Defining the Putt: The Final Stroke on the Green

← Golf Instruction & Improvement | Short Game Mastery

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Quick Answer

• A putt is the stroke made on the putting green, using a putter, to roll the ball into the hole.
• It’s a finesse shot focused on touch, speed, and line, not raw power.
• The ultimate goal is to sink the ball, completing the hole and moving on to the next.

Who This Is For

• Beginner golfers who are just starting to understand the nuances of the game and need to grasp fundamental golf terms.
• Intermediate players looking to sharpen their short game, which is often the key to lowering scores.
• Anyone curious about golf terminology and the critical role of the final stroke on the green.

What is a Putt in Golf: What to Check First

• Putter Loft: Most putters come with 2-4 degrees of loft. This angle is crucial because it’s designed to get the ball rolling smoothly off the clubface, minimizing bounce and hop. A putter with too much loft will send the ball airborne, and too little might dig into the turf. Always check your putter’s specs or the manual if you’re unsure.
• Putting Grip: Your grip is your only connection to the putter. It needs to be comfortable, consistent, and allow your hands to work in unison without tension. There are many styles (conventional, reverse overlap, claw, etc.), but the key is finding one that feels natural and promotes a stable, repeatable stroke. A grip that’s too tight kills feel, while one that’s too loose can lead to the putter twisting.
• Stance and Ball Position: How you set up to the ball is foundational. Aim for a balanced stance, typically with your feet about shoulder-width apart. Your weight should be distributed evenly, allowing you to make a smooth stroke without shifting your balance. Ball position usually sits slightly forward of the center of your stance, but this can vary based on your stroke and putter. Your eyes should be directly over the ball or slightly inside it.
• Alignment: Before you even think about swinging, ensure your putter face is aimed squarely at your intended target line. Many putters have alignment aids on top or the face itself. Use them. A slight misalignment here, even a fraction of a degree, can send your putt wide of the mark.

How to Execute a Putt: Step-by-Step Plan

1. Select Your Putter

• Action: Choose a putter that feels balanced and suits your natural stroke.
• What to look for: A putter that feels like an extension of your arms, allowing for a smooth, repeatable swing motion without feeling awkward or heavy. The length should allow you to stand comfortably with a slight bend in your knees and your eyes in the correct position over the ball.
• Mistake to avoid: Using a putter that is significantly too long or too short for your height and stance. This forces you into an unnatural posture, leading to inconsistent contact and poor results. If you’re unsure, get fitted or consult the manufacturer’s guidelines.

2. Grip the Putter

• Action: Hold the putter with a relaxed but firm grip, ensuring your hands work together.
• What to look for: Consistent pressure across both hands, with the club resting comfortably in your fingers and palms. Your hands should feel connected and move together as a unit during the stroke. Avoid any tension creeping into your wrists or forearms.
• Mistake to avoid: Squeezing the grip too tightly. This is a common mistake that leads to a loss of feel, restricted wrist movement, and a tendency to “hit” at the ball rather than stroke it. Think of holding a bird – firm enough it doesn’t fly away, but gentle enough not to crush it.

3. Address the Ball and Align

• Action: Position yourself behind the ball, aligning your putter face precisely to the target line.
• What to look for: Your eyes should be positioned directly over the ball or slightly inside it. This helps ensure your putter face is square to the target at impact. Use any alignment markings on your putter and visualize the ball rolling along your intended line. Take a moment to feel the setup.
• Mistake to avoid: Aiming the putter face incorrectly. Even the most perfect stroke will miss if the clubface isn’t aimed at the target. Double-check your alignment before you start your backswing.

4. Establish Your Stroke

• Action: Initiate a smooth, pendulum-like motion using your shoulders as the primary pivot.
• What to look for: Your shoulders should move back and forth in a controlled arc, with your wrists remaining relatively quiet and firm. The backswing and follow-through should feel balanced in length and tempo. Imagine your arms and the putter forming a triangle that stays intact throughout the swing.
• Mistake to avoid: Using your wrists or hands independently to generate power or guide the putter. This often results in a jerky, inconsistent stroke and can lead to the clubface opening or closing unintentionally.

5. Execute the Putt

• Action: Swing the putter back to your desired length and then accelerate smoothly through the ball towards the target.
• What to look for: A consistent tempo throughout the stroke. The backswing should feel like it’s loading energy, and the forward swing should release that energy through the ball. The putter face should remain square to the target line as it makes contact.
• Mistake to avoid: Decelerating or stopping the swing right at the point of impact. This robs the ball of the necessary speed and can cause you to push or pull the putt. Maintain your stroke’s momentum through the ball.

