Fast/Slow Greens

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By Richard A

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  • 41 Replies
  1. Ben A

    Ben A
    Los Gatos, CA

    I would think it would be very tough to be consistent if you change putter types like that. If you can do it, great, but seems easier to stick with the same putter and adjust your stroke.

    Get good at puts from 5, 10, 15, 20 feet using a consistent tempo. If you play a faster green and making a 10 foot put, then you putt your normal stroke for a 7 foot putt or so and if it's a slower green, then like a 12 foot putt, if that makes sense.

    Otherwise your head will be a mess and there is no way you'll know how hard to hit it.
  2. mmiller

    mmiller

    Here's my issue. I play several different courses and the speeds range from about a 3 to a 14. On a 30-50 foot putt, I really don't care who you are, you can't be consistent with the same putter for speeds at the extreme ends. I've tried even using a metal wood on the greens to get them to roll semi-consistently to the hole on the super slow greens. What I've finally gone to is a png blade with a metalized rough face. It causes the ball to jump off the face much more. Whereas I use a TM square face with a very soft plasticized face for the fast greens. By switching putters and putter face materials, I can use roughly the same exact swing (or at least close and same general speed with minimal differences) to get the ball rolling and to the hole consistently. I've found that with the soft faced TM there is no way to consistently (and sometimes not ever) get the ball rolling all the way to the hole. And similarly have similar issues with fast greens swinging it slow enough to keep the ball close to the hole is extremely difficult.

    Personally I prefer fast greens and usually putt better on ones over 10 than ones under 5. It gets really tricky if you play two-three days on fast greens and then the next day play super slow, especially if there are lots of hilly greens with lots of up and down. Judging those is beyond tricky. As long as the greens are semi-fast (8 or more) then it's not hard to use a single putter to judge. But when there are tremendous differences, it gets beyond belief tricky. I played on one set of greens that I used a wood on the entire back nine to putt almost everywhere as I couldn't hit the ball hard enough with a putter. But for the most part, my metal faced png and the TM softfaced work out well for me. But only one per round. Figure out which works best and then use it for the round with the same general stroke and only minor swing speed variations.

    When one is having to hit the putter super hard, its really hard to control the speed and direction on the putts. played with some people the other day that found that out, they just couldn't control the speed consistently and direction well having to hit it very hard to get it to roll to the hole.
  3. Ben A

    Ben A
    Los Gatos, CA

    mmiller said:

    Here's my issue. I play several different courses and the speeds range from about a 3 to a 14. On a 30-50 foot putt, I really don't care who you are, you can't be consistent with the same putter for speeds at the extreme ends. I've tried even using a metal wood on the greens to get them to roll semi-consistently to the hole on the super slow greens. What I've finally gone to is a png blade with a metalized rough face. It causes the ball to jump off the face much more. Whereas I use a TM square face with a very soft plasticized face for the fast greens. By switching putters and putter face materials, I can use roughly the same exact swing (or at least close and same general speed with minimal differences) to get the ball rolling and to the hole consistently. I've found that with the soft faced TM there is no way to consistently (and sometimes not ever) get the ball rolling all the way to the hole. And similarly have similar issues with fast greens swinging it slow enough to keep the ball close to the hole is extremely difficult.

    Personally I prefer fast greens and usually putt better on ones over 10 than ones under 5. It gets really tricky if you play two-three days on fast greens and then the next day play super slow, especially if there are lots of hilly greens with lots of up and down. Judging those is beyond tricky. As long as the greens are semi-fast (8 or more) then it's not hard to use a single putter to judge. But when there are tremendous differences, it gets beyond belief tricky. I played on one set of greens that I used a wood on the entire back nine to putt almost everywhere as I couldn't hit the ball hard enough with a putter. But for the most part, my metal faced png and the TM softfaced work out well for me. But only one per round. Figure out which works best and then use it for the round with the same general stroke and only minor swing speed variations.

    When one is having to hit the putter super hard, its really hard to control the speed and direction on the putts. played with some people the other day that found that out, they just couldn't control the speed consistently and direction well having to hit it very hard to get it to roll to the hole.

    Yes, I fully agree that slow greens stink and fast greens are much better. The ball what it's supposed to do and you can get to those long putts. But, your chances of being consistent by switching putters like that, I believe is slim and I'd say very few do it because of that.

    One issue with your line of thought from my perspective, is that you're thinking of the wrong problem here. You should not be focusing on what to do with those 30-50 foot putts, because you are right. Even the pros can't get consistent with them and nor would they want to try. The goal is to get closer to the hole so you don't have them. That's where your time should be spent.

    A couple ways to do that... a lot of people tell you to lay up to a distance you are comfortable with that you can take a full swing. I think that's BS and so do the pros from my understanding. Your chances of getting it close to the flag go up the closer to the green you are. THOSE are the shots you need to get good at. Getting up and down is key. Getting a 50 foot putt in the hole or close enough for a tap in is MUCH tougher.

    I'd say get comfortable using your hybrid for those rare times you are presented with a 50 foot putt because once you focus on on the right thing, you won't have them as often.

