Short Putting Tips

Putting Practice--Do You Really need It?

2017-09-15T02:09:00.003-04:00

Putting practice:Is it needed?
By MARK GROVE
DATE: 2004-10-12--This is a Repost of an old article by yours truly

A lot of you who golf regularly are probably saying I already get enough putting in my regular game and don't need any extra work on my short game.

Wrong guys and gals. Think about the pros and where the level of their game is at because of the extra practice. Chances are their putting is practiced more than their long game and they the putting greens at a course to practice.

I always say to practice your putting 10 to 15

minutes 3 to 4 times a week to work on the problem areas of your putting such as follow through technique, putting from different angles and distances as well.
By pulling extra putting duty you'll wonder why you didn't just do a little extra while your buddies are at the Golf club bar hammering down a few. Now you may think that doing just 10 to 20 minutes won't do anything to help your putts, but if you think you need an hour or more chances are you won't keep it up and quit practicing your short game.

As well,you only get so much out of practice and concentrating on your problem areas for a short period 3 times a week will go a long way to shaving strokes off your game. Just do a little more Putting Duty.

Mark

Mark Harman On Putting Basics For More Long Term Success On The Green-- For Both Novice and Pro Golfers

2017-08-04T13:46:00.001-04:00

By Mark Grove

Well,this interview with Mark Harman from the US Golf Teachers Federation is up now,right here.It's short and talks about the foundation of Putting and how to get started,and what most golfers including pros do that short circuit their Putting success in the long run.

This little primer on short putting will help you know what to focus on and get started on the right path to Putting Success.Mark Harman has been in the game for a long time and helps both pros and amateurs from every level.

So take a few minutes to learn and take massive action on getting a better Putting game going guys.

MG: When you teach golfers both novice or even pros Putting, do you start them off with tapins and short putts or what they are having problems with?

MH: For novices, I think it's best to start with short putts such as tap-ins, so they can have some immediate success at the game. Also, since it's such a short stroke, they can learn what it's like to have some control over the club, which is much more difficult with a longer club for a novice. With pros, there are some checkpoints you want to examine, such as how well they aim the putter and how well they read the greens. Believe it or not, many pros do not do those two things as well as you might expect.

MG: I find a lot of golfers whern Putting think they need perfect mechanics and don't focus on the Putt it's self. What do you recommend to golfers on the green who do this and make small flaws constantly in their putting stroke?

MH: Very good point. When it comes time to pull the trigger, you can't be thinking about mechanics. The best thing to concentrate on is the speed of the putt, or how hard to hit it. Once you have addressed the ball with your putter, you should have confidence that the line is correct. Save the mechanics for the practice green.

Thank You Mark.For more info on Mark Harman and the US Golf Teachers
Federation go to: http://usgtf.com

The Importance Of Using Practice Mats---Or Putting Greens As They're Called

2017-07-26T13:36:00.002-04:00

The Importance Of Using Practice Mats: Practice Mats or putting greens as they're called;can prove to be very useful in order to keep your putting skills up,and be able to hit more holes in par.

As well, a practice green,if its long will keep both your long and short putting skills on an upward level. Practice mats can be useful,but, depending on the type of material used like foam--may or may not be great to simulate the type green landscape you get on an actual green. So test some out at a well known golf store,and ask questions as well. Yes,overall practice mats are useful.
Because if you don't use some type of surface to practice putts that is similar to a putting green,you won't get used to doing putts. You can be the greatest putter in the world,but if you're not used to the surface,you won't do well. It's more important to get used to the surface of a practice mat than just becoming a great putter.

Do this little test;buy a practice mat then go over to your local golf course and do a practice session of putts on a green and do comparisons. But practice on the mat for a week to 2 weeks first. There are various types of practice mat material from foam and rubber to plastic. But it's usually a combination of the three. So remember to test various practice mats out to get used to them.

Short Putting--How To Get Good At It Forever--

2017-05-10T14:19:00.005-04:00

By Mark Grove

Well,I keep getting emails from people who are hung up on how to short putt. Even after reading my material and the latest interview with Golf Guru Mark Harman.

I'm going to give you guys one tip to get started.Just one.

Start with Tap-in putts guys.That makes it simple doesn't it.No it's not sexy or fun,but if you don't have the basics down with short putting,you'll never get the long putts down either.

