Putting Routine

[DexterHawk]

So I've read a bunch of articles that suggest a consistent mental routine before a putt is a good strategy and have had a lot of luck with it myself. Does anyone else do this and if so what do you think about.

Mine is pretty long, like a check list...

I start by making a decision to either lay up or go for the putt (read as the thought process that weighs risk vs reward... I generally go for putts where I think there is less than a 20 percent chance of me 3 putting)
Then I try to visualize the line of the putt going in (I putt very flat and straight so this is mostly about determining wind and distance)
I make sure I don't have my weight too far forward by moving my weight to my back foot
I stand up straight
I try to relax my right arm from the shoulder down
I aim with my disc nose angle up
I choose a single link to throw at and try to stay focused on it all the way through release

at least this is the routine that's been working lately... it's actually not as long as it sounds when I write it out... a lot of these processes are things I do almost automatically now. When I'm leaving a lot of putts short I often add the reminded to try to putt through the chains

I do this on every putt from 5' to 60'... when I rush it for short putts bad things always happen

[emmarose]

i absolutely have a system! in fact one of my steps is to tell my self "stick to the system"

i step up to my marker, take a deep breath, check my toes, look at the pin (i don't pick a link) and line up my shot, making sure my putter is up (growing up putting at pins, i tend to putt low), take another deep breath, remind myself to stick to the system, make sure i see my line to the pin, and then put it in the chains... sometimes i have to take an extra deep breath... but i also have to make sure i don't take too long or think too much...

[Sean Phillips]

Yup, I feel like a putting routine has helped me a lot. I didn't really have one until reading "Golf is not a game of perfect". The author insists on it.

Mine changes over time, but here's the basics

Breath, take stance 3' behind marker, take a practice swing with emphasis on nose up and wrist pop, step up to marker finding my link, look down at front foot, breath, bounce then settle, look up at link, visualize my line, raise putter up till it's pointing at my link, then putt

Like Mr. Hawk, some things are simultaneous and/or automatic.

[PhilStomp]

I watched that putting video by Discraft and was put off at first that I was not shown how to putt. Watched again...Oh, I think I get it.
I don't have a big arm but good putting keeps me close and allows me to have a lot of fun playing at 50 years old.
I've been playing almost four years now.
I have my putting routine. Like Sean said, my has changed over time. That part always suprizes me when I realize it but I've learned to go with it.
I feel that it is really important to my game/head to follow the routine but I also don't try to think about it. Just do it and do it and do it.

At first, I think that you do need to think about it and work with it, practice it, learn it and be come comfortable with it.

The best part, I couldn't begin to tell you what to do. That's all on you but I strongly recommend watching the video by dicscraft. Body motion is only half. You must get your head into the routine as well.
I re-watch the video about every 5 months now just get the mental engine tuned back up.

I'll take a great putt over a monster drive anyday.

I had the pleasure to play a round with Sean out at Timber once. Another thing struck me watching Sean putt.
There was a confidence factor that I could see, feel, sense. I also felt like it helped my putting that day.
The force, positive energy, good karma. I don't care what you call it, it's real.
I try to have it and I try to pass it on. I'm not sure that it's working but I do have a lot of fun playing Disc Golf.

[DexterHawk]

I agree phil... putting seems easier when the other guys you are playing with are hitting their putts too.

I really like the discraft putting video about confidence. It basically recommends that when you practice putting you should only work on the ranges where you can make at least 50% of your putts. This way you are practicing making putts, thereby building confidence. I implemented this strategy two years ago and only really practice putts inside of forty feet. The result... My rating shot up and I now view putting as one of the strengths of my game instead of the glaring weakness it used to be.

[General Scales]

I place my mini. I assess the putt (distance, wind, risk reward). I choose the appropriate putting style (push, straddle, spin, sidearm). I start making the motions (arm movement with body movement). After 3 fake putts I take a step back, close my eyes and breathe (I close my eyes to see the mental image of retrieving my disc from inside the basket). Open my eyes, step up and immediately putt. I have noticed that I inhale while I'm bringing the disc inward (either to my chest for spins or my knees for a push) and exhale as I make the motion to release. Much like firing a rifle for accuracy at distance. My routine has been the same since I started 3 years ago.

[General Scales]

The footwork is automatic for me. I don't check them because they know where to go. I also don't focus on a link or chain, just the center pole. It never moves due to the enviornment around it.

