Practice Swings for Putting

[AndyP]

What does everyone else do for practice swings for putting? Next to the ball? Behind the ball? Front-on?

I used to do it behind the ball facing the hole most of the time, just to visualise the line to the hole. But after listening to Rod's podcast with Dave Stockton I thought I would try putting without any practice swings, and trust that my body knows what it's doing.

I gave it a go yesterday at Pacific GC, and I wouldn't say that it was a failure at all. It was a little weird, changing a routine, but I felt good over putts within 5 metres, particularly those within a metre. I'm willing to continue skipping it for my next round, except for the long putts. The distance control seemed to be a bit unpredictable for those, so I'd like to have a couple of practice swings for some feel.

[Bushka]

You probably should disgregard everything I write since i'm a complete chopper, but yeah I'm generally a no practice swing guy as well.

I like it because when i started playing and practicing my putting i used to then go out on the course and mind f*** myself by thinking too much and worrying about stroke and roll etc.

Now i check the putt out decide on a mark/line i want to put over take my stance look once at target and as soon as that happens i do three small down press' followed by a small forward press then stroke the putt.

fire and forget putting is the way forward i'd reckon. My swings worse now than 2 months ago but my short games covering the deficiencies since i started putting like this.

[Eag's]

I have always putted without practice strokes, but only recently changed to one practice stroke.
My putting sucks at the moment though.

[henno]

I practice three putting. Going off the seven 3-putts I had yesterday it's working rather well.

[LarryLong]

I don't bother with practice swings as a rule.

I've always subscribed to Greg Chappell's theory on bowling - don't think about how to bowl, think about where you want the ball to go. Golf is pretty unique with this when you think about it. You don't see many lawn bowlers doing a practice bowl without letting go of the bowl. You don't see rugby kickers doing a run-through and kicking beside the ball before going back for the real thing. Tennis players don't do an air serve before serving.

[Yossarian]

I only do practise swings to focus on the stroke and making sure it is correct.

[Jarro]

I have a practise swing from behind the ball, looking at the back of the cup and visualising the ball dropping in the hole after hitting the back of the cup.

I also try and practise taking the putterhead back low and slow

[razaar]

Tiger and most pros who use a practice swing before playing a makeable putt, always make the practice stroke parallel to the line of the putt. That way they don't have to adjust their aim and alignment when they step up to the actual putt.

On the longer putts many of our professionals make a couple of practice putts from behind the ball at right angles to the actual line of the putt while looking down the line from front on. This is to get the feel of the putt and match the line to the pace.

A practice putt is a great way to steady the nerves and rehearse the stroke you intend to make.

[AndyP]

I knew you would type a post like that without answering the questions.

[grandmasterb]

Tiger and most pros who use a practice swing before playing a makeable putt, always make the practice stroke parallel to the line of the putt. That way they don't have to adjust their aim and alignment when they step up to the actual putt.

On the longer putts many of our professionals make a couple of practice putts from behind the ball at right angles to the actual line of the putt while looking down the line from front on. This is to get the feel of the putt and match the line to the pace.

A practice putt is a great way to steady the nerves and rehearse the stroke you intend to make.

That's what i do.

I used to practice standing behind the ball but my body front on (my eyes looking at the hole) then changed to the above in search of greater consistency on the greens.

[Courty]

No practice strokes for me. Don't wanna waste a good one without hitting the ball.

[terrys]

I like to make a couple of strokes next to the ball, mostly to get a feel for the speed

[razaar]

I knew you would type a post like that without answering the questions.

Who gives a toss what I do or any of us do for that matter. Understanding what the best players do is more to the point. Would you agree?

[AndyP]

Who gives a toss what I do or any of us do for that matter. Understanding what the best players do is more to the point. Would you agree?

No. Noting the first paragraph of my post, I believe that I give a toss, that's why I asked. I wasn't interested in what the best players were doing.

So what do you do?

[razaar]

I do what Tiger does and most of our Ozzie pros do as mentioned above. Nice to know you care.

[Moe Norman]

I had a putting lesson from a tour pro, and his one piece of advice was to never ever look at the putter when making a practice stroke.

I believe Jack never has a practice putt.

[Boonie]

I've never done it. Tried a few times to incorporate one, but it never felt comfortable.

One exception - I have a couple of practice strokes when I'm putting from off the green, or on really long lag putts with a lot of break.

Normal putts I just stand behind the ball and visualise the putt I want to hit, seeing the ball track a line to the hole.

[sms316]

I prefer the Brad Faxon method. That works pretty well.

At least it does for him.

[mike]

What does he do?

[Yossarian]

Putts it into the cup.

[mike]

oh

[dhills2]

Longer putts I take a practice stroke or two standing parallel to the ball but looking at the target (not the cup).

After reading a Rotella book once I played a round putting without looking at the ball. I'd align, place the putter behind the ball and then stroke the putt looking at the target... helped tremendously with feel & distance control. Therefore I have tried to implement this concept into my practice stroke by doing the above.

I'd just step up and stroke it if I wasn't so jittery all the time!

[razaar]

If you think only about the target, you won't be jittery. Swing thoughts make us jittery.

[dhills2]

I know I know - but I keep forgetting when I get on the course... I might have to write the word 'target' on my glove ala footy players and their writing on the strapping tape on their wrists

[razaar]

When I have swing thoughts I may as well be home doing the ironing. Always have great success thinking only of the target, at setup, during the swing and following the ball checking that it started on line and what it does in the air and on landing. That sort of awareness and feedback helps with the next shot. Swing thoughts are best left on the practice ground in my case.