So for a week practice tap in putts only.From less than a foot and about a foot.How do you think the best putters like Lorne Roberts and Tiger got so good.They got down to the basics and just practiced constantly.

Don't worry about perfection or putting mechanics.Just keep your putt inline.Put a black mark on the ball and in the middle of the putter clubhead for a reference point and just start short putting.

It's not how long you practice,but consistency guys.Don't get hung up on stuff,that's why most people never succeed at putting.

Practice tap-ins for at least 10 minutes a day 4 to 7 days a week for the first week.What,can't take 10 minutes out of your day to do something that will make your golf game better,and shave strokes.

The littlest things help your game guys.

Short Putting Tip So Simple--But Most Of You Will Never Do It!

2017-04-14T17:30:00.001-04:00

This is so simple it will make your head spin guys. Okay, start off by doing tap in putts from a little less than 2 feet. This is not as easy a feat as you think. Just start doing tap ins from one foot and put at least 5 balls around the hole and do them in succession. Don't stop, and then do it all over again until you've done these tap ins for 5 minutes.

Okay, now do some two foot putts with 5 balls and do this for another five minutes and stop. Do this 3 times a week at the least. The two footers will be a lot tougher. Don't worry if you miss, just keep going, and when you're done sinking, or even missing some, start over again until you've done one and two footers for 5 minutes each.

I guarantee you if you do this 3 times a week, your putting will get stronger and better.

I
f you don't practice you won't get better. it's as simple as that guys.

Much short putting success guys.

Mark

Short And Long Putting Tips From University Golfing Guru Jim Waite at University Of Western Ontario

2017-01-18T15:28:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone, I've interviewed another golf expert. This time it's Jim Waite the head golf coach at The University of Western Ontario. I've decided to start interviewing the top college and university golf coaches who teach some of the best student/golfers who decided to make the great game of golf their life.

In this interview I ask Jim questions on how to combine both short and long putting practice to become better putters,and golfers overall. I even asked Jim a question on putting mechanics versus being able to read the green,and what is more vital to putting success.

You'll gain a lot of knowledge you can use in this interview on putting with Jim Waite.

When you teach golfers putting---do they do have more success in putting if they separate short putting sessions from long putting sessions?

We separate the two concepts as you have different goals with the two types of putts. On long putts, you are looking at a 3 foot circle around the whole as your target. Your goal is to finish the long putt so that you have a rather simple putt to complete the two putt.

The goal is not to make the long one...but to make a two-putt.

And once in a while the long one goes in. This happens more when you get better and better at lessening the three foot window.

Short putt sessions should start with the one foot putts (normally gimmees in fun rounds) where you attempt to hit the dead centre of the cup. This continues to putts of two feet, then three feet and so on. If you practise hitting the centre of the hole on short putts, this mentality stays with you as your short putts get longer.

When you teach a player putting is it more important that they get down their short putts before long putts? Or do you teach them differently?

The two concepts are equally important but in order to avoid three putting a green (which is the goal on long putts),

success on lagging long putts is critical. We teach them differently. A critical component of making shorter putts is to ensure your putter blade accelerates through the ball and straight through to the centre of the cup.

I hope these questions make sense Jim.

I wasn't sure how to approach this question Jim,so here it goes.

Is knowing how to read a green more important than having perfect mechanics putting wise? Because most don't have perfect mechanics as far I know.

But I don't know a lot.

Again, it is difficult to say one is more important than the other. To be a great putter, you must master both the ability to read the greens, and the perfect mechanics. Obviously the great putters (Zach Johnson, Jordan Spieth among others) do both very well. Zach seems to be very mechanical and every stroke looks the same. Jordan seems to be more natural in his putting stroke...a great reader of the greens with a natural stroke that works for him.

I think ( and this is just my theory ) that to ensure you putt with your arms and shoulders as opposed to your wrists, it works to anchor your right elbow (for right handed players) to your rib cage. This forces your body to make the motion with your arms and shoulders. Certainly not every one does this, but for people who become wristy in their putts, this helps to maintain the putter line.

Short Putting Aiming Tip---So Simple Even I Could Do It---And I'm Pretty Simple

2016-12-18T17:54:00.001-05:00

This is an actual audio I did about 3 or 4 years back. can't remember when exactly. This little aiming tip for your short putts you can do at home on your carpet using a can,plastic container,coffee cup or just a target you set up on the floor. You'll be doing this short putting aiming tip from 3,5,7 and 10 feet.

