Category: putting

GURU TV – “The Kure Putting Solution”: Training Aid Review with Special Guest:LPGA Teaching Professional, Nancy Harvey

October 28, 2010

I would like to welcome one of my fellow teaching professionals, Nancy Harvey to Guru TV. She is an outstanding teacher and coach and I am fortunate to be able to teach with her every day. I promised all of you, teachers and students some feedback on my new training aid, “The Kure”. I have given about 5 lessons using the aid from 2 tour players (who both loved it), to a wide range of students. I start my lesson by watching the student roll a few putts with the naked eye and make my initial assumptions on aim, set up and stroke mechanics. I proceed into the video room and put them on the camera where I share with them what I like and don’t like. I make the necessary adjustments to their setup and stroke and then introduce the Kure indoors first until they can aim effectively and hit some solid putts. Then I take them outside to finish the lesson so they can see the feedback and make some putts. Here is some excellent feedback given by a student that I worked with today……………………….

Roger’s Comments: Had the opportunity to spend an hour with Jason this afternoon trying out The Kure. At first glance it resembles the floor safety sensors for your standard automatic garage door and opener, just shrunken down a bit. One sensor for your putter and the other over your line or the cup. Line ‘em up and a yellow light pops on. Make a good stroke all the way through and a green light comes on. Who doesn’t love immediate feedback? I was literally sinking putt after putt while using this thing. I saw only 2 very minor issues with the tool, both very subjective; 1) I have a ping anser series putter. Its pretty light compared to some of the hardware I see people pull out on the greens these days. I felt it added a little too much weight to my club. I could see it being barely noticeable, if at all, with one of the heavier, say, odyssey 2 ball putters or a belly putter, but would like to see it refined to a smaller, lighter version. 2) I caught myself wanting to look to the hole as I was putting rather than keep my head down. I was searching for the green indicator that signaled a good stroke. Jason made a great suggestion that they add sound to the device in addition to the indicator lights. Or I could just keep my head down….. This is a great training aid. And for the lefties out there….I’m a lefty! Works equally well on both sides of the ball. Coupling this great tool with a great instructor like Jason WILL make you dangerous on the greens.

Now that is great, honest feedback! Thanks for the comment, Roger.

If you feel this is a product that might help you with your putting. You can order one by calling 1.888.952.PUTT. Use the discount code PCD10231 to get $20 off your order.

Leave a comment or question. I would love to hear about your experience or drills that you use (teachers) below.

See you on the lesson tee,-704-542-7635 or email me @golfgurutv@gmail.com

Guru

I Have “The Kure” In my hands. Who Needs A Putting Lesson?

October 26, 2010

If you read the previous post and and watched the video, you already know that I have purchased a new training aid called “The Kure”. I have taken it out of the box and started to mess with it in my house on the carpet and I am very excited to share it with my students starting tomorrow. So who needs a putting lesson? I am accepting guinea pigs this week for those who want to try it. We have talked extensively about the importance of set up and posture in putting but it is all for not if you can’t aim the putter face and square it at impact. This is what The Kure helps you create. Muscle memory and visual feedback of face alignment. I think I will couple this with the Putting Arc and see what happens. If you like it, I will help you purchase one for your own personal use as I am now a certified dealer. Details will follow as how to do this. In the meantime, I look forward to seeing you all on the putting green.

Guru

Green Reading 101 :What Time Is It?

September 22, 2010

Spider Man

How is your green reading ability? Do you hit putts on the line that you perceive as the one you are aiming at only to look up and the ball breaks a lot more than you imagined? You are not alone. When I give a putting lesson, there are 2 parts to successful putting. 1)Proper Mechanics that allow you to start the ball on the line that you are aiming and 2) Reading enough break to allow the putt to have a chance to go in. For a sake of this post, I am going to assume that you can start the ball on your intended line most of the time but are having trouble with reading breaks. I am going to give you some ideas and a process that will help you make more putts and lower your scores.

In 2004, I was fortunate enough to work with and spend some time with Sea Islands’ putting expert, Mike Shannon. A lot of what I teach I stole (or borrowed) from him. Mike has worked with many of the players on the P.G.A. tour so this information has been tested and it works. The first thing that you have to do is discover how you process information and how your vision works. There are two types of putters: LINEAR AND NON-LINEAR.

I don’t have enough time to go extensively into each but I will tell you that 85% of all tour players are Non-Linear. In simplest terms…….Linear putters (left brain) see straight lines and putt to spots. Non-Linear putters see breaks and curves (right brain)

To start my green reading lesson I always start with: 90 PERCENT OF ALL AMATEUR GOLFERS UNDER READ PUTTS (MISS ON THE LOW SIDE)

Lets see if we can get that more like 50/50. So here is the process that I want you to try the next time you read a putt.

