I have already written a playing lesson, 'First in Wins,' about how putting out first on the final hole or in a playoff increases pressure on your opponent and thus increases the odds of him missing and you winning. Now, I would like to talk about putting out, called continuous putting during the round in medal play. I am 100 percent plus in favor of this whenever circumstances allow it. Let's look at why I am an advocate of continuous putting.
As a rules refresher, in match play, the ball that is away controls all balls. So, in a match, if your opponent still has a putt left, even if you putt up to 1 inch, you cannot putt out unless your opponent allows you to, or gives you the putt.
Now, dealing with medal or stroke play, the ball away always plays first. But, on the green, the USGA allows you to putt out. This putting out, called 'continuous putting,' says that as long as you are not standing on anyone's line, you have the option (your discretion) to continue putting and hole out even if another player is away.
For the last 5 to 10 years I have seen an epidemic of players putting their first long putt up close, many times a foot from the hole, and run up and mark it. Now, if you are playing in a foresome, and each player marks his 1 foot putt, you now have four players having to re-mark, re-set and tap their putt in. What a waste of time (slowing up play) and energy over just walking up and tapping the putt in after the approach putt if you would not be standing in another players line. I will also now give you a few good reasons why tapping in by continuous putting is a smart way to play.
Hitting a good approach putt to a foot or two and putting out keeps you in a good rhythm, both mentally and physically. You have just worked hard, analyzing your approach putt, and putting a good stroke on it. You are in a good groove for seeing the line, feeling the distance and putting a good stroke on the ball. Why mark your ball and shut down all that good energy and karma, and go stand off to the side and watch the other players putt. Remember, First in Wins!
And then, when it's your time to putt again, you now have to turn on the thinking and swinging machine and hole your putt. The key here is that if you putted out, you finished that hole. It's done, over and you can RELAX, rather than having to stand on the sideline and keep your motor running, waiting for your turn. This is burning energy and, most importantly, keeping extra stress on you. And it is allowing your opponent(s) to putt out first'¦not you. What is our mantra, First in Wins!
I always pass on two absolutes that you must do to be successful at continuous putting. First and foremost, you only putt out if you can assume your normal putting stance. Never putt out if you are straddling a line or have only the tip of one foot on the ground. Second, on putts over a foot, always mark your ball, and replace it exactly as you normally do on all putts. The point here is twofold. You are checking that your ball is not in a ball mark or depression which can knock your ball off line. And, in marking, lifting and replacing it, you are going through the motions of your normal putting routine. Staying in your routine is key to getting into a good setup to produce a good stroke. Continuous putting works for a lot of good reasons. Let it work for you.
The Surge!