It will take you anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes a day. If you want to improve your aim on short or long putts for that matter you'll try this little aiming tip. You may not think it's an aiming tip,but it is.

Just click the link below to listen to my lovely voice talk short putt aiming.
https://www.voices.com/demo_detail/109983

Phil Mickleson---Why You Should Learn Putting From Him

2016-12-15T13:34:00.003-05:00

Good old Phil Mickleson keeps on chuggin' along. I was watching the Cadillac Championship and Phil was 10 under when I was watching him last night.

But one thing that amazes me is Phil always practices short putting even in between holes if he has a chance. Yeah, I know you're thinking it's easy as pie. Hardly. Take a look at golfers who have issues with 3 to 5 footers,which are still considered short putts.

They are tougher than you think,and the simplest shots are sometimes the most difficult,not the long putts of 10 feet or more. Because all you're doing is getting the ball as close as you can without going
way past the cup,and there by getting a short putt to either par the hole,or less.

So,do like Phil does on the practice greens and do some short putts of 5 feet or less for 5 minutes. Think about that for a minute. If all you did was 5 minutes per day of short putting practice 7 days a week. That's 35 minutes a week,and for 52 weeks that's 1,820 minutes of short putting practice a year. All from just short putting practice just 5 minutes a day.

What, you don't have 5 minutes a day?

Think about it this way. Most golfers,will never keep up practicing short putting 30 minutes to an hour a day. It will never happen. Even pros don't. Actually I should do an interview with some pro golfers and actually see how long they practice short putting,and putting in general when they practice.

I'll tell you right now,if you just take action and practice even 5 or 10 minutes a day 3 times a week you're going to become a better putter than the majority of casual golfers and even some top amateurs.

That's all it takes guys,and Phil would be proud of ya.'

Short Putting and how to get a handle on it for long term success

2016-10-19T01:11:00.006-04:00

Short Putting and how to get a handle on it for the long term success Okay,I've talked to several experts here in Canada and one in the US.One is Mark Harman from the US Golf Teachers Federation,and the other Brian Gallant,a Canadian local golf pro who has a big golf teacher following now.

They said most golfers don't learn the basics of putting from tapins to short putts before they learn medium range and long putts.

What I'm saying is you need a foundation from tap ins.That's why it's so
essential to do the so called easy putts first to build a base to expand
on.In my last article I gave you a good routine to use from Tapins to
short putts.

I'll give you another free routine to start from the beginning.Don't
like that,too bad!

Okay,here we go guys.Start by doing tapins for 10 minutes a day for
3 or 4 days a week for a month.Yeah a month.Sick of it already,too
bad.If you don't get it down you'll never get anywhere.After that
do one and two foot putts for another month and a half.

You could also include both tapins and one and two foot putts in your
daily putting,but I like golfers to focus on one area of putting.That
way you aren't going off in another direction unfocused.

This is simple but hard.You need to do the simple things extraordinarily
like tapins and short putts guys.Keep your putting routines simple,short
and focused.You could lengthen your routine to 15 or 20 minutes,but I find
most golfers never do what's needed if they lengthen it.

Only good amateurs and pros will focus and stay commited to a short
putting routine.Don't become one of the ones who falter.I want you
to succeed in putting.

Mark Grove

Instinctive Putting Tip From Brad Faxon---It's Like Doing Basketball Free Throws--Great Tip!

2016-09-21T16:05:00.001-04:00

Faxon is one of my fave's when it comes to dead simple putting tips. It's not about the stroke,perfect mechanics or getting your alignment just right.

Brad talks about setting a line in your mind and just putting like an NBA player throws great free throws. You see that line and don't waste time getting into the perfect position putt wise.

You see the line and just know the right force to use,and feel the ball through your putting stroke.

We make things so difficult. Brad Faxon makes it easy.

Just watch,learn and do Brad's technique for great putting instinct.

Here's a Short Putting Tip That's Damn Difficult But Worth Doing

2016-08-10T02:23:00.000-04:00

I know most of you say you're good at short putting,and are just lying to yourselves when you say that.

So here's a hard short putting tip.

If you have a hardwood floor at home try putting some five footers for 5 minutes. Just put a target to hit at the bottom of the wall. I don't care what it is. Plastic,metal or what ever.

Make sure it's not much bigger than a golf hole to hit. Don't want to make it easy.

This is actually a very difficult short putting exercise.

Why?

