TomTuckerGolf.com

Golf Tips Newsletter
Issue 708 - April 20, 2022
Website     Newsletters Archive

 
USGTF Class "A" Teaching Professional
WGTF "Top 100" Teacher
IGPA Certified Golf Psychology Coach


 

"It is not the will to win that matters, everyone has that.
It is the will to prepare to win that matters." - Paul "Bear" Bryant


Tom's Featured Tip: More on Instinct Putting

Lesson Comments: What Students Have To Say
Sponsors & Affiliates:
Batavia Country Club
The Divot Board
The Impact Snap
The Rypstick
SuperSpeedGolf.com
Club Champion




Buying a sponsored product through any of my affiliate links helps support this free newsletter, and I only affiliate with excellent products that I use myself.  Thanks, Tom




TourGreens & VersaCourt

If you're interested in an artificial turf outdoor or indoor putting green, bocce court, sport court, cornhole court, pet grass, large or small,





contact me, Tom Tucker, at (716) 474 3005 or email me at TomTuckerGolf@gmail.com for details and pricing. I'm an authorized New York State sales rep for TourGreens and VersaCourt.




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Outdoor Golf lessons are available at The Batavia Country Club. Please call me (Tom Tucker) at 716 474 3005, email me at TomTuckerGolf@gmail.com, or visit my website at   http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/lessonrates.html   for details.

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For photos and stories from the 2021 Junior Golf Camp at BCC, click here:
2021 BCC Junior Golf Camp

For details on the 2022 Junior Golf Camp at BCC, click here:
2022 BCC Junior Golf Camp The Junior Golf Camp sold out quickly in 2021, so get your junior golfer registered soon. Call BCC at (585) 343-7600




More on Instinct Putting

For simplicity, all advice on actual swings or drills is provided from a right handed perspective.





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More on Instinct Putting

Last week's issue dealt with heads up putting, which I will refer to as instinct putting in todays newsletter.


I received several questions as a result of last weeks article, some of which were:
  • Is instinct putting really a good way to putt?
  • How do I know if it would be good for me?
  • If it's good, why aren't more pro's doing it?
  • and a few more misc questions.
. For any of you that didn't read last weeks newsletter, instinct putting is when you look at the target rather than the ball when you execute your putting stroke.

I'm in Florida for a couple weeks and I've been reading a book I mentioned in last week's article called Instinct Putting Revisited. I'm not quite through with it, but it's a great read so far.

It answered the questions asked and more ie:

Is instinct putting really a good way to putt?

Statistically, the answer is yes - they conducted a myriad of research based tests and arrived at some interesting conclusions, including the answer to the next question:

How do I know if it would be good for me?

The authors state that it may not be for everybody, but it would be for you if:
  • You regularly three putt more than twice per round, or
  • You regularly leave your long lag putts very short of the hole, or:
  • You have a general lack of distance control on lag putts.
One sure fire way to see if it's good for you or not is to test it out as follows:
  1. Take two balls and putt to 18 different length putts on a practice green.

  2. For the first putt on the first hole, stroke the putt heads down - looking at the ball like you usually do. On the 2nd putt, stroke the putt while looking at the target, the instinct putting method.

  3. On ensuing holes, keep switching the sequence of which method goes first.

  4. On each hole, note which ball was closest to the hole - that putting method wins the hole, ties are ties.

  5. At the end of the 18 th hole, add up the score and see which method won.
You may find that you were better on all length holes with instinct putting, If that's the case keep practicing and make the switch when you feel comfortable.

Or you may find that you were better at either shorter or longer putts when looking at the hole. In that case work it into your game accordingly - instinct putting for distances where that is better, traditional putting for distances where that is better.

That's actually what some pro's on tour do now, and it seems that the long lag putts are where some players find their distance control to be superior with instinct putting than with traditional putting.

If it's so good, why aren't more pro's using it?

That's a good question, because some pro's aren't actually great putters believe ir or not. There are a few notables that use instinct putting off and on - Louis Oosthuizen and Jordan Spieth being two of them. My guess is that a lot of pro's fear going against convention. I would ask why most pro's remove the flagstick when they are putting, when the overwhelming evidence supports leaving it in. The only pro I see leaving it in all the time is Adam Scott.

Sometimes the fear of going against convention can be overwhelming, even when evidence supports a change.

There was one study that provided astounding evidence in support of instinct putting.

That study revealed that traditional putters as well as instinct putters showed vast improvement when they practiced using the instinct putting method in their putting practice sessions.

For years I have recommended practicing putting while looking at the hole for my students that leave their long putts consistently or egregiously short of the hole, and they have improved in direct proportion to how much practice they put in.

As a result of the research I saw, I'll be recommending that all of my students use the instinct putting method for about 80% - or more - of their putting practice.

I'll close with an interesting putting drill that Sergio Garcia swears by when he practices his putting:

For any given length putt:
  1. Putt a 1st ball with heads down putting (traditional).
  2. Putt a 2nd ball with your eyes closed.
  3. Putt a 3rd ball with heads up putting (instinct putting).
It sounds like a great drill, and I would switch the sequence from hole to hole just to keep the results statistically valid.

Try it, you'll like it.

Comments: TomTuckerGolf@gmail.com

Love your practice, own your swing, own your health,

Tom




Golf Lessons

I am now conducting lessons at The Batavia Country Club

Lessons are available for all ages and skill levels, please contact
me - Tom Tucker - at (716) 474 3005 or email me at TomTuckerGolf@gmail.com
for more information.

Outdoor Lessons Details and Rates:
http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/lessonrates.html


Testimonials:
http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/testimonials.html


Sponsors and Affiliates

Buying a sponsored product through any of my affiliate links helps support this free newsletter, and I only affiliate with excellent products that I use myself.  Thanks, Tom




Batavia Country Club   (585) 343-7600   www.bataviacc.com
Great rates, the best greens in WNY.
Golf Digest Four Star rating for public courses to play in New York State.
Tee times online or by phone in season.
FISH FRYS AT BCC and other delicious dinner specials with soup and salad bar - Fridays, 4pm - 9pm




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Club Champion Don't waste another dollar on clubs until you've gone through a fitting at Club Champion, 1669 Pittsford Victor Rd., Suite 400, Victor NY 14564. Call Master Fitter & Builder Jeff St. John. PGA work: (585) 978-8513, cell: (585) 831-2292 to schedule your fitting today1 Mention my name and you'll get special attention.




All the best,

Tom Tucker
Teaching Pro, Plum Creek Driving Range & Practice Facility
WGTF ' "Top 100 Golf Teacher"
USGTF Class "A" Teaching Professional
IGPA Certified Golf Psychology Coach
Cell: (716) 474-3005
Email: TomTuckerGolf@gmail.com
http://www.TomTuckerGolf.com

"There are no substitutes in the quest for perfection1"
~ Ben Hogan