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.

