Are you having trouble with distance putting? Learn to become the doctor of putting before you putt.
D.S.D. stands for distance, speed, and direction. Before you putt, you need to take the time to analyze the distance of your putt, whether it is three feet or 65 feet. Once you know your distance to the hole, take time to analyze the speed of your putt. Is the putt uphill or downhill? Is the green firm and fast, or soft and slow? Then, finally, determine the direction the ball will roll, once the ball is stroked with the putter.
The order of D.S. D. is imperative to follow, because you first have to know how far you are from the hole. For example, if you know you are 30 feet from the hole, you will determine the length and pace of your stroke before you putt.
Before you determine the line of the putt, you must have a good understanding of the speed the ball will roll to the hole. Create some type of speed gauge from one to ten, with one representing slow and ten representing very fast. The rule of thumb is this: the slower the ball rolls, the more the putt will take the break, and the faster the ball rolls, the less the putt will break.
Before you play, determine the speed for the day and use your speed gauge to help you read putts. This will help you with the pace of your stroke.
Once you know the distance and speed of your putt, you will determine the line of your putt. For example, you have a 30-foot (distance) putt on a green with a speed rating of eight, and a severe downhill left to right break (the line). Thus, you will pick the line of your putt to be several inches to the left of the hole and the ball will follow the slope of the green to the right as it approaches the hole.
This is how you find your line of the putt before you stroke the ball. Once you master this approach to putting, you will become the doctor. By following the doctor of putting method, D.S.D., you will be a very good distance putter. You may even believe that you are the best putter in the world. Good luck and enjoy the game.
John Nelson is a South Florida PGA Hall of Fame Class A Teaching Professional and Director of Instruction at the Golf Academy located at The County Club of Coral Springs, Coral Springs, Fl. 954-752-4500 x 204, email: jnelson@ccofcs.com, Web page: www.ccofcs.com.