[Ol' Bob]

Any ideas about bad or awkward footing situations? Any routine seems to break down when my balance is in question. I might convince myself that I'm steady, but the results show otherwise. I'm okay only when both feet are firmly planted and my stroke unencumbered. The slightest bit off and the puts go completely wild.

[Uhlman]

Any ideas about bad or awkward footing situations? Any routine seems to break down when my balance is in question. I might convince myself that I'm steady, but the results show otherwise. I'm okay only when both feet are firmly planted and my stroke unencumbered. The slightest bit off and the puts go completely wild.

As one who is often times out of physical balance (my shrink says my mental balance is fine) I like to lay-up. I have had two stokes (in the Pons region of the brain) and let me tell you that balance is something I have had to work very hard at to keep even on level flat ground. I will in those situations also try to widen and elongate my stance so that my feet are firmly planted and I no longer feel out of balance.

[Joshua Olmsted]

I've never been one for too long of a pre-putt routine, I find that if I think too long about a putt I can talk myself out of them. One think I do in tournaments is to avoid standing directly behind my disc while other players are putting so that when I step up to the disc I haven't already been thinking about the distance or how much the putt matters. As for the routine itself, remind myself to push hard with the back foot, two rocks of the putter pushing off with my back foot. I remind myself to paint the pole and then the release. Generally I only like to have to look at my putt for about 15 seconds, just long enough to gauge the wind and do the two practice pumps.

[blang11]

I think a routine is essential. It is really indicative of my game plan for everything in disc golf, not just putting.

I push putt with a well seasoned Challenger so I keep a vertically straight arm motion and keep my disc on a hyzer angle with the nose flat. This usually produces a straight putt that descends into the chains.

I address my marker, lick my finger tips, pad them dry on my shorts, "paint the pole" once or twice until I have visualized the line and physically gotten my muscles to move with the correct pace and timing. Then I crouch down and bring the putter up just below eye level so the disc is in my line of sight to the basket. I turn the putters wing down a bit to achieve a hyzer angle and also make sure to keep the nose flat. Finally, I swing onto my back foot while bringing the putter down to my lap, shift my weight forward and release the putt.

I have a slightly different routine for when I need to straddle putt because of obstacles or uneven footing. I aim a bit further to the left side of the chains because I tend to pull straddle putts to the right a bit.

[REDFIVE]

Putting is fun.

There is a difference between a physical and a mental routine when it comes to putting.
I am a right handed push putter with a right foot forward stance(jump putts I use a strattle stance).

My physical routine consists of placing my right foot behind my mini and raising onto my toes while pointing the disc at the basket. I transfer my weight back and settle into my stancce. I settle back into my stance from my release point which I feel lines me up easier. I make sure to feel my fingertips on the disc and engage my larger shoulder muscles while feeling my feet in contact with the ground. I take a few pushes at the basket while slightly transfering weight back and forth on my toes with the movement of my arm and when I feel right I lean forward rising onto my right foot and putt.

My mental routine consists of feeling the muscles I use and envisioning I am setting the disc in the basket while liningup. Itry to keep words or ideas outoif my head and just feel what I should be doing. If I don't feel right physically or mentaly I will back off and start again. When ifeel comfortable that I am prepared to make my putt I putt.

My routine changes slightly each time because I am feeling more than thinking. Itfollows the same frame work but isn't identical eachtime.

I have practiced putts with my feet in every stance you can imagine. I recomend this. I realized that no matter how your feet are positioned or how unbalanced youmay feel as long as you are lined up with your upper body the lower is just to transfer your weight. Keep your upper body movements consistant no matter how your feet are positioned. Always feel yourfeet in contact with the ground in awkward positions to gain a sence of balance.If all else fails don't worry about how. Line up and throw at the basket.

I try to keep it simple. Feel over thought.

[Toby Puttzinski]

I am a left handed push putter with a left foot forward stance, my caddy is a hypnotist, so I've been putting in a trance.
Ok, so the first part is true... I can't get my hypnotist to caddy.
I feel that my pre-putt routine mirrors that of a basketball player lining up a free-throw in some ways. It almost always consists of at least one empty handed practice(see Steve Nash)stroke which emphasizing thumb toward target. I will usually look down at my marker foot a couple times to make sure I'm not foot faulting(toeing the line), spin the disc counter clock wise to find the right grip(remember I'm left-handed here, details), while sinking into my stance. I usually rock back and forth at least 3 times as I'm trying to get into rhythm/find balance point, and won't putt unless I've rocked/swung my arm forward at least 3 times. Would you laugh if I said that "I like to paint the pole while exaggerating nose up?" Like in basketball, it's often a "two-shot foul."
If I'm forced to straddle-putt, it's mostly the same outside of weight transfer. I also 'dig in' a bit more while focusing on balance.


