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

[Ghost]

I did my putting 13Jan very windy today.

[joe martinez]

did my putting tonight!   the 12th of jan.

 

1.  i have been playing for about 8 months now.   my cattle dog had to retire from being a disc dog and i could'nt stop throwing myself.   this year i plan to play tourneys.  i play with people who are better than me or with folks that i meet at the many different courses in the denver front  range area.   i watch peoples form and footwork and try to pick the stuff out that i want to apply to my game.  

 

2.  strong from about 15 to 20 ft. out i practiced alot.   mainly use a push putt  and working on my wrist to be a better spin putter.  not really a jump putter yet.   i'm a good clutch player always have been in any sport.  if its a team thing i always want to be anchor.   

 

3.  i live in awesome colorado!  300 days of sunshine but it real cold right now.   i have been able to play anyday in the 50's this  winter until about a week ago.   i did the clinic here in the spring the first time and now im doing it im my basement when its too cold to get the the park in south boulder.  

 

i'm super stoked on doing this you guys!

[mr ed]

#1}Old target/object frisbee player{young 59} from mid 60's.Recent dg from 2000 to present.Play/threw off/on regulaly,rec player,no rating.play local tourneys,Only saturday's off

#2}good putter from 20-25 ft,sometimes hot streak from 30"  backyard,alone.Weak wrist,straddle,side throw,face front/hand shake style putter.No jump putt.hyzer putts.lefty putting practice a work in progress for last 2 yrs with improvement.feels more natural,frontal handshake & side putt format for lefty.

More relaxed putting alone,doubles or team, single play not too bad.pressure not to much of a problem when putting.Feel more  pressure/intimidation when drive,Concentration is better  alone,but enjoy competition.

#3]SWFL..warm weather,enjoy the "winter" temps of below 90 degrees.50 -70 temps enjoyable at present;>}

    outside,backyard basket.practice throws from 20-30 feet.random,mid outside 30 ft shots over/under bushes,fruit trees,house corner shots,other possible obstacle shots-neighbor yard shots for mid range,empty lot across street shots.perhaps 125-150  ft shots at random,placed basket shots on lot from side/front my yard.

Pluto Platter-1st frisbee 1957-58.Wham-O Frisbees from mid 60's.

[Ghost]

I did my Putting 12Jan2011.cold windy with snow

1.  Years played, tournament division (if any) and PDGA handicap rating (if any).

almost 7 months, I played rec in my first and only tourney last year but I will be moving up this year,  N/A rating.

 2.  Putting proficiency, strengths and weaknesses, history of practice

Beginner Putter.  I have days where I can't miss and days where I can't hit.  Decent wrist. No Jump Putt (dont want to either too many factors, I am much more accurate with a stand and deliver backhand). I have a decent anhyzer putt.  straddle putts I am not very good at but I am working  to develop the skill.  I can putt lefty if needed.

     I have done the putting clinic once before and it really helped me out.  When I started I couldn't even consistently make 10-15 footers after a month I was drilling 20-25' during rounds.  Other then that when I go outside to smoke a cigarette I am usually tossing plastic at my homemade basket.

    I also enjoy Pressure.  I tend to play much better when under pressure. 

3.  Location where you putt at for the clinic.

I live in Virginia it is cold and windy during the winter, we just got a little bit of snow.  I have plenty of room for putting but it is on a hill so more then 15' = up or downhill putting.  I putt at a homemade basket that spits out good putts (It does it purpose for practice putting).

[joe martinez]

got my putting in the last few days the 10th and 11th didnt get a chance to post.  will do todays after i work. i will get to answering marks questions then as well.  i hope everyone is killing the chains!

[mark ellis]

In order to make a good game I need to know what level the players are at and what needs they have.  So I will ask some questions (and supply my own answers) .  The purpose of these questions is not for bragging or one-upsmanship but just to find out where the group is at.

 

1.  Years played, tournament division (if any) and PDGA handicap rating (if any).

17 yrs, Pro since '97 (master or grandmaster, when offered), 980 rating.

 

 2.  Putting proficiency, strengths and weaknesses, history of practice

Formerly the worst putter in the universe (or pretty close), now a good putter but will never be great.  I have a weak backhand wrist so after 25 feet out my accuracy plummets.  Non-existent jump putt, I turn sideways and throw.  Equally comfortable with straddle or staggered stance.  Very poor at anhyzer putts or if I have to release high ( over a low bush, etc)

 

Through years and endless hours of practice, my short putts (25' and in) are almost always close.  On good days they go in.  On bad days they find a way to stay out.  If my first couple putts in a round go in I probably putt well.  If they miss, it could be ugly.

 

Pressure normally helps, rather than hurts.  So the bigger the tournament, the better I tend to play (especially compared to my competition).

 

This is my 6th time going through the putting clinic.  Each time I make some adjustments to the format.

 

3.  Location where you putt at for the clinic.

I live in Michigan where it is cold and snowy if I putt outside.  I have a big basement (low, 8'  ceiling) with a Chainstar and space for putts up to 45'.  For time and comfort most of my winter practice putting is indoors.  Outdoors is better training due to wind but I am somewhat lazy and a low ceiling forces me to develop better snap.

 

Of course, feel free to add any information you think might be useful.

 

[mr ed]

Played 18 today{1/11/11} after an early am putt practice.No snow,fog was heavy at 8am.

I'm game for any putting games you create/have.

[Ghost]

I did my putting today 11Jan2011.  Mark I think it would be awesome to have some new games to try.  I have played horse and horseshoes with a couple of friends of mine and enjoyed it.  I have been meaning to try Perfect Putt 360 as well.  The only thing is my basket has poor catching ability

[mark ellis]

I did my putting today.

 

It looks like there are 4 of us active in the program.  If the group would like, I could create some games to putt along with.

[mark ellis]

I did my putting today.  Hooray.