If at first - revisiting putting grip

It makes no sense to keep changing putting grips and expecting all to be well. The experiment with rotating hands (right to strong, left to weak) was not a complete failure, at least not until I imploded on the fourth last hole last weekend and went home to kick inanimate objects for several hours.

The lesson I've learnt, apart from the fact that kicking things can hurt, is that the grip matters not at all if the mind is not in control - that is, calm and focused. The number one problem I've actually had, and it's not particularly related to my grip or putting stroke, is reading the greens.

Here, it is Spring, and the greens are getting faster, but not uniformly so. The downhill putts can be lightening fast, but uphill putts can still be quite slow, especially if there is any grain against you. I'm having lots of trouble with pace and therefore line, on the long putts, both have to be right. With short putts, my other nemesis, it is mind control that is more of an issue, not that speed and read are not factors.

My plan, such as it is, will be to try to accept these difficulties more calmly and coolly; observing and correcting, rather than berating myself for my stupidity. In the meantime, I am going to adopt a more traditional putting grip, perhaps with a slightly weak left (front) hand, which slightly reduces face closure and therefore the likelihood of pulled putts - without destroying the comfort of the grip.

I should also say I must try to manage my approach shots to greens a bit better. Part of my problem last weekend was leaving myself 25+ footers above the hole on greens that were getting quicker by the hour. I'm hitting the ball reasonably with driver and fairway clubs, but my pitching and chipping still needs more work.

Putting is crucial to scoring and in my case good putting is central to my enjoyment of the game. Until I can get my putting averages down to say 32 putts per round (i.e. four 1-putts and no 3-putts per round on average), I have no chance of playing to my handicap. I plan on keeping my putting stats for the next few rounds to see how they shape up. I know instinctively that I'm well about that 32 number now, but also I know that I shouldn't set an unrealistic target, so I need some stats. It should be interesting.