Like my patch-work baseball swing in college, many aspects of my putt are borrowed from other players. Just like in putting, batting involves a great deal of correlation between repetition/confidence and success. There's a great deal of similarities between my batting routine and my putting routine. In my opinion, watching professional players and emulating someone that has a similar 'style'/body type can be very advantageous when working on form. I felt that Feldberg's tips on push putting were very helpful. I'd like to see more video of the best straddle putter in the world, Mr. Schultz.

[TREX]

Yep. I have a routine and I believe in sticking with it. At times I do change it but when I do it is to go with the way I am playing. Some days I tend to push my putts right and when i realize I am doing this I change to a different style but the routine remains.

I run my routine each time.
Footing
My line, visualizing the putt in flight and the line it's going to run.
Clearing my mind and relaxing
Centering myself on the basket when rdy to putt.
Releasing with the line of the putt in my mind on whichever style of putt I have to make.

I have a decent percentage outside of 30 feet and I expect to make the putt every time which allows me to make some awesome long range putts. Confidence in your putting is key, I know we all know this already but pound that into your brain and great putts will follow =]

[Denny]

I believe a sound putting routine is crucial for any serious golfer
and the most important part of any putt is of course, your head space.
That's why before every putt I take I give myself this quick little pep talk :cheers:

Oh buddy, here we go.
Bases loaded.
Bottom of the ninth.

Are you going to step up?

Oh yeah.

Because it’s winning time, you magnificent son of a bitch!

You go in there and show them.

Make mommy proud of her big boy because he’s the best!

Just do it!

Is it in you?!

I’m lovin’ it!

Then I bang it home!

[PhilStomp]

Any ideas about bad or awkward footing situations? Any routine seems to break down when my balance is in question. I might convince myself that I'm steady, but the results show otherwise. I'm okay only when both feet are firmly planted and my stroke unencumbered. The slightest bit off and the puts go completely wild.

Bob, On this I do has ideas or better stated "What I do"
First: I have become a straddle putter. I like the stability. Being "planted" but that is not always possible (hence, your question).
If on a side hill sloping upwards on my right side, I bend my right leg more than my left. Get my hips on plane so to speak.
Uphill putting, I get my butt more under my chest and for downhill more sticking out. (I'm sure my putting style is not that attractive but "my" body mechanics never have been so there it is)
If I need to stretch out for an around the tree "anny" putt, I stretch out and set my left hand to my back pocket. Again, gaining my "planted" effect and re-arranging my "pendulum" swing accordingly by cocking my upper body.
Hyzer putting, I am much more upright and I let the disc “fall”. That may not sound right to most but you must understand that I putt with a Pro Cobra 177g and I must properly present the disc angle. Yeah, I know, putting with a midrange. Not the point here. What is it that this blah, blah blah is meaning, I adjust my body as I need to gain the same “pendulum” swing from my shoulder to my right middle finger (last finger to leave the disc).

Further on this point, for long putts, I am not a jump putter but I use all the same motion (“pendulum”) and allow the motion to pull me off stance. Not jump putting but “follow through” putting.

Again, this is what I think about and do. May not be for you but I do believe the idea of adjusting your body around your "swing" is valid.

PS Bob, I think I got to play with you once but not sure. I do like your positive vibe that I pick up in your posts. Thank you for that.

[mine all mine]

I don't do a routine anymore. I just go by feel. If the putt feels right I do it, if it doesn't, I step back and try again. I found that when I did a routine I lost track of the putt. I approach every shot the same way, so it may look like a routine, but there is no thought of it in my head.
when I did a routine, I have literally been in middle of a drive or putt and thought I missed a step, resulting in a shanked drive or putt. To combat my brains overpowering need to be repetitive, I canned the routine and now just kinda wing it.

[Matt B.]

Make mommy proud of her big boy because he’s the best!

Just do it!

Is it in you?!

I’m lovin’ it!

Then I bang it home!

Is this still about putting? :biggrin2:

[Denny]

30 rock anyone?