Conference 7.286::golf

    When you practice, you should be breaking down the technique in your
    mind.  How you position yourself, the way the pendulum moves as you
    take the club away, the stroke, the follow through, etc.  Then when 
    you put, your mind MUST BE FOCUSED ON TECHNIQUE!  If you have any
    thought not related to technique, step away from the put and re-group.
    Go through your entire ritual, from judging the distance, reading the
    green, addressing the ball and so forth.  If you have any thoughts
    other than technique you'll probably blow it.  Concentrate on the 
    swing keys when you are hitting a full shot, not the water in front of
    the green, which you may not carry, and if you pick up a penalty , you
    cannot win this hole and if you lose this hole you will probably lose
    the match and that will cost you $5 and you only have $4 in your pocket
    and you promised you'd get bread on your way home and if you go to the
    atm it will make you late and you promised you'd be home on time - I 
    think you get my point - get back to the technique of putting -
    anything else and your mind can race on and on!  From what you say,
    it sounds like mental problems and not physical ones.
    
    Possibly another practice routine that I have used successfully, is to
    take the first putt in each practice set at 3-4 ft. and pretend it is
    the club championship.  Be as accurate and detailed in your mind as you
    can be - who are you playing, what got you to this point, who have you
    beaten, what's the weather like, etc. and then putt for the dough!
    Another scheme for later is to set some pressure on yourself, such as
    you must make 9 of 10 from 3 ft. or you will do 100 push-ups and then
    make 9 of 10, etc.  Put the pressure on your self - I used to put for
    $25 that would go to my wife if I didn't make 9 of 10 - her wardrobe
    was a knock-out, but my putting improved and she now wears her sister's
    old clothes.
    
    Big Mac

    not a great putter but am better than average and best for handling
    pressure puts I've found is:
    
    	1) stick to a regular routine EVERY TIME
    
    	2) just before getting up to the put I always tell myself
    	   "well it's either in or it isn't and the sun will still
    	   get up tomorrow reguardless....this reduces the pressure
    	   and relaxes me...

    I agree with .2...
    
    Stick to the same routine EVERY TIME
    
    It's just a putt.. If it goes in, great, it not, well it was probably
    a 2 putt anyway. If you still need a third putt, so what ? Get it done
    and go to the next hole....
    
    Learn from the experience. Be the ball. Sometime, you'll have the same
    putt again. Remember how it broke last time. See the ball, be the ball.
    
    Don't let anything rattle you. AND DON'T STAND OVER THE PUT FOR MORE
    THAN A FEW SECONDS BEFORE HITTING THE BALL. By this I mean, don't
    assume the putting position for more than a few seconds. If your 
    routine has a delay between taking the stance and striking the ball,
    always use the same amount of time no matter how long or ungilating
    (sp?) the putt is.
    
    Good luck.
    
    Jim
    

    PUTTING WOES...YOU MAY WANT TO TRY CHANGING TECHNIQUES.  SWITCH TO
    CROSS HANDED, OR SPLIT YOUR GRIP.  SOMETHING THAT FEELS DIFFERENT CAN
    OFTEN TAKE YOUR MIND OFF OF THE PUTT AND PUT IT ON THE STROKE. 
    REMEMBER THAT TWO PUTTING IS GOODNESS, AND LESS THAN A TWO PUTT AVERAGE
    MIGHT MEAN SEVERAL THINGS, I.E....LIKE HITTING IT CLOSE, BUMP AND RUN,
    PUTTING FROM THE FRINGE OR MAKING A LONG PUTT.  NICKLAUS WON 280K BY
    PUTTING FROM THE FRINGE WHICH RESULTS IN A"0" PUTT HOLE.
    
    I KEPT TRACK FOR ONE YEAR AND FOUND THAT I AVERAGED 33 PUTTS PER ROUND
    AND ONLY HIT 5-6 GREENS IN REGULATION ON AVERAGE.  THOSE GREENS I HIT
    WERE TWO PUTT,  THE GREENS I MISSED WERE EITHER TWO PUTT OR ONE PUTT,
    THUS GIVING ME A SUB TWO PUTT AVERAGE.  MY HANDICAP DROPPED FROM A 19
    TO A 9.  WE HAVE SOME COURSES HERE IN THE WEST WHERE HITTING THE GREEN
    IN REGULATION MEANS NOTHING UNLESS YOU ARE CLOSE OR ON THE CORRECT SIDE
    OF THE HOLE.  THIS ONLY CONTRIBUTES TO PUTTING WOES.  
    
    I SUGGEST HAVING A "NO THREE PUTT" GOAL OR SOME SUCH TARGET TO TAKE
    YOUR MIND OFF OF MAKING THE PUTT AND GET IT ON SCORING. I PLAYED ONCE WITH
    A CLUB CHAMP...3 HANDICAP, 72 YEARS OLD.  HIT IT 220 DOWN THE MIDDLE,
    NEVER HIT A GREEN, SHORT ON EVERY ONE, BUMPED WITH A 6 OR 7 AND
    TAPPED IN FOR PAR.  I WAS PAST HIM ON MOST DRIVES, HIT SEVERAL GREENS
    AND GOT THRASHED.  
    
