The 6 steps to putting mastery
- Approach the ball on the green
- Mark the ball and guessing a line
- Read the slope
- Remark and aim your golf ball
- Feel the distance with practice strokes
- Putt the ball (with extremely important putt-making tip)
Full Answer
How to make the perfect putt?
There are just three basic movements to the putting stroke, and they're all incredibly simple:
- The shoulders rotate around the spine
- The arms flow freely from the shoulders
- The putter flows freely from the arms
How to putt for beginners?
Putting Basics
- Manage your putting Speed. When you’re working on putting, you’ll be working on producing 2 outcomes: speed, and direction. ...
- Putting grip. There are a variety of putting grips out there. ...
- putting Stance. ...
- Account for the break. ...
- Don’t overthink it. ...
- Pay attention to course conditions. ...
How to improve your putt?
Putting Tips
- LEAD WITH YOUR LEFT If you shot a free throw with your right hand only, you'd realize you need your left hand as a guide. ...
- THINK ROLL, NOT HIT The key to distance control is to roll the ball, not hit it. ...
- USE YOUR FINGERS Grip the putter any way you like, as long as it doesn't hinder your left hand's role in the stroke. ...
- SPOT THE SPOT
How can i Improve my putting technique?
Putting Tips: 7 Ways to Become a Putting Machine
- Give Yourself an Eye Exam! Do your peepers deceive you? ...
- Assess the Green from the Low Side. Looking “up” at putts makes reading break as easy as reading a magazine. ...
- See It Like Adam Scott. ...
- Block Out “Noise” Pollution. ...
- Weight Watch. ...
- Read Putts Like a Clock. ...
- Conduct a Side-to-Side Survey. ...
What does putting mean in golf?
By definition, putting includes any strokes made on (or very close to) the green.
How to do a break putt drill?
To perform this drill, take two tees and put them down right at the base of the cup. They should be placed in such a way that they are centered with where the ball is going to enter the cup from the angle that the ball will arc into the hole. This drill helps golfers start to see how the break operates as they practice their putts.
What is the putting motion?
The putting motion is a pendulum motion. The angle of the shoulders sets the pendulum into motion, so it is important to make sure that the shoulders are level. If the trail shoulder — the right shoulder for right-handed golfers — is lower than the lead shoulder, the putter will always swing low to high, and that doesn’t lead to good contact with the ball. Making sure the shoulders are level allows for consistent contact with the ball.
How effective is a ruler drill?
The Ruler Drill is very simple, but very effective. The ruler drill helps you visualize the path of your ball and the direction of your putter face. At the academy, we use The Putting Stick, but a standard ruler from your hardware store works just as well. Make sure that the ruler is no less than one inch wide. If you’re fairly new to golf, you may want to look for something wider than one inch.
What is a good putting setup?
The first ingredient for a good putting setup is level shoulders. The putting motion is a pendulum motion.
What is the difference between putting and driver shot?
Putting focuses more on gently encouraging the ball across the green and into the hole, whereas a driver shot involves much more power through the ball. Golfers adjust their distance control for how to putt based on how far from the hole they are — whether they’re in the rough or on the green.
Why is putting so difficult?
Putting is an inherently difficult part of the golf game because it involves precision and finesse. While we struggle on methods of how to putt, fortunately, there are a number of drills that can help golfers develop consistency and control over their putting stroke.
Instructions
Start looking over the putting surface as you walk up the fairway toward the green. Get a "big picture" look at the green to learn what type of surface it is. Is it flat? Is it undulated? Does it bend to the right? Does it fall to the left? That first overall look can be very beneficial.
About the Author
Steve Silverman is an award-winning writer, covering sports since 1980. Silverman authored The Minnesota Vikings: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly and Who's Better, Who's Best in Football -- The Top 60 Players of All-Time, among others, and placed in the Pro Football Writers of America awards three times.
How to aim left to right on a putt?
You do it without even thinking. But that makes your eyes shift outside the ball, causing you to aim left of your chosen line. The opposite happens on right-to-left putts; you lean toward your heels, shifting your eyes inside the ball, and you a im too far to the right. Hey, it’s just our natural design, but it’s a huge putting problem, compounded by the fact that your shoes feature heel wedges that slope as much as two degrees—an added tilt that further distorts your feel for break at address.
