Mark Ellis Putting Confidence Program

Started Jan 02, 2011

What do you need:

Watch the Mark Ellis Putting Confidence Program Video

Two putters.

A basket or Target to Putt at

about 30 minuets a day

Motivation/ Patience

 

Post every day that you did your putting so that you can track your progress and see others progress as well.  This is not my program I owe all credit to Discraft and Mark Ellis. 

Anyone is welcome to join me in this program

 

Mark's Assignments:

1.  Unbalanced.  The assignment is to work on balance by purposely placing yourself in unbalanced positions while you putt.  Think about where you naturally place your feet for a staggered or straddle putt and change your stance to uncomfortable positions.  I putted in my basement and used a bunch of props to create odd positions, chairs, stairs, ping pong table, skateboard, walls, etc.

  During a round you find yourself in many weird putting positions.  So in your practice you should recreate weird positions: under, over, around, stretching out, kneeling, etc.  This should be a regular part of putting practice anyway but tomorrow, focus on unbalanced positions

2.  STRADDLES.  Most players throw a straddle putt only when obstacles or the terrain require it.  When you straddle you need to square your body and shoulders as much as you can and focus on hitting the post.  So the line is critical.  Once you can hit the line, adjusting up or down is relatively easy.

 All good players need to be able to straddle putt with (almost) equal competence to a staggered putt.  That only happens with practice

3.  5th Putt.  In this game you will take 6 putts, keeping track of how many you make.  Pick a spot to putt from within your comfort zone but outside your gimme range (so for me about 25 feet).  Since this game is about dealing with pressure, the penalty for failure is severe (you can make it up to suit your imagination, so losing means death or some other horrible result).  Winning means reward, the reward based on the degree of success.  In order to win you must make your 5th putt.

    If you miss #5 then you lose, no matter if you make some or all the others.  If you make the 5th putt then you win, even if you miss the rest.  If you make the 5th putt, then the higher total you make the greater your reward.  Again, you can allow your imagination to create any kinds of rewards, up to the ultimate reward based on making all 6 putts.

      So you win if you make the 5th putt.  You lose if you miss the 5th putt.  The 5th One Counts.

If you find yourself missing the 5th putt, then the next time you play the game, pick a closer spot.

4.   Make two to finish: The wind was up enough that putted in a circle until I found the two angles where the wind made the putts the hardest to cash ( sideways wind blowing from my right to left and a predominately headwind  with a slight right to left slant).  Then I concentrated on these two lines.  To finish my session I decided to keep putting until I made 2 in a row form each of the two spots from about 32 feet out.

     It is amazing how close you can come to making putts but still miss in bad winds (not even counting the good putts which came back off the post).  It took me longer to finish my session than I would have guessed

 

 

Here are some other videos on putting that might help

Ken Climo putting video

Discraft Putting Basics

Cameron Todd and Dave Feldburg

Dave Dunipace wrist action

[joe martinez]

did my putting today ,  good luck this weekend mark.

[mark ellis]

I putted today.  I liked the ones which went in better than the ones which missed.

 

I am leaving tomorrow morning for a tournament in Milwaukee this weekend.  My tournament preparation will take precedence over my putting practice.  I may not have computer access til I return to civilization.  So putt well, Team.

[Ghost]

I did my Putting 19Jan.  Mark in each practice that I do at the end I have to make 2 solid putts in a row from 25 or more feet away in order to go inside.  I have been doing this since the last time I went through your program. Windy days are the hardest for me especially when it is gusty.  It has been windy a lot here lately which is helping out with practice.  It can still cost me 3-6 putts in a round.

[mark ellis]

I putted yesterday in the cold and wind.  The wind was up enough that putted in a circle until I found the two angles where the wind made the putts the hardest to cash ( sideways wind blowing from my right to left and a predominately headwind  with a slight right to left slant).  Then I concentrated on these two lines.  To finish my session I decided to keep putting until I made 2 in a row form each of the two spots from about 32 feet out.

 

It is amazing how close you can come to making putts but still miss in bad winds (not even counting the good putts which came back off the post).  It took me longer to finish my session than I would have guessed.

[joe martinez]

Did my putting today the 18th

[Ghost]

I did my Putting 18Jan  missed the first one got the next 3 in 5th putt

[mr ed]

enjoyed this putting...won,lost..lost,won. putted 5th One Counts.file & use.

[Ghost]

I did my putting 17Jan  made all 4 of the 5th putts

[joe martinez]

ok i did my stradle putts the other day and yesterday did the fifth one counts game.  won the first two lost the third but won the forth.  i will add this to the normal routine.

[mark ellis]

Putting, more than any other skill I have encountered in any sport is above the shoulders.

 

If we were practicing running a mile (for example) as we went through a rigorous training program, we would see our times get better and the task become easier.  Any day we wanted to put in the effort we could , by sheer force of will, log a good time.

 

But not with putting.  This (or any) training program does nothing to guarantee that you will putt well on any given day.  Trying harder, concentrating more and wanting it more is not enough.  As some of you may have experienced already, as you practice, your skills become sharper and your confidence raises.  But so do your expectations.  So when you have a bad day at putting, it can be even more shattering than if you had done no practice at all.

 

That is why confidence must be created and rebuilt.  That is why this program lasts a month long.  To teach you how to use the program to rebuild your confidence once it takes a hit.  Go back to the basics, hit short putts.  Logically we know that, with practice, we can hit a high percentage of short putts.  So if we miss a few putts that is mere aberration and unless our head gets in the way we will hit the next one and return to a high percentage.  This program allows you to overcome your subconscious fears of missing putts.