Despite practice time on the practice green, I still consider putting to be the weakest part of my game (6'ish handicap). I've worked with a local pro on my putting stroke and additionally done a lot of thinking and experimentation on this topic. I have come to the conclusion that the best stroke (for me, anyway) for short putts (less than 10') is different than the best stroke for lag putts (say 25' and longer).
Specifically the best short stroke is roughly a Dave Pelz inline/square stroke. And a firm left wrist is absolutely crucial here.
The best stroke for me on long putts is quite different. The best way to describe it is to imagine tossing a ball underhanded to the cup. It is a right hand dominated stroke, very flowing (very important), somewhat open stance, with the left hand/arm having almost no role at all other than a bit of stabilization. It is still a basically an 'all square' stroke but this is achieved by what Pelz would refer to as hand manipulation. I find it quite natural as all I do is keep my right palm facing the hole at all times.
I have only recently started mixing these styles on the course, so I can't claim any great success here. And I will admit that the first time taking this 'to the course' was less than successful. But it is going better more recently.
Any other experience in mixing putting styles or comments about this?
I do exactly the same thing you do. I have had a lot of success on putts over 10 feet, but inside 6 feet this "free-flowing" method is not very consistent. I thought I was the only one that did this??????
No, I do not consider myself a good putter. I feel I have good distance control and feel very comfortable on longer putts. I have always used the "free-flowing" method on putts over 12-15 feet. I seldom leave my second putt over 2-3 feet away. I am inconsistant on puts under 10 feet. This is where I have changed methods/styles many times. I tend to change it everytime I begin to struggle. But I maintain the same method/style on all longer putts.
Jeff, thanks for the info. In many respects I am the opposite. My short putting is better than my lag putting (would NEVER say or imply that a lag putt left more than 3' away is unusual). But as bad as my lag putting is, it is worse when I try to use a Pelz-type straight-back/straight through, firm wrists stroke. Only my right hand seems to have a clue as to how to lag - poor clue, but at least a clue.
This is somewhat late, but I have been experimenting with dual putting strokes and have had enough success with it that I will post it here. I am a 6 handicap myself. For long putts, I have been putting with a "conventional" reverse overlap grip using a slight "swing the door" method (no offense Geoff). For shorter putts, or those with no break where distance control is not much of an issue, I've been using a sort of modified left hand low (cross handed technique). With these two methods, I think I do the same as you, straight back and through on short putts and swing the gate on longer puts. Here is my short putt technique I have developed, which, besides a different grip, allows me a similar sensation to my "conventional" putting style while encouraging a straight back and through technique (that is without consciously changing my swing thought, due to only changing my grip, I have a straight back and through technique). On these putts, I grip the putter with my right hand near the top of my putter grip and extend my forefinger straight down the grip (the feeling of my right hand grip I try to achieve is if I going to putt with my right hand only on the grip ... in fact I practice putts this way to engrain the feel). Then with my left hand I grip the putter, gripping it below my right hand and wrapping my left hand's fingers around the grip (the underside) as well as around my extended forefinger of my right hand (so the forefinger is under the fingers of my left hand). With this grip, I feel like the right hand is involved as with my "conventional" grip (for feel and distance control), yet with the benefit of my left hand/arm acting as a sort of guide (i.e., the left arm and hand keep the putter face square to the target, and because the left arm is basically straight, it controls the arc of the stroke, creating a nice pendulum type stroke finishing with the putter face pointing to the sky (not a shove or push or pull that can occur with a traditional grip).
I too would be interested in others using dual putting techniques and their methods and results.