How to Putt in Golf

← Golf Instruction & Improvement | Short Game Mastery

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Quick Answer

• Master a consistent grip and stance for repeatable strokes.
• Focus on a smooth, pendulum-like putting stroke.
• Develop a clear pre-putt routine to build confidence.

Who This is For

• Beginners looking to build a solid foundation in putting.
• Intermediate golfers seeking to improve consistency and lower scores.
• Anyone struggling with short putts or three-putting.

What to Check First for Golf Putting Success

• Your Grip: Make sure your hands are relaxed. No white knuckles, man. A death grip kills feel.
• Your Stance: Find that athletic, balanced position. Your weight should feel even, not leaning too much on your toes or heels.
• Your Alignment: Are you aimed where you think you are? Check your putter face and your body. A crooked aim is a guaranteed miss.
• Your Ball Position: It should be consistently forward in your stance, usually just inside your lead heel. This helps with solid contact.
• Your Stroke Mechanics: Are you using your wrists too much, or are you rocking your shoulders? This is key for a smooth roll.

Step-by-Step Plan for Golf How to Putt

1. Grip the Putter: Hold the putter with relaxed hands. What to look for: No tension in your arms or shoulders. Your grip should feel secure but not tight. Mistake: Gripping too tightly, which leads to a jerky stroke and loss of feel. I learned this the hard way at Pebble Beach once; felt like I was strangling the club.

2. Establish Your Stance: Stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent. Your weight should be balanced. What to look for: A balanced, athletic posture that allows you to move freely. Mistake: Leaning too far forward or backward, which messes with your balance and makes it hard to make a consistent stroke.

3. Position Your Eyes: Align your eyes directly over the ball. You want to feel like your eyes are looking straight down at the ball. What to look for: A plumb line from your eyes to the ball. This helps you see the line of the putt accurately. Mistake: Eyes too far inside or outside the ball, making it tough to judge the line and leading to inconsistent contact.

4. Takeaway the Putter: Gently rock the putter back, using your shoulders as the primary engine. Imagine a pendulum. What to look for: A smooth, controlled motion that starts the putter head moving back. Mistake: Flicking your wrists, which opens the door to inconsistency and a clubface that’s all over the place.

5. The Forward Stroke: Swing the putterhead through the ball with the same arc you used on the backswing. The goal is to let the putter do the work. What to look for: A smooth, accelerating motion that feels like a pendulum swing. Mistake: Trying to hit at the ball, instead of swinging through it. This “chopping” motion kills speed and control.

6. The Follow Through: Let the putter swing naturally to its finish after impact. Don’t stop the stroke abruptly. What to look for: A full, balanced finish, with the putter held up and your weight shifted. Mistake: Decelerating after impact, killing your momentum and making it impossible to judge distance.

7. Develop a Pre-Putt Routine: Find a few consistent steps that you do before every putt. This could include looking at the line, taking a practice stroke, and then addressing the ball. What to look for: Something that calms your nerves, focuses your mind, and builds confidence. Mistake: Rushing your setup or skipping practice strokes. This leads to a lack of commitment and often a poor stroke.

8. Practice Your Putting Stroke: Spend time on the practice green, focusing on making a consistent stroke. Try to feel the tempo and the arc. What to look for: A smooth, repeatable motion that feels comfortable. Mistake: Just hitting balls without a purpose. Focus on making a quality stroke, not just the outcome of the putt.

Mastering Golf Putting: Key Techniques and Drills

Putting is often called the “game within the game,” and for good reason. It’s where strokes are made or lost. Getting your putting dialed in is crucial for lowering your scores. This section dives deeper into the mechanics and offers actionable advice for improvement.

The Importance of Tempo and Feel:

Tempo is the rhythm of your putting stroke. It’s about the relationship between your backswing and your follow-through. A good tempo ensures a smooth transfer of energy to the ball. Feel is your ability to connect with the putter and the ball, sensing the speed and direction. Many golfers focus too much on the start line and not enough on the speed, which is dictated by tempo. Practice strokes are your best friend here. Use them to get a feel for the length of swing needed for different distances. For short putts, the backswing and follow-through should be roughly equal. For longer putts, your follow-through might be slightly longer than your backswing, but the tempo should remain consistent.