    Make the lob wedge, or any wedge, your friend. I can't play a round without mine and I'd much rather have a chip than a 50 foot putt!
  4. Scott D

    Scott D
    Lethbridge,

    Same putter all the time. I just adjust the speed
  5. JShank

    JShank

    No, I use only one putter. I like it as I can rely on it only.
  6. marvin h

    marvin h

    I play at 2500 feet above sea level. At 9:00 in the morning they are dew covered, slow. At 10:30 nice and dry, very fast and always true, moderate grain. Same putter for me, although when the mallet is not friendly out comes the blade.
  7. Joshua B

    Joshua B

    I do funny you write about this. I typically use my Scotty Monterey putty with 15gram weights but when the course I play speeds up I use a much lighter Scotty circa 62 model
  8. Peter CB

    Peter CB
    Bedfordshire, UK

    I’ve posted before that I tend to switch from my Circa 62 no3 during the summer to a mallet during the winter for the slower greens. Winter’s too wet for the unprotected metal of the circa and don’t want to risk the rust spots. I’ve recently been using the 6M DB but have swapped that out for the Select Fastback.
  9. Corey F

    Corey F
    Hanahan, SC

    Same putter. Spend 50% of my warm up on the practice green adjusting to conditions since 50% of my shots tend to be putts.
  10. Chuck Z

    Chuck Z
    Mt Pleasant, SC

    Military

    Corey F said:

    Same putter. Spend 50% of my warm up on the practice green adjusting to conditions since 50% of my shots tend to be putts.

    Agree with same putter. I warm up more on the range to develop tempo, alignment and distance with maybe three clubs for about fifteen minutes. Putting green, just looking for how the green is rolling and again tempo at three distances. Once I get the feel and make two in a row, I'm done. Mine is about alignment and feel and no thinking. My goal, is to keep my putting at two or less average per hole. If I shoot an 80 sure do not want 40 putts. With respect.
  11. Corey F

    Corey F
    Hanahan, SC

    Chuck - i've only broken 100 a handful of times having taken up golf 2 years ago. I never analyzed my game until i started getting decent.
    Shooting 98 with 48 putts was eye opening to me. If i could cut out the 3 putts, i would've broke 90 that round. This is when i realized I needed more work on the green, when i thought that was the easy part!
  12. Under the Roof

    Under the Roof
    Mequon, WI

    I’ve been down the path that you’re thinking and for me the results were a disaster.

    About 5 yrs ago, I was a pretty good putter and started to “overthink the putting process. During my “dark walk in the putting wilderness” I ended up with 10 or so very nice Scottys and other brands and referred to all of them as “girlfriends”, but never fell in love. Every winter I’d compare and contrast, and always had this nagging feeling that I needed to go back to my first real love: 34” California Del Marr ‘10.

    Putters are like women: Once you find the right girl, fall in love and stick with it.
    Editorially: As someone who's been married to the same women for 21+ years, trust me it’s better.
  13. William S

    William S
    TEMECULA, CA

    Military
    I keep the same putter regardless if I know the greens are fast or slow. I always use the 1st and 10th greens to gage how fast or slow the greens are for that time of day, shaded or sunny, dry or well watered (hard or soft). I'm somewhat of a pace putter. What I mean by this is that I walk from my ball to the hole and count the paces. If twelve paces I convert that to 12 inches (three paces equals three inches, and so forth). Simple enough. My back swing then becomes 12 inches to match the paces. For me, this works quite well.
  14. No'l

    No'l
    Palmdale, CA

    I've had many other past putters in the past. I just use one now and it's a standard stock mallet.

    In the past, I used blade putters and I did have two of the same blade putter that I really liked, one in stock, the other I had led tape on. Our greens were fast and much faster than many other courses around town. The heavy putter worked real well on fast greens.
  15. Todd T

    Todd T
    San Diego, CA

    Military
    Scotty 009 for all greens and speeds.. Thats the one aspect of the game that Id like to stay consistent!
  16. Gabe B

    Gabe B
    Eau Claire, Michigan

    I personally do not feel like I make any changes from fast greens to slow greens. I try and keep the stroke the same and focus on the lines of the putts. I think reading the greens is where the changes need to happen.
  17. JD Dempsey

    JD Dempsey
    Savannah

    One tip I can offer if you are dealing with a big down hill putt or you are having trouble with fast greens is to line the ball up towards the toe of the putter and purposely hit it off the toe.
  18. Chuck Z

    Chuck Z
    Mt Pleasant, SC

    Military

    JD Dempsey said:

    One tip I can offer if you are dealing with a big down hill putt or you are having trouble with fast greens is to line the ball up towards the toe of the putter and purposely hit it off the toe.

    Disagree totally, as most instructors will. Softer grip.
  19. Chuck Z

    Chuck Z
    Mt Pleasant, SC

    Military

    JD Dempsey said:

    One tip I can offer if you are dealing with a big down hill putt or you are having trouble with fast greens is to line the ball up towards the toe of the putter and purposely hit it off the toe.

    Always hit your putt in the middle of putter, keeps the ball on line. A softer grip enables you to do this and will decrease the speed and shorten the follow thru. I use to feel the same way until my teacher showed me the correct way. Said that hitting it on the toe will not necessarily deaden the ball but could cause a control issue. With respect to all opinions. Cheers. Give it a try.
  20. BMaddigan

    BMaddigan

    As someone stated in an earlier post, "Don't overthink it." As a guy who putts by feel, the key for me is getting the speed of the greens figured out early in the round. Then, as long as the greens are consistent on the course, it does not really matter if they are fast or slow. If I am not making putts on any given day it is because I can't find the correct speed, and that's on my, not the putter. Switching putters would just bring in a set of new variables, and make the task even more difficult in my opinion.
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