Too many putts for a high handicapper??

I took up golf properly and have just started regularly again this year now the snow has cleared up. I'm starting to get myself under 100 on a regular basis now and have been looking at where I can improve my game. My driving has got much more consistant, and I hit 11 out of 14 fairways today, but I feel like I'm hitting too many 3 putts.

I finished with 41 putts today which feeld like a lot, but how many is average for a high handicapper like me? Is this the best area to focus to drive myself down towards scoring in the low nineties?

Thanks in advance

41 putts is not something you should be doing on a regular basis, Matt. It requires no strength to putt so we are all equal when it comes to this department of the game.

Practice is the only way to get a sound solid putting stroke, but feel for distance is something which, can be learned, but comes easiest to those who spend time on the practice putting green.

 Sound advice from JP. Matt, I'd nip this in the bud while you're still new.

 I have on occasion done the 43 putts thing after a great tee to green game. Don't get into the situation where you're terrified of putting as it is an absolute misery. Practice, practice and practice. I think that  'getting the range' is often left as a given and not talked about but it is so important for your confidence. Get the distance right and then start working on a consistent putting stroke and reading greens.

 Good luck, and don't dwell on a poor performace. 

Matt, 2 things that will impove your putting are:

1. spend at least 5-10 mins on the practice green before the 1st hole, just to get a feel for the pace. This much more important than line at your level. You will never be 5 foot wide of the hole but you can be 5 foot short or 5 foot long. This is where the 3 putts come in.

2. Use the same ball type through the whole round and get use to the feel off the putter face. Too many times i've seen people use a srixon on the first, then a dunlop on the 4th, then a commando on the ......you get my drift.

good luck.

Two excellent pieces of advice, Patrick.

Putting now theres an old burden! i played many years ago to a nine handicap prior to a back injury which kept me out for eight years.  my putting was awful even off of nine. i shot a 79 with six three putts in that round. sick or what! about two years ago i went on a weekender.  my putter head fell off on the first hole, at the time i was a little skint. i went to the pro shop bought a forty quid putter & amazingly i could putt like a man posessed. the last two rounds i have played were poor but other than them two years consistentltly around thirty six putts max. practice is the most important thing no doubt, but the right tool for you is also just as important! the best way to find it is your local golf course pro shop & ask to borrow a few to try on the real green stuff.

I did the new putter thing worked for a few weeks then once the confidenece drained away I was back to my normal self. Don't beat yorself up to much though you are only learning get plenty of practice and maybe a lesson or 2 and things will get better.

Putting is alot more difficult than it seems many technical aspects in there judging line length and executing your technique. Don't let people fool you into thinking everyone should be able to put well because it's not the case. If things were that simple with 8 hours practice a day I would be better at darts than Phil Taylor and better at snooker than Ronnie O'Sullivan putting is an art just like many other things so practice will help but sometimes people have to accept they don't have the touch or the feel to be a really good putter.