Putting is often cited as the most critical part of a golfer's game. Mastering your putts can drastically lower your scores. Here are some essential tips to help you sink more putts and reduce those costly three-putts.
Setup and Grip
A consistent setup and grip are the foundation of a solid stroke.
The Perfect Stance
Your stance should provide stability and allow your shoulders to swing the putter freely.
- Eyes over the ball: To ensure you are seeing the line correctly, your eyes should be directly over or slightly inside the ball.
- Narrow Stance: Keep your feet shoulder-width apart or narrower. This promotes a quiet lower body and isolates the shoulder-and-arm movement.
- Ball Position: The ball should generally be placed just forward of the center of your stance, close to the instep of your front foot.
Gripping the Putter
There are many grip styles, but the goal is always to eliminate wrist action, which can lead to inconsistency.
- Grip Pressure: Maintain a light, consistent grip pressure. Too tight, and your stroke will be stiff; too loose, and you'll lose control.
- Recommended Grips:
- Reverse Overlap: The index finger of your dominant hand rests on the fingers of your top hand. This is a very popular grip.
- Cross-Handed (Left-hand low): Placing the top hand (usually the left for right-handed golfers) lower on the grip can help keep the wrist from breaking down.
The Putting Stroke
The ideal putting stroke is a pendulum motion, driven by the shoulders, not the hands or wrists.
|
Stroke Component |
Focus Area |
Key Action |
|---|---|---|
|
Tempo |
Backswing & Follow-Through |
Keep the rhythm smooth and consistent; an equal-time ratio is ideal. |
|
Path |
Putter Face Direction |
Swing the putter along a slight arc, keeping the putter face square to the intended target line. |
|
Length |
Distance Control |
The length of your backswing should dictate the distance the ball travels. |
Reading the Green
Understanding the slope and speed of the green is crucial for selecting the correct line and pace.
- Pace is Everything: Most putting experts agree that controlling the speed (pace) of the putt is more important than the line. Aim to hit the ball with enough speed to go 12–18 inches past the hole if you miss.
- The High Side: Always read the putt from both sides of the hole. When in doubt on a breaking putt, aim for the "high side" of the hole. The ball will always break toward the lowest point.
Drills for Improvement
Consistent practice is key to developing a reliable putting stroke.
- Gate Drill: Place two tees slightly wider than the putter head on either side of the putter face. Focus on making a smooth stroke without touching the tees, which ensures a straight path.
- Ladder Drill: Putt five balls to the hole, increasing the distance by one yard for each ball (3ft, 6ft, 9ft, 12ft, 15ft). This helps you dial in your distance control.
- One-Handed Drill: Practice putting with only your dominant (trailing) hand. This isolates the motion and reinforces the large-muscle-group movement over wrist action.
Checklist for Your Next Round
Before you head to the green, run through this quick mental checklist:
- Line: Did I pick the correct line and pace?
- Grip: Is my grip light and consistent?
- Stance: Are my eyes over the ball?
- Target: Am I focused on a small spot along my line, not the hole?
- Finish: Did I hold my finish with a quiet head?