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Marcus has been asked to write a book on Putting on the theory of 'The Three Step Rule'

Putting App almost complete to help you hole more Putts

PutterAce manual. Trademark (TM) PutterAce

Written by Marcus Webb Advanced Fellow of the P.G.A. This is an extract from my book 3 Step Method for Better Putting.

Please click this link to the PutterAce website

What to look for on the Greens.

When looking at the greens, I have observed that roughly one-third of golfers excel at reading the greens, another third adapt well to learning how to read the contours, and the remaining third struggle with understanding how to read them. This book aims to assist all golfers in improving their skills and gaining a deeper understanding of green contours.

Consideration must first be given to the environmental conditions, such as weather. For instance, wet and overcast conditions tend to slow the ball and reduce the amount of break. In such cases, adjustments of approximately 15 percent may be necessary when estimating break for putts. Additionally, factors like the speed at which you naturally putt, whether aggressively or with less force, can also impact your game. On the strength you hit the putt we ask three questions to determine your natural tendency. Are you an aggressive putter and regularly hit the ball over two feet past the hole, or normally past by six inches to two feet, or are you guilty of being a dead weight putter and have a tendency to come up short of the hole at times.

Determining the speed of the green, or Stimp, requires the use of a stimpmeter. More and more golf courses are stating the speed of the greens in relation to Stimp.

How do we work this out? Well when you measure the speed of green it is known as Stimp. So you need a stimpmeter which was invented back in 1935 by a guy called Edward Simpson. To measure the green you find a flat part on the course or the practice putting green to measure. You use the stimpmeter by using three balls and lifting the end of the stimpmeter so the ball releases out of the end of the stimpmeter, this normally happens at about 12 inches (ie 1 foot).

You measure all three rolls of the ball in feet and inches, you then repeat the measuring in the opposite direction with the three balls. You now have six measurements which you can divide by 6. So for example if it worked out that the six distances worked out 60 feet and 2 inches then the average would be 10, so your stimp is 10. This is a good speed that a lot of Clubs aim for as you should have a very smooth putting green that runs fairly true. You will find tournament Pro’s often will be putting on a stimp speed of 12 and if you measure a lot of greens in the U.K. in the winter they will be as slow as 7. Now you can work measurements for every stimp if required, this has been done and in the App we have worked out loads of data points which will calculate the correct distance to create your target point. To give you an example of the App, at the start of each round the App will ask what the weather is like, giving you three options, then next it will ask you how fast the greens are, finally it will ask how you hit the putts, giving you three options again. This gives a total of 81 different outcomes which affects your final aim.

This information can be crucial for adjusting your putting strategy to the specific conditions of the course.

So what do I need to work out on the greens for the App?

Well, the reading of the green will still come down to you, but once I have explained what you need to do, you will have a better chance of holing Putts.

As you approach the green, it is important to assess any natural contours that may affect your putt. If unsure about the break, it is best to putt fairly straight and let an app calculate the break for you. Determine the slope of the green - for minimal slope or a natural stance, putt under 1.5 degrees. For a clear slope, stand behind the ball at an equal distance from the hole, using fingers to gauge the slope: three fingers for a significant slope, two fingers for a moderate slope, and between 1.5 to 2.9 degrees if unsure. Finally, determine if you have a downhill, uphill, or flat putt, and consider your position on the clock face, which is crucial for reading greens. (More details on clock face detailed below)

In conclusion, while the app mentioned in the text can assist in improving green reading skills, it is ultimately the responsibility of the golfer to apply this knowledge effectively in order to enhance their putting performance.

The Clock Face.

Understanding Contours with the Clock Face Technique. We are essentially trying to find the fall line. The fall line is the highest point across the hole to the lowest point on the hole. So the highest point will be known as 12 o’clock and the lowest 6 o’clock.

The Clock Face method is an essential tool for mastering reading contours on the green. Once a golfer is comfortable with their putting technique, they can begin learning how to interpret the breaks on the green.

To practice on a green with 2 to 3 degrees of break, set up a straight six-foot putt that goes directly uphill. This will be your 6 o'clock position on the clock face, this is the bottom of the fall line (more on the fall line in later chapters) with you standing at 6 and the hole as the center of the clock.

Next, take a step about 3 feet to the right while maintaining the same distance from the hole and start putting from there. These putts will now break right to left, representing the 4 o'clock position on the clock face. Place a tee at the intended target on the hole side at the back of the hole to mark the spot.

Return to the 6 o'clock position and take a 3-foot step to the left. These putts will turn left to right, corresponding to the 8 o'clock position on the clock face. You can reuse the tee from the 4 o'clock position for this new position.

By understanding the clock face positions, you can determine the direction of the break. The highest point around the hole will be 12 o'clock, which can be challenging to identify on some greens. Pay attention to the land around the green for clues, or use the weight distribution in your feet to help determine uphill and downhill slopes.

So with the clock face method we know from 1 o’clock to 5 o’clock the ball will turn right to left and we now know that a ball at 7 o’clock to 11 o’clock will turn left to right.

Now read all the information on the website again and make sure you watch the video on the website,

There is also a link on YouTube and you can here Marcus talking about it on a Podcast.

Please read this link to my website first

https://webbysgolf.co.uk/putterace/

Marcus signs with Sport USA as Head Professional for U.K. and Europe

https://mailchi.mp/39ff1548e353/press-release-8683432

Marcus was Awarded Advanced Fellow of the P.G.A. in August 2019.

Marcus Webb has been awarded “Advanced Fellow of the P.G.A”. He is one of the very few professionals to achieve this level. Currently, there are only six in the North Region, with most of them being retired. This prestigious award is decided by the PGA Training Council which is made up of 2 Senior PGA members, members of the golf industry, representatives of the R & A, and an Adviser from the University. The Council recognised the significant role Marcus has played in delivering and supporting the P.G.A. training at the national level together with the work carried out for “England Golf” on coaching. With “Level 1 Coach Education,” he teaches Assistant Pros, Junior Organisers and volunteers to assist P.G.A. professionals. They also took into account his commitment to the community (Parent Governor at a local high school) together with the charity work Marcus has done over the years. Marcus is currently the “Northumberland County Academy Golf coordinator”. He is also doing a lot of work for the Professional Golfers Association over the winter on the Foundation Degree and Level 1 Coach Education.

He is looking to deliver some workshops for England Golf, helping Academy coaches with squad coaching. He is also teaching in Spain. It looks as though he will be living out of a suitcase for the next few years as he also teaches at two courses in Northumberland. Marcus is expecting to do more Coaching in the rest of his career together with work for the P.G.A. as a Consultant. He has just had articles in PGA Profile and Northern Golfer about this wonderful award. He has also been Nominated in the coaching awards. For the future, he is looking to start a new business in 2020 which could benefit many Clubs, fellow Pros and corporate-owned golf courses.