Aiming Your Putts: A Guide to Point Putting

← Golf Instruction & Improvement | Short Game Mastery

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Quick Answer

• Point putting is a technique where you aim your putter at a specific, small spot on the green in front of the ball, rather than the hole itself.
• This method simplifies aiming by giving you a concrete, close-range target.
• Focus on aligning your putter face precisely to this spot and executing a consistent stroke.

Who This Is For

• Golfers who want to dial in their putting accuracy and cut down on missed putts, especially those inside 10 feet.
• Players who find it challenging to visualize the break of the putt and aim directly at the hole.

What to Check First for Point Putting Success

• Putter Face Cleanliness: Make sure the face of your putter is free from dirt, grass, or any debris. A clean face ensures consistent contact and predictable roll.
• Ball Line of Sight: Confirm that your ball has an unobstructed view of the target spot you’ve chosen. No stray blades of grass or pitch marks should be in the way of your intended line.
• Stance Stability: Get into a balanced and comfortable stance. You need to feel grounded and stable to make a repeatable stroke. Your weight should be evenly distributed.
• Putter Loft Verification: While not something you change mid-round, understanding your putter’s loft is key. Too much loft can cause the ball to bounce, while too little can lead to digging. Ensure your putter is suited for your stroke.
• Target Spot Visibility: The spot you pick needs to be clearly visible to you. If you can’t see it well, you can’t aim at it effectively.

Step-by-Step Plan: How to Aim Your Point Putt

1. Select Your Target Spot:

• Action: Walk up to your ball and identify a small, specific mark on the green that lies directly on your intended line to the hole. This is usually about 6 to 12 inches in front of your ball.
• What to Look For: A distinct feature like a tiny pebble, a slight discoloration in the grass, a seam in the turf, or even a small indentation. It needs to be something you can clearly focus on.
• Mistake to Avoid: Choosing a spot that’s too far away (making it hard to gauge the line accurately) or a spot that isn’t clearly defined (like a general patch of green).

2. Align Your Putter to the Spot:

• Action: Position your putter head directly behind the chosen target spot. Ensure the center of your putter face is precisely aligned with that spot.
• What to Look For: The sweet spot of your putter should be perfectly square to the imaginary line extending from the spot to the hole.
• Mistake to Avoid: Misaligning the putter face to the spot. Even a fraction of a degree off at this close range will send the ball offline.

3. Establish Your Body Alignment:

• Action: Set your feet, hips, and shoulders so they are parallel to the target line you’ve established with your putter and the spot.
• What to Look For: Your body should mirror the putter’s alignment. Imagine a train track; your body lines should run parallel to the rails your putter is sitting on.
• Mistake to Avoid: Body alignment not matching the putter’s line. If your body is slightly open or closed, it’s easy to pull or push your putter head off the intended line during your stroke.

4. Address the Ball and Focus:

• Action: Get into your normal putting stance, ensuring your weight is balanced. Keep your eyes focused intently on the target spot you’ve selected.
• What to Look For: A comfortable, athletic posture with your eyes locked onto the spot. You should feel confident in your setup.
• Mistake to Avoid: Looking at the hole or anywhere else besides your chosen spot. Your focus needs to be solely on that small target.

5. Execute Your Stroke:

• Action: Take the putter back smoothly, keeping the putter face square to the target line. Accelerate through the ball with a controlled pendulum motion, maintaining the square face through impact.
• What to Look For: A smooth, rhythmic stroke where the putter face remains square to your target line from start to finish. The ball should roll off the face with a clean strike.
• Mistake to Avoid: Trying to “hit” the ball or decelerating through impact. This often leads to a loss of control and an inconsistent roll. Trust the process and your setup.

6. Follow Through:

• Action: Continue your stroke naturally after impact, allowing the putter to swing through towards the hole.
• What to Look For: A full, balanced follow-through that mirrors your backstroke. Your putter should finish pointing towards your target.
• Mistake to Avoid: Cutting your stroke short or lifting your head too early. This can disrupt the roll of the ball and affect direction.

Common Mistakes in Point Putting

• Mistake: Not picking a specific, visible target spot.
• Why it matters: Aiming vaguely at “the line” or just “in front of the ball” is too imprecise. It leads to inconsistent results because your brain doesn’t have a concrete point to aim at.
• Fix: Make it a habit to always find a small, defined mark on the green. Even if it’s just a tiny speck of dirt, it’s a better target than a general area.

