Understanding the Basics of Putting in Golf

← Golf Instruction & Improvement | Short Game Mastery

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Quick Answer

• Putting in golf is the specific act of striking the ball with a putter on the green, aiming to roll it directly into the hole.
• It’s a game of finesse, demanding precision, a delicate touch, and a keen understanding of the green’s contours and speed.
• This is where you truly shave strokes off your score and build a solid foundation for consistent performance.

Putting in golf is the specific act of striking the ball with a putter on the green, aiming to roll it directly into the hole. A quality putter can make a significant difference in your game.

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Who This is For

• Beginner golfers who are just starting to learn the fundamental mechanics and strategies of the game.
• Intermediate golfers who are looking to refine their short game, reduce unnecessary strokes, and improve their overall scoring average.

Understanding What is Putting in Golf: What to Check First

Alright, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty before you even swing. Getting your setup right is like packing the right gear before heading into the backcountry – absolutely essential.

• Your Putter Grip: Does it feel natural in your hands? Can you consistently place your hands in the same spot every single time? A death grip is your enemy here; it kills feel and control. Aim for relaxed but firm.
• Your Stance: Are you standing with a solid, balanced base? Can you hold this position without feeling like you’re going to tip over? Your eyes really need to be directly over the ball. This is your foundation, and it needs to be rock-solid.
• The Green’s Story: Take a good look at where the ball is sitting. Is it on a flat patch? Is it sitting up a hill, down a hill, or on a side slope? This is crucial information that tells you exactly how the ball is going to roll.
• The Distance: How far is it to the hole? This dictates the force you’ll need. A 5-footer plays very differently than a 50-footer.
• The Break: Based on the slopes, how much will the ball curve? This is the art of reading the green.

Step-by-Step Plan for Getting Your Putting Game Dialed In

Now that we’ve checked the essentials, let’s talk about building a repeatable and effective putting stroke. This is where you turn those opportunities into made putts.

Now that we’ve checked the essentials, let’s talk about building a repeatable and effective putting stroke. Consider using golf training aids to help refine your technique.

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1. Adjust Your Grip

• Action: Place your hands onto the putter grip.
• What to look for: Your hands should feel neutral and comfortable, not tense or strained. A light, firm hold is paramount for developing good feel and control over the clubface. You want to feel connected to the putter without squeezing the life out of it.
• Mistake to avoid: Gripping the putter with excessive force, like you’re trying to crush a soda can. This tenseness will travel up your arms and restrict the natural movement of your wrists, leading to a jerky stroke and inconsistent contact.

2. Set Up Your Stance

• Action: Position your feet relative to the ball and the target.
• What to look for: Your feet should be roughly shoulder-width apart, providing a stable base. Your weight should be balanced evenly between them, allowing you to feel grounded and ready to swing. You should feel athletic, not stiff.
• Mistake to avoid: Leaning too far forward onto your toes or too far back onto your heels. This imbalance can alter your swing arc and make it difficult to achieve consistent, solid contact with the ball.

3. Find Your Ball Position

• Action: Place the golf ball in your stance.
• What to look for: The ball should typically be positioned slightly forward of the center of your stance. This helps promote a slight upward strike on the ball, which is ideal for a smooth roll.
• Mistake to avoid: Placing the ball too far back in your stance, which can lead to hitting behind the ball (a “fat” shot), or too far forward, which can result in topping the ball (a “thin” shot). Both are bad news for a consistent roll.

4. Align Your Body to the Target

• Action: Square your shoulders, hips, and feet to your intended putt line.
• What to look for: Your body lines – the imaginary lines running through your feet, hips, and shoulders – should be parallel to your intended putt path. This ensures that your body isn’t influencing the putter face at impact.
• Mistake to avoid: Aiming your putter face directly at the hole and then aligning your body to that face. Instead, aim your body first, then ensure the putter face is square to your target line. This is a common error that leads to pulling or pushing putts.

5. Check Your Eye Position

• Action: Position your head so your eyes are directly over the ball.
• What to look for: If you were to drop a plumb line from your eyes, it should intersect the golf ball. This ensures you have the best possible perspective for reading the green and making solid contact.
• Mistake to avoid: Having your eyes too far inside the line of the ball (closer to the target) or too far outside (further from the target). This can lead to inconsistent strikes and can negatively impact your ability to accurately read the putt’s break.

6. Develop Your Stroke

• Action: Execute a smooth, pendulum-like stroke using your shoulders and arms.
• What to look for: Maintain a consistent tempo throughout your backswing and follow-through. The motion should feel natural and controlled, with your wrists remaining relatively firm and your shoulders doing most of the work. Think of it as a rocking motion.
• Mistake to avoid: Trying to “hit” or “stab” at the ball, or decelerating through the impact zone. Decelerating kills distance control and makes the ball die well short of the hole. Trust your read and maintain your stroke speed.