Because a hardwood floor is not totally level,and the type of material used is wood,and there for not conducive to staying on an aligned path. Most floors are plastic these days anyway.

This short putting exercise will make you really focus on keeping your body still and keeping your putter aligned and have a more forceful stroke at impact. You would think a softer stroke would do the trick. Hell no!!!

I tried this exercise and got all pissed off,but kept on doing it because it was difficult to keep your putt aligned. Even a top golfer would have a difficult time with this.

Think about it,it's not on a green,and the material you're putting on is actually slippery to the touch

of a golf ball,and will have a tendency to always veer off it's path.

Try it and see if you can make some good putts.

Maybe I'm wrong and you'll do it easy as pie. Don't know.

Or try this on a cement floor in your basement.

I'm not kidding. If you can do this by practicing it regularly, chances are you'll do better practicing short putts on a green.

Make things more difficult. That's one of the keys to short putting success guys.

Now go out and do it!

Positioning your ball for more effective putts December 12th 2006

2016-07-17T17:21:00.001-04:00

Positioning your ball for more effective putts December 12th 2006

This is for both long and short putts

Learning some basic Putting techniques and practicing them regularly,will get you further than the most complicated putting stroke Mechanics.It's not that hard to figure out. Practice is the key to Puting. Learning how to position and hit the ball is more important than a perfect putting stroke.Having better ball positioning will help you keep it more square to the hole and if it needs to break and round off, you can compensate for that more easily.

When you have putts that are just tap-ins, if you use a longer stroke your puts will veer off centre of the hole usually.The ball should be placed halfway between both feet in your putting stance for tap-ins.This will keep the contact force and speed of your putt in moderation.
Tap-ins should be done even more than long putts. The simplest putts are sometimes the most difficult. For longer strokes and long putts,the ball should be placed closer to the left foot for lefties,and the right for righties.

Here's one more tip to keep your putts in a more accurate alignment. If you putt with the ball positioned close to the foot closest to the hole including tap-ins, your putts will be harder to keep square to the hole, and will usually slice to the left or right of the cup. By not positioning the ball in an advantageous spot for the length of the putt, your putts will always have problems with accuracy and control. Start practicing your putts by positioning the ball close to the inside foot, and halfway between each foot. If you think i'm wrong about positioning the ball close to the foot nearest the cup,try practicing those putts for a while and see if i'm wrong or right.

Become a Better Short Putter Using This Tip To Practice More Live On The Course Type Putting Shots

2016-06-22T02:44:00.001-04:00

Usually i talk about short putt tips from 5 feet or less. In this one we're talking 10 feet or less.

This is a good drill using as close to live play as possible. Here's what you do.

From 10 feet set out 3 balls,but not at the same angle or lie from the hole. Put them at different angles and levels of ground on the green. This way you're experiencing more real live play on the course.

You'll get better results from short putting as well.

Use this short putting for all your putts of 10 feet or less,down to even your bloody tap-ins!

Watch the video from this guy. Not sure who he is,stupid me.

Just watch it and you might actually learn a thing or two.

Like I keep saying, you don't need to practice putting even half an hour an day. 10 or fifteen minutes a day of focused short putt practice will make your game a whole lot better.

Just try it

Much success on the green guys!

The Butch Harmon Short Putting Tip For Those 3 Footers That Are Eluding You

2016-05-25T14:47:00.000-04:00

Butch Harmon has been a golf teacher and instructor to many of the top pros,amateurs and just kick around golfers like your buddies and mine.

But I was looking around the www.golfdigest.com site and always head right to the Putting instruction area. Golf Digest is one of the best instructional magazines and websites for golfers
of all sorts.

But one nagging thing so many golfers ignore is short putts. Most of you still think you only need to practice your long drives,and long putts,and the short putts will take care of themselves.

If any of you have been following this blog or any golf instructor who knows their stuff putting wise,you'll realize that the toughest putts are short ones of less than 6 feet.

Butch Harmon would tell you that too.

So,here's another round of 3 Foot Putting Instruction. And yes, I did get these tips from Butch Harmon,off the Golf Digest site. But anyone can teach these things including me. But none
of you think it's important.

It's the non-sexy shots like short putting which will make or break your game,period.

If you think differently, you're on the wrong blog.

So,here's my Butch Harmon 3 foot--basic common sense short putt tip.

Yes, it's boring,but so are a lot of things we do in life.