6. Follow Through

• Action: Continue the pendulum motion after the putter has contacted the ball, allowing the stroke to complete naturally.
• What to look for: A follow-through that is roughly equal in length and tempo to your backswing. This ensures you’ve transferred the energy effectively and that the ball has the correct roll and speed. The putter should finish in a balanced position.
• Mistake to avoid: Pulling your head up to watch the ball immediately after impact. This is a very common mistake that causes your body to move, disrupting the stroke and affecting the ball’s path. Keep your head down and eyes focused on the spot where the ball was until it’s well on its way to the hole.

Defining the Putt: Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Common Mistakes on the Green

• Over-swinging — Why it matters: Trying to hit the ball too hard leads to a loss of control, inconsistent contact, and erratic speed. You’re aiming for a roll, not a strike. — Fix: Focus on a smooth, controlled pendulum motion driven by your shoulders. Practice short putts with a very controlled swing to build feel for the correct tempo.
• Poor Grip Pressure — Why it matters: Holding the putter too tightly restricts the natural movement of your hands and arms, killing feel and making it difficult to keep the putter face square through impact. Tension is the enemy of a good putt. — Fix: Relax your hands and forearms. Imagine holding a delicate object; the grip should be firm enough to control the club but light enough to feel the putter head.
• Decelerating Through Impact — Why it matters: Slowing down your stroke as you approach the ball kills the momentum needed for the ball to reach the hole with proper speed and trajectory. This often results in putts that are short and lack direction. — Fix: Maintain a consistent tempo and accelerate through the ball. Your follow-through should be at least as long as your backswing. Think of it as a continuous, smooth motion.
• Bad Aim and Alignment — Why it matters: Even with a perfect stroke, if your putter face isn’t aimed correctly at your intended target line, the ball will miss. It’s a fundamental flaw that cannot be corrected by technique alone. — Fix: Take ample time to align yourself. Use the alignment aids on your putter, and practice visualizing the ball rolling on your chosen line. Putt with your eyes, not just your arms.
• Looking Up Too Soon — Why it matters: The urge to see where the putt is going is strong, but lifting your head or eyes prematurely causes your body to shift, disrupting the stroke and altering the clubface angle at impact. — Fix: Keep your head and eyes still, focused on the ball (or the spot where the ball was) until the putt has traveled a significant distance towards the hole. Trust your stroke and the process.
• Trying to “Guide” the Ball — Why it matters: Attempting to steer the ball with your hands or wrists often leads to a disconnected stroke and an unstable putter face. This feels unnatural and is hard to repeat. — Fix: Focus on making a consistent pendulum stroke with your shoulders. Let the putter head do the work; your hands and arms should act as a unit controlled by the larger muscles of your torso.

FAQ

• What is the primary goal of a putt?

The primary goal of a putt is to roll the golf ball into the hole on the putting green. It’s the final stroke required to complete each hole, and sinking it in the fewest strokes possible is key to a good score.

• How is a putt different from a chip shot?

A putt is specifically a stroke made on the putting green using a putter, designed to roll the ball along the relatively smooth surface into the hole. A chip shot, on the other hand, is typically hit from just off the green (in the fringe or short rough) with a wedge or iron. It’s designed to get the ball airborne for a short distance before it lands and rolls towards the hole, often with more loft and a different swing motion than a putt.

• What is considered a “good” putt?

A “good” putt can mean a few things. Most commonly, it refers to a putt that you successfully make, especially from a challenging distance or angle. It can also refer to a putt that is struck perfectly, with ideal speed and line, even if it narrowly misses the hole. A putt that is “well-struck” is often considered good because it demonstrates proper technique and execution.

• How far back should I take my putter on a putt?

The length of your backswing on a putt should correspond to the distance you need to hit the ball. For short putts (e.g., 3-5 feet), a shorter backswing is appropriate. For longer putts (e.g., 20+ feet), you’ll need a longer backswing to generate more momentum. The key is consistency: your follow-through should generally mirror your backswing in length and tempo. It’s about creating a balanced pendulum motion.

• Should I use my wrists or my shoulders for a putt?

For most golfers, relying on a pendulum motion driven by the shoulders is the most consistent and repeatable method for putting. Keeping your wrists relatively firm and quiet prevents jerky movements, helps maintain a stable putter face, and promotes a smoother stroke. While some advanced players might incorporate subtle wrist action, beginners and intermediates should focus on using their shoulders and arms as a unit.

• What is the ideal speed for a putt?

The ideal speed for a putt is one that allows the ball to reach the hole with enough pace to drop if it’s on line, but not so much that it will roll significantly past the hole if it misses. This often means hitting the ball with a gentle acceleration through impact. The speed will vary based on the length of the putt, the slope of the green, and the condition of the turf. Practice is key to developing this feel.