What to do if your putt is uphill?
If your putt is uphill, read it from the behind the ball.
How to tell if a putt is going uphill or downhill?
Your tendency is to scan the putt from the ball to the hole and back again, or vertically. That’s a good way to determine if the putt is moving uphill or downhill, but it doesn’t help you see how much side-to-side tilt you face. You’ll glean more information by scanning the putt horizontally. Making a side-to-side assessment in your green-reading routine will have you judging break like a cagey pro. Here’s how:
What happens when you read putts from the high side?
You get the same perspective disruption when you read putts from the high side; like a tilted book, the green ends up running away from you , making the distance between the ball and the hole look longer than it is.
How to fix a break in a putt?
The fix? On a breaking putt, lean in the opposite direction of the slope you’re standing on, or into the hill. This helps fight the visual distortion that your subconscious leveling system causes. Make it subtle—a little flex in your ankles in either direction will do. Shift your weight into your heels on left-to-right putts, and into your toes on right-to-lefters. Most of my students can aim straight at the hole from 10 feet away on a flat putt, yet mis-aim by two feet from the same distance if the putt has break. It’s because they fail to adjust for the posture change facilitated by our body’s need to make the world around us appear flat.
Why do golfers focus on breaks?
When talking green-reading, we tend to focus more on breaks rather than on distance, because golfers think distance is easier to discern than tilt.
How many golfers underread the break?
Sixty-five percent of golfers under-read the break on a typical putt, according to a Golf Magazine –sponsored study conducted at the Pinehurst Golf Academy. All of these flawed reads add up to lots of lost strokes, even with perfect putting technique. In our study, we assessed the green-reading skill of 72 golfers just like you. Initially, our research team simply sought to determine the ideal position from which to accurately detect slope (behind the hole, behind the ball, etc.), but results showed view position to be meaningless to good green-reading. Our study subjects misread everything, no matter where they stood or crouched. Some 25 years ago, Dave Pelz told everyday players to triple the amount of break they saw, and that’s as true now as it was then.
How to hit a putt with enough speed?
You'll quickly discover that you don't have to add force with your hand to hit a putt with enough speed to get the ball rolling a long way. After several reps, switch to your lead hand and do the same drill. Then finally, practice two-handed putts on the green, feeling that same free-fall sensation.
How to flip a triangle putter?
You have to flip the triangle! Work on keeping your hands relatively centered in front of your body, and use your wrists and elbows to swing the putter back ( above, bottom photo ). Instead of pushing the arms toward the target ( top photo ), let the putter use gravity to fall into the back of the ball.
How to teach putting stroke?
If you asked a lot of golfers how to teach the putting stroke, they might say that when holding the club, the arms and shoulders create a triangle shape that points down at the ball. The goal is keeping that triangle shape intact during the stroke. I get the visual, but I think it's upside down. The best putters make a stroke where the putterhead creates the triangle's base and the grip end is the point. Can you picture that? This principle is why anchoring a putter against your chest is now against the rules. It makes putting way easier. Fortunately, you can use my triangle visual without anchoring. It will make your stroke so good, it will seem like cheating. But it isn't. — With Matthew Rudy
How to get a better sense of gravity?
To get a better sense of how gravity, not your arm swing, should let the putter fall into the ball, set up on a green next to the collar and the ball a foot into the fringe.
Can you use a putter without anchoring?
Fortunately, you can use my triangle visual without anchoring. It will make your stroke so good, it will seem like cheating. But it isn't.
How can I be a great putter?
So, start to create an attitude that provides you with a foundation for seeing how great a putter you can be. If you do, I am certain that you will be finding your ball at the bottom of the cup more often! I will see you on the fairways!
What is great putting?
Remember, great putting is more about attitude and conviction that it is about pure stroke mechanics. So, start to create an attitude that provides you with a foundation for seeing how great a putter you can be. If you do, I am certain that you will be finding your ball at the bottom of the cup more often!
Why do putters miss?
