Three-putting is one of the fastest ways to inflate your scorecard. Sometimes it’s a flat-out misread but often the real cause is technical or even equipment-related. Shot Scope data from millions of tracked rounds shows that while scratch golfers three-putt just three percent of the time (≈0.8 per round), a 25-handicap golfer three-putts 13 percent of the time (≈5.8 per round). That’s a huge gap. Some of those mistakes may be avoidable.
1. Adding loft without realizing it
Your putter already has two to four degrees of loft. If you “add loft” at impact by flipping the wrists, the ball launches inconsistently and rolls different distances every time. Adding loft at impact kills distance control, the No. 1 cause of three putts.
Scratch golfers average 1.85 putts per green in regulation but that number rises to 2.18 for 25-handicaps, mostly because of poor distance control.
If you want to avoid issues with three-putting, keep the butt end of the putter slightly ahead of the face through impact. For a simple drill, rest the shaft against your lead forearm during practice strokes. This keeps loft delivery consistent and produces a true roll.
2. Never getting a putter fitting
Most golfers wouldn’t play a driver that doesn’t fit their swing speed but many use putters straight off the rack for years. Think about it: which do you use more often during a round? Loft, lie, shaft length and balance all affect roll. Without a fitting, your putter could be costing you strokes.
Go for a putter fitting or, at the very least, a local demo day. Fitters have the tools to determine which putter is best for you based on specific data. Even something as seemingly simple like the grip can make a big difference in eliminating three-putts.
3. Lag putting without a target
Shot Scope found that 83 percent of three-putts begin with a first putt outside 30 feet. The difference between leaving yourself six feet away versus three feet is enormous. A 25-handicap golfer makes fewer than half of putts in that three- to six-foot range.
If you’re still stuck on the “just get it close” concept, that may not be specific enough to get better at putting.
Pick a three-foot circle where you want the ball to stop in. Practice the ladder drill: roll three putts to 30, 40 and 50 feet to build speed control and reduce the length of your second putts.
4. Misreading greens with your eyes
Even with solid speed, a poor read wastes strokes. Relying only on your eyes misses the subtle slope or grain.
Read with your feet as well as your eyes. You don’t have to go all in on the AimPoint method; just some awareness will help. Walking along your line and noticing which foot feels more pressure gives a more accurate sense of slope. Combine this with a behind-the-ball read for better aim and more confident strokes.
Great players start looking at the slope as they are walking up to the green, not just when they are standing at their ball.
5. Not putting pressure on short putts in practice
While some golfers take rather generous gimmies, the goal of the game is to get the ball all the way to the bottom of the cup. If those little knee-knockers are costing you a couple of strokes a round, it’s time to clean them up.
The best way to do this is to put pressure on yourself when you practice. Put a golf ball three feet from the hole and try and make 25 of these putts in a row. If you miss one, start back at zero. You’ll quickly realize how to create a simple and repeatable stroke you can use on the golf course.
6. Not controlling face angle at impact
TrackMan studies show that 87 percent of a putt’s starting direction comes from face angle, not stroke path. That means even if your read and speed are perfect, a face that’s just one degree open or closed sends the ball offline. For perspective, missing the hole by one inch on a 10-foot putt requires only 0.6 degrees of misalignment.
Work on drills that keep the putter face square through impact. A simple gate drill: set two tees just wider than your putter head and roll balls through without clipping either is a great way to train face control. For feedback, use a chalk line or alignment stick to see whether your ball starts on your intended line.
7. No awareness of where you leave yourself
Being “on the green” isn’t always the win. Sometimes, a 40-footer from the wrong tier, above the hole or breaking across multiple slopes is harder than leaving yourself a straightforward chip. Simply finding the putting surface isn’t always enough. If you want to make fewer three-putts you need to think about where you’re putting from.
Play your approach shots with “leave-zones” in mind. When you can, favor uphill putts or flatter areas of the green.
Final takeaway
Three-putts aren’t just bad luck. They’re the result of specific, repeatable mistakes. Clean up even one of these mistakes and you’ll eliminate unnecessary strokes fast.
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