Feel It
Greetings Golfers,
“95% of putts that are short don’t go in the hole”.
I’m sure you’ve heard that piece of “wisdom”. Probably good advice on short putts. Probably not on a severe downhill putt on a fast green. And probably not a good way to think about putting - especially if you’re new to the game.
I just overheard that advice being given to a kid learning to play. He then began smashing putts all over the putting green.
Most people have trouble with distance while putting. You seldom see someone 5 feet left or right from the cup. But, you see players constantly 5 feet (or more) short or long.
Putting is about feel - getting the speed right. And, with the correct speed … you have a much better sense of how it breaks. I think people need to learn how to die the putt into the hole … so that it falls in on its last turn. That’s how to get a feel of the green and the putter and your stroke. When you get that feel, then you can decide when to hit putts firm or soft.
Just read a great blog about baseball. The writer was pleased with the improved pace of play … but discouraged by how slow play came about. Too many relief pitchers and too many decisions coming from stats. Talk about losing the feel of the game. Even former Yankee star and Marlin’s manager Don Mattingly, said “It’s a game that is sometimes unwatchable”. Trying to save it with carnival acts and better food options is not the solution.
The fear of making decisions based on personal knowledge and experience is depressing. Why even have leaders? Just have statisticians run everything. What a perfect way to avoid responsibility. Then if people still aren’t happy … give ‘em a Snickers bar.
The town of Victoria had a great leader who didn’t run from responsibility. I’m talking about Sue Orsen - the owner, editor, and publisher of the VICTORIA GAZETTE. Sue’s monthly paper was a work of art and a labor of love. It has been vital to our sense of community.
Language is what distinguishes us from animals. Animals cannot put thoughts and feelings and ideas into words. As James Joyce said “ A writer is the priest of the eternal imagination, transmuting the daily bread of experience into the radiant body of everlasting life.”
Thank you Sue. I hope that Victoria can grow the right way without your words.
Yes … words are that important. We do what we do because of how we think. Words influence how we think.
Rod Carew is good with words. Maybe not as good with words as he was with a bat - but good. He’s been fun on Twitter sticking-up for hitters. MLB turned into a slug fest with guys who could only hit a home-run or strike-out. They couldn’t even hit to the opposite field when the shift was on. That’d be like a Tour player who couldn’t hit fades and draws.
Carew just told a guy to “go polish your calculator”.
Carew had unbelievable bat control - he could hit home-runs … but preferred hitting the ball where they weren’t. He had amazing feel of the bat. We need that kind of feel of the golf club. Especially the putter. Yeah, it’s good to get it to the hole … but with feel … not smashed past it.
“95% of smashed putts don’t go in the hole”.
Work on your feel.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com