Thus, a series of misses doesnt detract his focus on the job of making baskets. Great putters think in this same way. When they miss, they dont have time to fear the results. They are merely getting themselves ready for the next putt and to have success. Thus, a great putter has a shooters mentality that doesnt fear missing. Missing for a great putter is OK because they know that if they just keep putting, they are going to make a lot of putts. So, the next time you have a series of misses, forget about the lost opportunities, and get into the next putt with a shooters mentality to make the next one! Remember, in order for a hot streak to occur, it only takes one holed putt to get it going!
What do great putters trust?
Great putters totally trust that everything is going to work out well and that the ball is going to drop into the hole.
What does it mean to be patient on the putting green?
Patience on the putting green means that you can accept a miss as a putt that had a chance to go in, but stayed out. Patience can be viewed as a form of putting confidence that says If I keep on doing the same good things with my putting today , sooner or later they will start to drop.
Why do confident putters not allow negative outcomes to affect their confidence?
A key point: Confident putters do not allow negative outcomes to affect their confidence because they know that they are giving their best effort into each and every roll and that it is only a matter of time until success arrives.
What are the characteristics of a good putter?
The first mental characteristic is that great putters keep putting simple. Great putters dont get lost in dealing with their mechanics, even if their mechanics are poor on a certain day, because they realize that the most important thing at the present moment is to get the ball into the hole as swiftly and efficiently as possible! Great putters use their minds to keep the task of putting simple, clear and specific. Their basic mental focus is: Where do I want the ball to go and how hard do I hit the ball to get it there? From a psychological viewpoint, I think this is where the idea of keeping it simple becomes crucial.
How to be a good putter?
Walk your line to stealthily pace your putt. One of the keys to being a good putter is controlling distance so that your first putt settles in tap-in range. Often having a true sense of the distance of the putt or the uphill or downhill can be difficult to tell from back by your ball.
What is the ball position in golf?
Ball position is a direct contributor to the alignment of your shoulder and forearm lines, which largely dictate how your body lines aim. For example, if your ball position is too far forward in your stance, this would make your shoulder line aim too far left for a right-handed golfer. This path would cause you to pull putts as well as potentially ...
Why does my putter keep moving?
This can make it very difficult to control both distance and direction. A good general rule is if your putter is moving, your head should not be — stroke, then look.
Why do you swap putters?
Swapping out putters is also a great way to protect your confidence and ego: It must be my putter’s fault, not mine!
Does GolfLogix have a green reading map?
If you have a hard time seeing the tilts of the green, a green-reading map can be an invaluable resource. We’ve seen the pros use these on Tour for years, but recently, GolfLogix has launched its own green maps, making it easier than ever for amateur golfers to acquire this tool for their home course. ( Ed note: GolfLogix and GOLF.com are affiliates of 8AM Golf .)
Does Golf.com make a fee?
All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy a linked product, GOLF.COM may earn a fee. Pricing may vary.
Can you miss a few putts?
It happens to every golfer, even to the pros: You miss a few putts, have back-to-back three-jacks or miss a straightforward 5-footer to lose a match and your confidence goes. Sometimes it can take only a few holes to get your mojo back, but in more dire cases, it can a take a few rounds. Take heart!
Keys to A Good Setup
Four Great Drills to Improve Putting Skill
- Putting is an inherently difficult part of the golf game because it involves precision and finesse. While we struggle on methods of how to putt, fortunately, there are a number of drills that can help golfers develop consistency and control over their putting stroke. The drills detailed below are simple, but they are valuable tools for golfers hoping to improve their putting skills.
Other Styles of Putting
- How do you make your left hand putt low? Putting with a cross-handed grip is another way to approach putting. This is sometimes called “Left Hand Low.” The reason many golfers like this style is because it helps to naturally level out the shoulders. In a standard putting grip, the right hand is significantly lower than the left hand. And that naturally causes the right shoulder to low…
Reading The Greens
- Reading the green is an important component to hitting good putts because each green is distinctive and has its own challenges. Golfers can practice putting on the practice green for hours and still run into difficulty on the course because they did not consider reading the green. When approaching the green, make observations about where the slopes...
Thoughts Or Questions?
- Whether it’s a great tip I haven’t mentioned or a question about your own game, We’re always happy to talk golf. Let us know if you have a putting drill or tip we may not have covered. When it comes to putting, there is always room for more knowledge! And be sure to follow us Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for product reviews, great golf tips, and information on new brands. For h…