Get used to it Dough-Boy.

First of all you need to do this. Now I like to do things differently so you learn from the foundation,not from the short putt it's self. Having a foundation will make you a better short putter, or long driver. Okay, first of all when you're preparing to short putt,Keep your damn head and body still.

If you don't your head and body will move all over taking your short putts offline.

Next,keep your elbows in and not flared out. And for christ sakes don't move your hands on the follow through. Keep your hand still and don't be moving them all around.

These two things are so important---keeping your head and hands still and elbows in. Take practice shots,and just practice moving this way with,and without the putter in hand as well.

As far as your head goes only move it after you've taken your putt and fully followed through on your short putt.

If you do all of what I said here first, your short putt strike will be more online and flush with the ball and be more dead on to the hole.

People seem to think that just taking the shot first is more important. hell no!!!

This even goes for long drives,pitch and wedge shots too. If have to understand how to do any of this before taking an actual shot.

Yes,some people have unorthodox styles and get great putting results. But very few get great results not doing what pro teachers have learned through the year's.

This is why what I'm teaching you is so important to become a great short putter.

Become a practitioner of putting practice---that's short putting practice and your game will become better if not incredible.

Like they say in business,and they should--Results Not Typical.

Meaning, I can't guarantee success for you. But just try this short putting tip guys.

10 minutes a day 3 times a week. You don't have half an hour a week? Come on.

If you love golf and want to be a great short putter, you'll do what it takes.

For more info I'll always put up valuable info you can use to be a better short putter.

For more info on short putting tips from the great people at Golf Digest just go to:

www.golfdigest.com

Thanks to Butch Harmon.

Mind you I twisted the short putting tip around so I'm not copying. But it's still valuable
to rabid golfers like you.

Much short putting success guys.

Short Putts---How To Align Them Properly For More Success On The Green

2016-05-15T14:35:00.000-04:00

Short Putting - How To Align Your Short Putts Properly
By Mark Grove

Most Golfers have a lot, and I mean a lot of trouble lining up their short putts properly so they get the right break and accuracy in their putting stroke.There's a sweet spot in your putts believe it or not. First of all, instead of always trying to have perfect putting mechanics when addressing your putt,concentrate on hitting the ball with the middle, or sweet spot of the putter club-head.

At the same time you want to visualize and have your putting stroke follow that sweet spot line to the hole. What I suggest to players having putting stroke alignment problems to, put a piece of tape on the top of the putter club head in the middle of it. This will give a visual cue or guide as to where the ball should meet the putter. Also, by using this technique for a while, your putts won't have to be done with as much force and you will gain more control over the speed and distance of your putts.

You'll find that sweet spot by practicing with the tape in the middle. Don't use this on the course because I'm not sure about the rules regarding anything that assists your game in a way that gives you undue advantage over another golfer.

By using the 'tape technique' your short putts more than the longer ones will become stronger--and with extra practice your long putts will benefit as well.

You can use the Tape technique for both Putting and Drives to assist you in your game.

Mark Grove

Short Putting And Why It's So Important To Be Good At It To Succeed In Golf---Or Anything In Life

2016-05-04T15:03:00.000-04:00

Isn't it funny how golfers never really get any better even if it's
short putts?

This ties right in to just about anything in life,whether it's work,working out,business or good old relationships.

What I mean is,and I had to think about it for a minute or 18 that the majority are not willing to start from scratch to build a foundation to get better in all the things I mentioned above.

You have to start somewhere,and if you're not willing to roll up the sleeves and get to solid hard work,then,well,you're screwed, or as the ex-Oakland Raider and great football player Howie Long said---"You're Doomed!

You can't just be educated about a lot of crap and expect to succeed. Nope. Doesn't work that way lads. Your success depends more on your amount of effort you put in. Not just being good at something.

So get to bloody work. Even if that means putting out multitudes of offers on the internet daily. Think about it,if you provide a service on the internet and make 2 offers everyday,which is not difficult to do,and you do it everyday for a year--that's 732 offers a year. I had to actually multiply that out on paper so I didn't publicly screw up here's on Zucker's fangled new web software,called,is it Facebook?

So getting back to actual golf and putting. Start off with this easy to do short putting tip. My dog could do it and do a better job than a lot of you. But I was thinking about Phil Micleson who's one of the PGA's best golfers at about 50 years old and still kickin' as and competing well. Phil practice's short putts at tournaments and on his own at home daily pretty much.

