Week 3: Discraft Putting Program

Week 3 ended yesterday and I'm still putting 30 minutes a day.

Even after throwing nearly 100 holes last weekend I still made time. Progress has been great! I started 3 weeks ago only 5 steps away from the basket and now 3 weeks later I'm feeling confident from 8 steps away. Not HUGE gains but undeniable, consistent, DAILY progress toward a goal.

What's the goal? Anything better than 50% from 10 meters. I want to know when I'm inside the circle, I can step up and knock it down. I've paced off 10 meters to be just about 11 steps (give or take.) So only 3 more steps to go and I should be there in another 60 days or so. (allowing further distances taking longer to master.)

Here's a few observations I've made about my putting, if you any input on your game (or mine) please share.

* I prefer an L-stance
(or back stance for you martial artists) over the traditional forward facing stance. When my hips are perpendicular to the basket I find the weight transfer to my front foot to be more linear than when my hips are facing forward. Often times with the front stance I could feel my center-line moving slightly off to the left (Southpaw, left foot forward.) When I switched to the back stance (left foot pointed at the pole, right foot 90 degrees to the right) the direction of motion is inline with the target.

* I prefer the hyzer putt for anything outside 20 feet.
In my experience the hyzer putt has a greater margin of error and has the opportunity to make up for my mistakes and sometimes grab chains when I "don't deserve it." Several times when throwing just a slight hyzer, I will release and know immediately I messed it up and *on occasion* there is juuuuust enough fade at the end to bring it toward the basket. With the straight line and anny putt I miss left and right depending on the error. Putting hyzer I very rarely miss left and consistently get better position on missed putts with fewer errant fades.

* I have finally found my routine
It helps bring me into focus. The majority of my missed putts are directly related to lack of focus. Now it seems when I miss a putt I know exactly what I did wrong. It used to be frustrating missing left, right, high, low and not know what to do to correct it. At least now I know why I missed the shot and can *hopefully* correct it with practice.

*DAILY progress is the key
I believe repetition is the mother of skill and the reps should be as close as possible while still maintaining focus. Which is why 30 minutes a day, EVERY day is better than 4 hours of practice on Saturday.

Thoughts? Critiques? Comments?

[mr ed]

hey now,Thoughts-well said,grasshopper
Critques-have you putted with opposite hand/arm then you normally throw.
comments-I've stepped off eight from the basket,this is about 15 feet.nice accomplishments,keep up the great practice.Likewise,my short game has improved.Two fifteen minutes of putt practice relaxes me,improves the hand-eye contact toward the basket.I break up the 15 min by putting the first 7 with my right arm/hand.Most prominent and then the last 7 throwing lefty. I reverse the second set of 15 by starting with the opposite arm/hand.My left hand putts have improved dramatically.Peace