7. Read the Green Like a Book

• Action: Walk around your putt, observing the green from multiple angles.
• What to look for: Identify the highest point of the putt, how the ball will break (curve) due to the slope, and the overall speed of the green. Consider the grain of the grass, too – it can affect speed and break.
• Mistake to avoid: Only looking at the putt from directly behind the ball. This gives you a very limited perspective. You need to see the contours from the side and even from behind the hole to get the full picture.

Walk around your putt, observing the green from multiple angles. Practicing on your own putting green can help you get a feel for different slopes and speeds.

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8. Execute with Confidence

• Action: Take your practice strokes, visualize the ball rolling into the hole, and then make your stroke.
• What to look for: Commitment to your read and your stroke. Trust the work you’ve put in.
• Mistake to avoid: Second-guessing your read at the last second or trying to make a last-minute adjustment to your stroke. This often leads to a poor result. Commit and go.

Common Mistakes in Putting

We’ve all been there, staring at a missed putt. Here are some common pitfalls to watch out for and avoid.

• Inconsistent Grip — Leads to loss of control over the clubface and varied angles at impact, resulting in missed putts. — Re-grip the putter before every putt, ensuring a relaxed, firm hold that feels the same each time.
• Poor Stance Stability — Causes unwanted body movement during the stroke, which disrupts the swing path and affects consistency. — Widen your stance slightly for a more stable base and keep your weight balanced evenly throughout the stroke.
• Eyes Not Over the Ball — Results in inconsistent contact with the ball and can affect your ability to judge the putt’s line and speed. — Make a conscious effort to align your eyes directly above the ball before you start your stroke.
• Decelerating Through Impact — This is a killer for distance control. The putter slows down as it reaches the ball, causing it to die well short or leave the face open. — Maintain your stroke speed consistently through the ball, as if you’re trying to brush the grass after impact.
• Trying to “Guide” or “Steer” the Ball — This leads to a tense, jerky stroke that lacks rhythm and power, often resulting in missed putts. — Focus on making a smooth, flowing stroke and trust that your read and setup will guide the ball correctly.
• Ignoring the Green’s Speed — Not adjusting your stroke force for faster or slower greens leads to putts that are either too long or too short. — Spend time on the practice green to gauge the speed of the course greens. Adjust the length and tempo of your backswing accordingly.
• Overthinking the Putt — Too much analysis can lead to paralysis. Overthinking the break, the speed, and your stroke can make you tense and hesitant. — Keep your pre-putt routine simple and repeatable. Trust your instincts and commit to your read.

FAQ

• What is the primary goal of putting in golf?

The primary goal of putting in golf is to roll the ball on the green into the hole in the fewest strokes possible. It’s often called the “scoring club” for a reason – mastering it directly impacts your scorecard.

• How do I determine the correct grip for putting?

There isn’t one single “correct” grip that works for everyone. The best grip is one that feels comfortable, allows for a relaxed feel in your hands, and promotes a consistent, repeatable stroke. Popular variations include the reverse overlap, cross-handed, and the claw grip. Experiment on the practice green to find what suits you best.

• What is the ideal stance for putting?

An ideal stance is one that is balanced, stable, and allows your eyes to be positioned directly over the ball. Typically, your feet are about shoulder-width apart, with a slight bend in your knees to promote good posture and allow your arms to hang naturally.

• How important is reading the green in putting?

Reading the green is absolutely critical. It’s the process of understanding the slope, the grain of the grass, and the overall speed of the putting surface to determine the correct line and the force needed for your putt. Without a good read, even the best stroke can miss.

• Should I use a lot of wrist action when putting?

Generally, no. A solid putting stroke relies more on a pendulum motion controlled by your shoulders and arms, with minimal independent wrist hinge. Too much wrist action can lead to inconsistency and an open or closed clubface at impact. Think of your wrists as being locked to your forearms during the stroke.

• What’s the difference between a putt and a chip shot?

A putt is specifically designed to roll the ball along the green towards the hole, using a putter. A chip shot is typically played from just off the green, using a wedge or iron, with the intention of getting the ball into the air briefly before it lands and rolls towards the hole.

• How can I improve my putting distance control?

Distance control in putting comes down to tempo and stroke length. Practice making strokes of varying lengths on the practice green, focusing on maintaining a consistent tempo. Imagine a clock face and practice making strokes that correspond to specific distances (e.g., a backstroke to 10 o’clock for a short putt, 1 o’clock for a longer one).