He's well known for doing as many as 100 short putts in a row at 2 or 3 feet per shot. It's not as easy as you think. Think about NBA players shooting free throws. Not all players are good free throw shooters either. Some are horrible.

Practice,Practice,Practice. And putting out offers on the net daily and putting in solid effort is what will make you succeed.

You don't need to know everything. Don't be an educated derelict.

So,head on over to the old blog I have on short putting. Even if you don't like golf, it will teach you something about building a foundation for the future and success.

I know you can succeed. Just get started today. A beer or two will help the cause too.

Short Putting Tip On How To Hit Those Pesky 3 Footers Straight

2016-04-18T14:05:00.002-04:00

This is a great short putting tip from one of the golf gurus;Dave Pelz.

Dave says early on in the video what percentage of putts that are inside 6 feet, and why that's important that you practice short putting.As well,this tip shows you why its vital that your putts roll properly.

By the way if you don't have stripes on the ball to see if it's rolling straight, take a magic marker and put a couple stripes on the ball. Put the stripes around the whole ball. Here's a tip from little old me to keep your short putt alignment and aim on the money.

Put two 3 foot pieces of cardboard on each side of the cup. Put the ball between the two pieces of cardboard. This is a great old school way of keeping your short putt aim and alignment on track.

You can also put just one piece of 3 foot cardboard beside the cup,and line up the ball to the cup. This will make the alignment tip more difficult but make your short putts that much better alignment wise.

So remember to put stripes on the ball to see if your short putts are rolling properly. Like Dave says in the video, if the stripes on the ball are wobbling,your putts aren't rolling properly.

Just a few tweaks and your 3 foot short putts will be easy as pie.

Much short putt success

The Masters And A Short Putting Tip That Even Phil Or Speith Would Jump ON!

2016-04-10T15:36:00.000-04:00

Ah, the Masters is always the sign of spring and seeing some incredible golf by some of today's best golf pros.

But what is the one thing you always see guys like Phil doing besides playing in the Masters, or any other top tournament?

What is it it I talk about on this blog?

Short Putting!! of course.

Phil practices his short putts between rounds and tournaments.

Think about this for a moment. Why would you practice long drives which would take a lot of out of you energy wise. And,putts are more important,to shave strokes,yet most players aren't very good putters as well.

Yes, I realize that some golfers can drive 300 yarders consistently and are solid putters as well.

But very few are that. That's why you should practice short putts regularly. It's like free throwing in basketball. Some top basketball players aren't great free throwers.

The last house I lived in before this one I inhabit now,there was a basketball net and I practiced free-throws at least 4 times a week for 15 to twenty minutes a day.

It focuses your mind and body,like Putting does,and as long as you keep up the practice you'll get better as a result. You can't ever stop practice putting if you want to get better. Just the way it is.

Okay, think about business people. You want to make more money and learn different ways to make money? You can't ever stop.

Have I bored you enough yet guys?

You obviously want to be a better putter. Here's what to do.

Place 5 balls around the cup 3 feet from the hole. And just putt. Don't worry about mechanics. Just do it. Keep practicing these 3 footers for a couple weeks. Change up the type of lie or angle you putt from as well. That way you're changing it up and confusing the way you do it.

That way if you're on a slight hill you'll be able to handle it and not be saying I can't do it,or back off too much and coming up short.

Just practice constantly like Phil,Speith and even Tiger is most likely still doing despite not being on the tour.

You can do this. Lets see who wins the Masters first of all, then get back to practice with those short putts.

Okay guys?

Get Away From The Wife With This Sure fire Short Putting Tip

2016-04-04T15:44:00.000-04:00

Get Away From The Wife With This Sure fire Short Putting Tip
I've been a little stymied or stumped on how to come up with new short putting articles. But I guess I should go back to the old stand by Tap-ins. Most of you think they're easy, and they are. But they become tough if you don't. Simple as that. So try this little routine 3 times a week. Don't say you don't have the time. That's a huge story, a bull story.

Try this Tap-in exercise. From 3-6-9 and 12 inches do tap-ins for 10 minutes a day 3 or times a week. What, you don't want some solitude away from the wife and kids who are driving you crazy?

Even for 10 or 15 minutes? Okay, don't worry about mechanics, technique, and don't start over if you miss any. Just do it as Nike or who ever says. You'll get better if you build from this foundation of Tap-in putts. Try this little routine and see what happens.