1. Start reading the putt from a big picture perspective as soon as you get out of the cart. Visualize where the water would drain, highest side/low side.

2.  Once you have an idea of the direction the ball is going to break, walk to the low side of the putt about halfway in between the ball and the hole. (ex. right to left putt, walk to the left side)….This will give your eyes a great look at the true distance of the putt. Key: It will allow you to achieve your first objective…..see if the putt is uphill or downhill or both (speed elements)

3.  Go to the back of the hole for a quick look (this is the most accurate view)

4. You should by now have an idea of the break. Now To The Time Part

5. INSTEAD OF PICKING A SPOT ON YOUR LINE OF PUTT….TRY THIS. IMAGINE THE THE HOLE IS A CLOCK. THE FRONT OF THE HOLE IS 6 OCLOCK. (get the picture). On a right to left putt, if the ball will enter the cup at 4 Oclock…..Instead of picking a spot on the line of your putt, USE YOUR INSTINCTS AND EYES TO ADJUST YOUR AIM TO start the ball enough to the right to make the ball go in at 4 oclock. I am telling you, the first time you do this it will be a freeing experience. No more getting locked in to a spot that has nothing to do with the target. Your speed has to come first and I guarantee it will improve. Start playing enough break and work on your speed and you will be holing big 40 foot snakes before you know it. See my putting archives (putting boot camp) for additional drills to help you with your speed.

****Incorporate some rehearsal strokes while looking at the entry point. This will enhance your spacial awareness and depth perception.

See you on the lesson tee,

Guru

PUTTING BOOT CAMP- 5 DRILLS THAT YOU MUST KNOW

March 6, 2010

I am working with a very talented young junior that was struggling with his putting. Great ball striker and a very fundamentally sound putting stroke. We put his stroke on video, looked at it and made a few adjustments. My student sees how good the stroke looks and comments,”My stroke looks a lot better than I imagined, so why I am I not holing more putts?” So I then asked the obvious question.”I know that you are practicing, so describe your typical practice session.”I get a few balls and I make some three footers and just putt around the green for awhile,”. Problem revealed. He had no structure to his practice. Also we discovered that he wasn’t seeing enough break on his bigger breaking putts (a very common problem for most amateurs). Bad teacher. I assumed that because he was such a good player, that he knew how to practice. Bad assumption. So I rolled out a very specific, very structured practice plan that I now call Putting Boot Camp. Here is what I gave him and I think it will help you as well if you will do it. Here are the drills that I prescribed and the goal of each drill. Whatever drill that you are doing, you must have a plan and there must be goals and more importantly MEASUREMENT. Otherwise, how do you know if you are improving?

Short Putts:

Drill #1 3,5,7  Find a straight putt. place tees at 3 ft., 5ft. and 7 ft. make 3 putts from each distance without missing. If you miss, start over at 3 ft.

Drill #2 Compass Drill – place 4 balls, one at each side of the hole at 4 feet away. Place a tee beside each ball. find a hole that has some slope on each side so you have a different break from each side. Make each putt twice before expanding the circle a putter length and repeat. If you miss start over 

Drill #3 Breaking Gate Drill – Find a six-foot putt that breaks from right to left. Place two tees on the edge of the hole just wide enough for. the ball to enter the cup. This will help you visualize where the ball will enter the cup and help you to play enough break. Hole 5 in a row and switch to a left to right putt and make 5 in a row to finish the drill.

Long Putt drills:

Drill #1 The 19 inch drill – Absolutely my favorite putting drill. Find two holes that are approximately 20 feet apart. Place a tee 19 inches directly behind both holes. Using 3 balls, putt from one hole to the other. The goal (if you miss) is to leave the ball between the front edge of the hole and the tee (the speed zone). The goal is to get 10 in a row in the zone. If you leave one short or roll it past the tee, start over. I promise that you will improve your speed.

Drill #2 30 foot drill – find a 30 foot putt. Place a spare club behind the hole about 3 feet. Take 10 balls and roll them at the hole. If you don’t make the putt, try to leave it between the front edge of the hole and the club. Count the number of putts that you get in the zone. Your goal is to improve this number. 8 to 10 should be the ultimate goal.

Putting is approximately half of your shots during a typical round of golf. You should plan your practice schedule accordingly. However much time you practice during the week, take 40 percent and work on these drills. I can promise that you will improve your putting stats and ultimately lower your scores. Here is a video archive that will help you with your fundamentals so you can get more out of your new practice routine. Welcome to Guru’s Putting Boot Camp.

2 Lessons to Live by: 1) Have a structured plan to your putting practice and 2) On breaking putts, add 10% more break and you will make more putts and three putt less.                                                                            

  See you on the lesson tee,

Guru