October 02, 2025

David Orr: The Science & Art of Putting | Grab your notebooks!

1 hour 18 minutes

In this episode of The Golf Sit Down, hosts Ryan Dailey, Seth Thompson, and AJ Reimann welcome world-renowned coach David Orr.

With over 30 years of coaching experience and 16 years of putting research, David has worked with more than 85 Tour players — including Justin Rose, Suzanne Pettersen, Paul Casey, and multiple Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup players.

We dive deep into:

How juniors actually develop golf skills on the course, not the range

The importance of reps, emotional regulation, and “fear loops” in golf

Lessons David learned coaching college players, tour players, and juniors

Why most kids’ putters are too heavy, too long, or just plain wrong

The mental game difference between playing and performing

Genetics, reps, and the hidden factors that shape golf development

This episode is a must-listen for parents, coaches, and golfers who want to understand the real process of long-term player development.

📢 Learn more about David Orr:

🔗 Flatstick Academy – [https://flatstickacademy.com/]

🎙 Follow Operation 36 Golf:

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Hosts: Ryan Dailey, PGA & Seth Thompson, PGA

Executive Producer: A.J. Reimann

Find The Golf Sit Down: https://linktr.ee/TheGolfSitDown

⏱️ CHAPTER MARKERS

00:00 – Intro & Welcome David Orr

01:00 – Campbell Days & Mentorship in Golf Coaching

02:30 – Why Juniors Must Learn Golf on the Course, Not the Range

05:00 – No Gimmies in Operation 36: The Importance of Holing Out

06:20 – Four Environments of Learning (Mat, Practice Green, Course, Tournament)

08:30 – David’s Phases: Player → Coach → Putting Specialist

10:30 – Early Playing Career & Transition into Coaching

13:50 – Working with Justin Rose & Coaching on Tour

15:00 – Why Putting is an “Arranged Marriage”

17:00 – Trauma, Fear Loops & Mental Blocks in Putting

20:00 – Mechanics vs Skill: Why Stroke Fixes Aren’t Enough

22:00 – Parents, Pressure & Junior Golf Development

26:00 – Parenting Lessons from Sports & Soccer Coaching

28:30 – Fine Motor Coordination & Putter Fitting for Juniors

32:00 – Why Most Junior Putters Are Too Heavy or Too Long

35:00 – Aim, Roll, Stop → Face, Head, Shaft Fundamentals

38:00 – Why True Skills Must Travel (Different Grasses & Greens)

44:00 – Acclimating Quickly: Stories from Tour Practice Rounds

50:00 – Mental Skills: Emotional Regulation, Visualization & Recall

55:00 – Coaching vs Teaching: David’s Philosophy

1:01:00 – KISS Method: Fitting Junior Golf Putters

1:08:00 – When Kids Should Start Seeing a Putting Specialist

1:12:00 – Building Juniors “Different” from Everyone Else

1:15:00 – Closing Thoughts & Takeaways

#Operation36Golf #DavidOrr #FlatstickAcademy #PuttingCoach #GolfPodcast #JuniorGolf #GolfCoaching #GolfDevelopment #GolfParents #GolfTips #PGA #Putting

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By Operation 36 Golf

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