    TO SUMMARIZE, PUTTING WOES CAN BE CAUSED BY MANY THINGS.  THINK ABOUT
    YOUR GAME AND DECIDE WHAT NEEDS WORK.  CHANGE SOME THINGS AND
    EXPERIMENT.  LOOK AND BEN CRENSHAW AND THE CROSS HANDED STYLE, NICKLAUS
    AND THE OVERSIZE PUTTER.  OR AS MY PRO ONCE TOLD ME "TAKE TWO WEEKS OFF
    AND THEN QUIT".
    
    SO CAL DANDY

    What worked for me was 2 things.
    
    1. I found a putter that felt right for me. I tried various putters of
    different makes and cost but found one that only cost me $18.
    
    2. I went for a lesson with my pro who put me right on a few minor
    points.
    
    I then took both new putter and technique onto the course and to my
    surprise I am a far better putter that I ever was. I have been using
    the putter and the technique for the past few months and has never let
    me down. All that lets me down is the state of the greens.
    
    I find it amazing that the ammount of people I speak to on this great
    game have lessons on how to hit straight and long but have never
    dreamed about a putting lesson. Give it a try you'll be amazed at the
    results. I have already been cut 4 strokes on my handicap and no longer
    worry about any putt because I know my technique is sound.
    
    
    Steve.

    
    Ya know, I start my putting practice from about six inches from the
    cup. I just knock about five or six putts in the hole. Then I will move
    away from the hole about six inches at a time. I suggest you don't start
     your
    practice with four or even three footers. You have to be able to can a
    two footer before you can expect to make a three footer. DON'T MOVE
    YOUR HEAD WHEN YOU PUTT. LISTEN FOR THE BALL TO GO IN DON'T LOOK TO
    SEE IT GO IN. CAPS INTENDED. Oh by the way, if things don't improve I
    would also suggest you don't bet. I mean if it is going to cause you to
    loose you r putting stroke is it worth it.  I understand from your note
    the only time you have a hard time is in the money games. Stop betting
    for a while and get your confidence back nand try it again.
    
 Good Luck
    
    Pete

Might as well throw in my 2 cents worth.  I agree with some of the prior 
comments.  Pressure putts magnify problems.  I personnally try to concentrate 
on:
1. Relaxing, ever been to a HANDLING STRESS seminar?  Do the relaxation 
   breathing technique they teach you.
2. Take as much time as you need to read the putt.  Then make up you mind.
3. Concentrate on the mechanics.  Focus on making a smooth pass through the 
   ball & get it rolling.  I try to hit it just hard enough to finish just past 
   the hole.

Under pressure mechanical flaws are magnified.  Perhaps there's a pattern you
can learn from.  Last year I was missing most of my big putts to the right. 
Later I realized that I had started to close up my putting stance. 

If your problem is three putting it may not be the 4 foot "come-backer" that's 
the problem.  It may be that you're trying to "make" the 20 footer instead of 
getting it close where you can easily tap it in.  You can be agressive on a 
striaght up hill 6 footer, but better play a down hill 6 footer conservatively.

One other tip.  Out on the course putt out everything.  It's positive 
reinforcement.  When you have a crucial 3 footer, you can just think about how 
many more you've mad just like the one you face.

Lastly if you miss the putt it's not the end of the world.  Enjoy the scenery, 
the comradery, you may be having just one of those days.

Have some one you feel understands the basics watch you when you are putting 
in a match when the putting is not acceptable. He may notice you look before
striking the ball or not standing over the ball or simply that your motion 
was jerky. He can also see that you may have taken the club back off line if he 
is in the right line to watch. I don't recommend having him stand in any special 
place or make his observation and event. Just ask him to watch and comment to you
on what he sees.

Sometimes I find that I'm concetrating well but don't realize that I AM BREAK-
ING a fundamental. Of course, if your playing for a lot of money you may have
to discount the observation if it is from a competitor. For myself I prefer
to play for small wagers so I can work on my game improvement.

    I got a putter problem too - I'm a chokin' dog ! Bet me a thin dime on
    a 3 footer, and there's no way I even hit the hole. Ahh, the hell with
    it, I still love to play - I just don't compete.
    
    Realistically,
    
    Jack

    All the tips on practicing are appreciated but I don't think that
    is where my problem lies. I think that I am spending to much time
    over the putts on weekends. I always take an extra couple of looks
    before taking my stroke and think it would be best if I just putt
    the same way I do when nothing is on the line. I'm going to give it 
    a try anyway and see what the results are. Can't hurt !!!
    Thanks for all the input !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    
    Mad Hacker

    Don't Thank us, make the putt!
    

    well,
    	Its been two months.  How's your putting?
    
    I think confidence, follow thru and concetrating on striking the putt
    are my keys with #1 most important.  I had a terrible problem for 1/2
    of last season then decided that I was a good putter not a bad putter
    and putted well rest of year including for me winning least putts at
    Galladay an unheard of thing for me.
    
    bb