Above or below the hole

Whats your opinion on this.
I have heard that its better to be putting up hill, but when i approach the green i tend to aim above the hole so the slope will run it down, this sometimes leaves me above the hole. but isnt there more chance that it will go in with the slope rather than going below the hole it has no chance

Its' a matter of the weight of the putt really Matt.  If you play on really fast greens the chances of a highside putt rolling on past the hole are quite high, especially if there's a bit of borrow on the downhill side, leaving a nasty 3 or 4 footer to hole out.  Putting up hill means that even if you overhit it it'll only go a few inches past.  

Trying to judge the speed of a downhill putt tends to be harder for me..

Struth sometimes I even 2 putt on those ones.......

 NWOT.........

I think what Matt is trying to sugggest is this

If you aim above the hole with your approach then there is a slim chance that the ball will roll in the direction of the hole and maybe in.

IMO, the times i have chipped in from off the green are vastly outweighed by the times i have 3 or 4 putted so if i have a choice then i will probably aim for below the pin with everybody else it seems.

Col

I hadnt considered it until your post (just another example of all the things i havnt thought about in my rounds of golf but probably should have) but now that i have given this some consideration i will be aiming below the pin (listen to me, as if i actually have any choice with where the ball lands).

My course management clearly needs help. What other gems of information havnt i heard yet of thought of on my own?

Below the hole, every time, is what any sane person should be striving to do, this game is difficult enough as it is, without giving oneself, swinging downhill putts on a fast surface.

I used to enjoy watching Pelz on the golf channel (RIP) and definately found his instruction more interesting than the skinny guy with the ribbon on his hat.

You lot must be propper golfers as I am just aiming for the green, and just happy to be on it..... 

Love to be able to choose.....

Preference for me is uphill for the same reason as Chris W

Blimet Tony, no one's ever accused me of being a proper golfer before.  We all aim for the green.......

There is no way on earth that Mr Pelz can claim to have scientifically proven that it is easier to putt downhill, rather than up hill or on a level surface.

Think about it for a moment and then you will come to the same conclusion as the majority, that a ball coming downhill has not had the authority of being struck firmly, but rather just set in motion, to take every indentation and subtle borrow with no possibility of guaranteeing to hole it.

The odds are definitely in favour of a ball that is struck solidly to its target than one that is left to its own devices.

I did not say you were lying, Danny

If you noticed, I did not make my reply to you directly as I had no wish to argue with you,

Saying something is  a fact requires 100% proof and in this case he has not got a cats chance in hell of doing that. Gravity has no more chance of holding a ball on line as any other means of propulsion, but one thing is for sure, I will hole more putts than you from 10ft below the cup than you ever will from 10ft above the cup and I am willing to put my claim to a contest for money, if you feel up to it, or anyone else for that matter.

Mr Pelz is just another pro golfer who has his own theories on the game of golf and uses the media and advertising to make himself a large income, just a pity he could not do that himself on the circuit with the same sort of success.

All the diagrams in the world will not make a downhill putt easier than an uphill one.

For interests sake, do you prefer to putt downhill having read the words of wisdom from Mr Pelz or are you like the majority who have gotten fed up with three putting after leaving the ball above the hole.

Try holing putts from above the hole at Augusta or Sweetwoods park in Sussex, where on the  ninth if you leave yourself a yard above the hole and miss the putt, your next shot is a chip.

Hope that explains my position, which is based on playing this great game for fifty five years.

Nuff said

I am pleased that my money is safe, Danny.

Hi Matt, It is not water will flow to the hole as you say, but that grass will always go looking for water and the grain will always run in the direction of water.

When I used to be able to get down behind the ball I found it very easy to see the line, but now, of course, I cannot get down any more, so I have started to use the plumbline method by holding the putter in line with the ball and the hole, closing one eye and whichever side the hole appears and by how much is the line that I take into consideration, along with the direction of the grass(nap), slope, direction of wind.

I might add that if there is prominent grain then the grass will also follow the setting sun.

A positive stroke, coupled with confidence is essential.

Always remember that every putt you make has to be played straight once you have picked your point on the green to aim at.

Putting is about 43% of the game, so this is an area that has to be practised.

Having said all that, I am not the most gifted putter in the world, only wish I was.

John 

Could you explain the plumbline method in more detail. I have never really understood what this does to help. Your brief decription above has shed some light

THX

Col

Hi Colin,

Personally I find this method foolproof in finding the correct borrow for any length of putt.

I will try and explain how I do it.

First I stand behind the ball, close my left eye and with the putter held high but hanging freely I line up the shaft of the putter with the ball and the flag/hole.

If you cannot see the hole then the putt is straight, if the putter is left or right of the hole, the distance between the hole and the putter shaft is the amount of borrow.

If for example it is 2ft then what I do is aim straight at the 2ft point so that I make a straight putt and not try and steer it with my hands.

I doubt my explanation is clear enough but I hope so, as it is a sound method to determine how much borrow is required.

It is especially good on relatively short putts as it will indicate right or left lip etc.

If we ever meet up I will demonstrate it to you.

Angel Cabrera uses this method

Well meet at the NvS John.

An uphill putt for me every time please. An uphill putt has more chance of catching the back of the hole than a downhill one. Also the actual stroke can be more positive uphill and can maintain the line that you send it off on. Downhill one is naturally more tentative with the stroke and ground irregularities will have more effect on the ball. What do you think fellas?