rounds recently ;)