Raymond Floyd Tip: “Putting with Loft”

Raymond Floyd Tip: “Putting with Loft”

The weakest part of my game is around the greens, especially chips shots for some reason.  I don’t think so much technique, but more strategy.  I’ve had trouble deciding on one club around the greens or several different clubs.  I think Johnny miller felt that it was better to use one club around the greens, a 56 degree wedge.

The past week, I’ve had some of my best practices around the green that I have ever had, and I can feel my confidence building and I’m becoming more consistent. 

What helped me so much was an episode of Martin Hull’s “School of Golf” on the The Golf Channel.  Hall had Raymond Floyd on and I loved the lesson.  His philosophy was “putting with loft.”  He started with a long Iron, I think It was a 4-iron, when you’re on the fringe or just of the green, you chip it on the green and let it roll.  Then he would go to 6 iron when you’re about 5 yards off the green, then 8, then he would bring in wedges when he had to loft the ball on the green.

I started using a five iron and putt around the greens.  I saw improvement and consistency right away. 

When I left the golf course that night, I felt good, but struggled with some doubt, so for the rest of the week I practiced chip shots around the green with a 5, and was close to the hole or sinking chips in.

I wanted to try the other clubs, but unfortunately there’s too much rough around the chipping green, so I used the technique with the a sand wedge and started to develop consistency as well.


Since I have an over the top move, I'm a really handsy player.  I realized afterwards, Floyd was a real handsy player, so that's probably why its working for me.  Also, he suggested you should use your actual putting grip when hitting these type of shots.