Try this and you'll do good on the green,and get some solitude from the wife.

Mark Grove

Jordan Spieth Short Putting Tip From Golf Guru Brad Faxon

2016-03-22T14:27:00.002-04:00

Do you watch your short putts and constantly come up short or miss a 2 or 3 footer?

Brad Faxon goes into exact detail on how Jordan
Spieth short putts,by doing this one thing. And it's not by looking at the ball.

This is a golden nugget of a short putting tip I'm glad I came across to help you the rabid golfer
who actually wants the answers to becoming a
great short putter.

Brad Faxon is a great golfer who also is considered one of the best putters.

You'll want to learn from Brad and his take on Jordan Spieth's short putting secret. Well, it's not really a secret.

Much short putting success guys.

Short Putting Tips--How To keep It Simple For Success On The Green

2016-03-22T00:25:00.000-04:00

Short Putting Basics
By MARK GROVE
DATE: 2005-09-30

I keep talking about shooting drills and practice until you can't stand it anymore.This is vital to your short game.Short putting--so close you can blow the ball into the cup with your breath.

With the oral hygiene of some players,the ball should drop right into the cup. You can use a two feet distance as a starting point to move back farther,and will help you stay focused. By starting from a short distance from the cup will help you get a feel for your putting style and speed more than if you attempt long putting. Practice short putts from five feet away at the most for the next two weeks.

Then increase the distance from six to ten feet. If you miss some short putts,take these shots over again until you get it right. By focusing on the simpler,shorter putts,it will prepare you for the longer distance putts.Vary your location on the green,and your distance just slightly, but within the range you are striving for. You have to master the two to 6 range,before you start going further back.

Short Putting Session--Duration:

Keep your putting practice short in duration,from 10 to 20 minutes at the most, 2 to 3 times a week. By keeping your daily practice regimen short,you can concentrate more intently and are more apt to stick with it .If golfers practice one hour or more a day, I find they don't stick with it.

Visualization:
This is one other area I think Golfers should make a part of their practice. By visualizing the path of your putt and where you want it to go-- you can concentrate on keeping the ball straight throughout the swing, and keep tabs on ball speed and stroke length. Also, you should use a couple pieces of wood just in front of and on each side of the ball so you can see how straight your putts are when your ability to putt well from longer distances improves. The simplest aspects of your game can be the hardest to master. By dividing your putting into smaller goals such as short medium, and long range putts -- you can include The visualization technique I've described as well.

All in good time fellow golfers.

Mark Grove

3 Foot Short Putting Drill Anyone Can Do--Even Me

2016-02-28T15:48:00.001-05:00

Short Putting Drill Anyone Can Do

5 balls around the hole at different angles,lies and slopes .

And do this all from 3 feet.

This is tougher than it looks. I keep telling you that even the pros on the tour the last 20 years or more can't always sink a 3 footer easily. And they do a putting drill exactly like this.

Just try to get 5 in from 3 feet in a row. Don't go beyond 5 until you can get that 5 in a row. Then go go for 7 to 10. You'll make mistakes,period. And don't go thinking because you can do 5 in a row now that you're good enough to go on the local amateurs tour.

The top pros can do 80 to 90 in a row,and that's through many years of practice doing this drill.

Do you think you're so great now?

Work your ass off doing this drill if you want to become a great short putter. Do this everyday. Not 0nce,twice,3 times or 4 times a week. Do it every freakin' day!!

Do at least 100 3 foot putts. What? Don't have the time? Bullshit.

Don't worry about perfect mechanics. Just do it.

Short Putts on fast greens are tough, and how to handle them

2016-02-27T16:14:00.000-05:00

I talk about short putting a lot.Okay, constantly.

And this is a needed repost. And will make you think differently about putting and practicing your putting in a way that confuses your body,and come up with answers to putting no no one else will think of.

Short putts are tougher to control--speed and distance wise.You can always back off a little on a long putt on a fast green,but if you're dealing with a short putt on a fast green, it's tougher.

Lets get down to it guys.So, lets say you're putting a short one from 3 feet away, what to do? Okay,try this trick for practice. put the ball in front of the cup and putt back to where you're putting from.

Sounds illogical doesn't it lads.Not so. It will teach you how fast your putt needs to be by going in reverse. It will actually show you how much to back off your putt on that fast green, more than just guessing by doing a regular putt to the hole.