• Mistake: Aiming at the hole instead of a spot.
• Why it matters: The hole is relatively large, and the break of the putt can be hard to judge accurately when looking at it directly. It’s much easier to focus on sending the ball towards a small target a foot in front of you.
• Fix: Train yourself to ignore the hole during your aiming process. Focus your attention on that 6-12 inch spot. The hole will be there when the ball gets there.

• Mistake: Poor body alignment.
• Why it matters: If your shoulders, hips, or feet are not square to your target line, your body’s natural swing path will be off. This means your putter will likely move inside or outside the intended line, even if you think you’re hitting it straight.
• Fix: Take a moment to ensure your entire body is aligned parallel to the line connecting your ball, your spot, and the hole. Use your putter shaft to check alignment if needed.

• Mistake: Looking up too soon.
• Why it matters: Lifting your head or eyes before the ball has left the putter face is a classic cause of missed putts. It breaks your eye line and can cause a slight, unconscious movement of your shoulders and head.
• Fix: Keep your head still and your eyes focused on the spot (or where the ball was) until after you’ve completed your follow-through. Trust that your stroke will do its job.

• Mistake: Overthinking the read and the stroke.
• Why it matters: Golfers can get paralyzed by too much analysis. If you second-guess your read or your stroke mechanics, you’ll often produce a hesitant or jerky motion, which is the enemy of a good putt.
• Fix: Trust your initial read. Pick your spot, commit to your stroke, and execute. Simplicity and confidence are key.

• Mistake: Inconsistent stroke tempo.
• Why it matters: Whether you accelerate through the ball or decelerate, it throws off the distance control. A consistent tempo ensures the ball rolls the same way every time.
• Fix: Practice your stroke with a metronome or by counting “one-and-two” (backstroke-through stroke). Aim for a smooth, even tempo.

• Mistake: Not practicing the point putt technique.
• Why it matters: Like any golf skill, point putting requires practice to become ingrained. If you only use it occasionally, you won’t see the full benefit.
• Fix: Dedicate time on the practice green specifically to this technique. Roll putts from various distances, focusing on picking a spot and executing your aim.

FAQ

• What is the ideal distance for a point putting target spot?

Generally, 6 to 12 inches in front of the ball is the sweet spot. It’s close enough to be highly precise and easy to focus on, but far enough to give you a good sense of the overall line to the hole. Shorter putts might benefit from a spot closer, while longer ones might need a slightly more distant, but still defined, target.

• How do I adjust my point putting for uphill or downhill putts?

The principle remains the same: pick a spot. For uphill putts, you’ll generally aim slightly below your intended line to the hole because the ball will lose speed and break less. For downhill putts, you’ll aim slightly above the hole to account for the ball’s tendency to break more due to speed. The spot is still your reference, but where that spot lies in relation to the hole’s break changes.

• Can I use a ball marker as my target spot?

Absolutely! If you’ve marked your ball, the marker itself can be an excellent, readily available target spot. Just make sure it’s on your intended line. Some golfers even use a specific colored tee or a small coin as a consistent aiming point.

• Does point putting work on fast or slow greens?

Yes, it works on all green speeds. The core concept of aiming at a specific point is universal. The difference lies in how you execute your stroke. On faster greens, you’ll need a softer stroke to control distance, while on slower greens, you’ll need a bit more acceleration. The aiming point itself doesn’t change, but your stroke speed and commitment to it do.

• How do I handle putts with significant side-hill break?

This is where point putting really shines. You need to carefully read the break and then select a target spot that is not directly on the straight line to the hole, but rather on the apex of the break you want the ball to take. You’re essentially aiming at where the ball needs to be at a certain point to roll into the hole. Visualize the entire curve and pick your spot accordingly.

• What if I can’t find a good spot on the green?

This happens, especially on very smooth or very worn greens. In such cases, you have two options. First, try to find the smallest imperfection you can see – a tiny darker patch of grass, a slight dimple, or even a shadow. If that’s impossible, you can mentally “create” a spot. Visualize a small dot or cross exactly where you want to aim, and then align your putter to that mental image. Commit to it as if it were real.

• Is point putting suitable for very short putts (3-5 feet)?

Yes, it’s particularly effective for short putts. On these putts, precision is paramount. Picking a tiny spot just a foot or so in front of the ball gives you a very clear, concrete target and helps eliminate the temptation to “guide” the ball towards the hole with your hands. It simplifies the aiming process dramatically.