By changing how you practice can help your short putting game.

Okay,try a few practice putts back to where you're putting from and try at least two different putting strokes. Try just a general aligned putt and one where you test how fast your stroke should be at impact and the length of your backstroke.

This all sounds very complicated but it's not. You have to do some testing. Especially with short putts on fast greens. It will allow you to get a handle on your short putts like a"Bloody King".

Try these tips on a fast green from 3 to 5 feet at the most. But remember to putt from the hole back to where your ball was.This is the best determiner of how fast or slow your stroke should be.

Have fun with it.

Tiger Woods--If He Practices Short Putts--Don't You Think You Should?

2015-12-01T15:19:00.000-05:00

I'll tell you why need to and have to short putt to get better and shave those strokes off your game.

You may be asking,why do pro golfers practice short putts or even need to?

Now you're thinking any pro should be able to sink every short putt 5 feet or less,right?

But it's tougher than you think.

Why do I keep saying Tiger even has issues with short putting at times? Because it's that tough even for the top pros. Doesn't that tell you that you should be practicing short putts too?

If not you won't be better at it,and amaze your friends and become the golfer you know you're capable of being.

Since we're on the subject...

Here's a tip on short putting you can use to get started right now.

Put 5 balls at 2 feet from the cup and just start putting. I'm not kidding. Do this for 5 to 10 minutes a day 4 times a week. What? You don't have 20 to 40 minutes to do something you love, and know it will help your golf game?

Come on!

Don't worry about mechanics,Actually scratch that. just hold your body and head still,keep your elbows in to your side and putt. That will keep your putts more in line and on target. And since putting is a control shot,you'll be able to control distance,speed and flow of your short putts.

Short putts and tap-ins are the toughest to do,not long putts.

Get started today. Actually right now.

Set up outside. On a flat piece of grass,just short putt to anything like a cardboard box,can or piece of wood. Doesn't matter.

Just get started. No perfection needed.

When you get done a short putting session,go have a beer and then get back to practicing short putts.

You'll be better off.

If you require more info,get back to me.

Short Putting Stroke Tempo And How To Use It To Become a Great Putter

2015-11-11T15:57:00.001-05:00

January 8th 2007 03:13

This is a great back article that you can take notes on today and take action on today as well to help your putting prowess. Especially your short putting.

I can't believe I did this close to 9 years ago. I have to get back to interviewing my expert Mark Harman from the US Golf Teachers Federation. He's a pro that knows his stuff and I'm fortunate I came across him.

And you can learn so much from Mark. But for now lets get down to business.

When you putt are you confident or have the pre-shot yips thinking I'll never make this in a million years. One thing for certain, no matter how long you've played you should always think you can make it even if you miss. How do you gain confidence. N,o confidence is not natural and if some guy tells you he never practices and is a great putter and overall golfer,chances are he's lying or just deluding himself. There's only one way to gain putting confidence--Practice guys and gals.

If you don't practice your putts you'll never gain green confidence and always have those putting yips. Just going out on the course and playing a round or two a week will not give you more confidence or better putting skills. Regular practice outside of playing the links at "The Club" is the only way .If you feel you need assistance in your putting,use a golf pro, read Golf Digest and use the services of Mark Harman from the USA Golf Teacher's Federation,who's my expert and someone I use for interviews on putting.

Practicing your stroke:
Practicing your Putting stroke is the best way to get started. Learning how to get a consistent putting stroke that is equal in length both back and front will result in a smoother stroke and feel. Don't worry so much about ball position and perfect mechanics. Just make sure the ball is between your feet. Now, make some passes at the ball and see how far you need to take the putter back,and then forward based on the distance to the cup.

This will be a painstaking part of you putting stroke progress. Start by doing some short and tap-in putts. Believe it or not these putts can be tougher to obtain an equal stroke.The simplest putts can be the toughest. Look at how many times pros choke on short putts. Don't go from practicing three foot putts to thirty foot ones. Not until you've mastered the shorties stroke tempo.

As well,you want to be able to drain at least 3 to 5 in a row before moving back.This is hard work and if you love it enough you'll do what's needed to master putting which is the ultimate game of control. You have no choice if you want to get better. By using this simple putting stroke drill, it will assist in not just your confidence,but in being able to handle breaks in your putts,various distances,angles and slopes. One step at a time to being one up on your golfing buddies or Pro competitiors.

Mark Grove