Understanding the Pendulum Stroke:

The ideal putting stroke resembles a pendulum. Your shoulders act as the pivot point, and the putter head swings back and forth in an arc. This minimizes unwanted movement from your hands and wrists, which are common culprits for inconsistency. When you use your wrists, the putter face can open or close unpredictably during the stroke, leading to missed putts. To encourage a pendulum stroke:

• Keep your wrists firm but not locked.
• Feel the movement originating from your chest and shoulders.
• Imagine your forearms and hands are connected and moving as one unit.

Drills to Improve Your Putting:

• The Gate Drill: Place two tees about the width of your putter head in front of the ball, forming a “gate.” The goal is to swing your putter through the gate without hitting the tees. This forces you to maintain a consistent path and square putter face.
• The Ladder Drill: Mark putts at increasing distances (e.g., 3 feet, 6 feet, 9 feet, 12 feet). Start at the shortest distance and try to make the putt. Then move to the next distance. The goal is to make a certain number of putts in a row at each distance before moving on. This builds confidence and improves distance control.
• The One-Handed Drill: Practice putting with only your dominant hand. This drill helps you feel the connection between your arm and the putter and encourages a smooth, controlled stroke without relying on wrist action. After a few strokes with one hand, switch to the other. Then, try putting with both hands again, incorporating the feel you gained.
• The Mirror Drill: Place a mirror behind the ball, positioned so you can see your reflection. This allows you to check your eye position over the ball and ensure your head remains still during the stroke. It’s a great way to diagnose alignment issues and head movement.

Common Mistakes in Golf Putting

• Gripping too tightly — Restricts a smooth stroke and kills feel. — Focus on relaxed hands, letting your fingers do the work. Imagine holding a tube of toothpaste without squeezing it out.
• Using only wrists — Causes inconsistent putter face and a jerky stroke. — Engage your shoulders and arms for a pendulum motion. Feel the movement start from your chest.
• Poor alignment — Putter face not aimed at target, or body aimed incorrectly. — Use alignment aids on your putter and the ball. Practice with alignment sticks on the practice green.
• Decelerating the stroke — Kills momentum and distance control, leading to putts that die short. — Focus on swinging through the ball with a consistent tempo. Imagine the follow-through is just as important as the backswing.
• Looking up too soon — Leads to poor contact, inconsistent face angle, and missed putts. — Keep your head down until after impact. Trust your stroke and the feel of the putt.
• Inconsistent ball position — Affects the quality of your contact and the launch angle of the ball. — Mark your ideal ball position and ensure it’s consistent for every putt.
• Lack of a pre-putt routine — Leads to indecision, nervousness, and a lack of commitment. — Develop a simple, repeatable routine that you follow for every putt, no matter the pressure.

FAQ

• What is the ideal grip for putting? There are several popular grips like the conventional (reverse overlap), the claw, or the cross-handed grip. The key isn’t the specific type, but rather a relaxed, neutral grip pressure that allows for a smooth, controlled stroke. Experiment on the practice green to find what feels most natural and repeatable for you.
• How important is eye position when putting? It’s pretty darn important. Having your eyes directly over the ball helps you see the line of the putt accurately and promotes a more consistent stroke path because your head is more stable.
• What is the best way to practice putting? The best practice combines variety and realism. Spend time on the practice green, but also practice on the course. Work on short putts (3-6 feet), lag putts (20+ feet), and putts with different breaks. Use drills that simulate real course conditions, like putting from off the green or into uphill and downhill slopes.
• Should I use a practice stroke before every putt? Absolutely. A practice stroke helps you feel the length of your backswing and the tempo of your stroke, which is crucial for distance control. It’s an essential part of a good pre-putt routine that builds confidence and commitment.
• How do I improve my distance control on putts? This comes down to tempo and swing length. Focus on making a consistent stroke length for both your backswing and follow-through, and feel the rhythm. Practice longer putts specifically to dial in your speed control. Don’t be afraid to make a bigger swing for longer putts, but maintain the same tempo.
• What’s the difference between putting and chipping? Putting is done on the green to roll the ball into the hole. It typically involves a pendulum-like stroke with a putter. Chipping is done just off the green, using a lofted club (like a wedge or short iron) to get the ball up in the air and rolling towards the hole. The technique is different, focusing on a more open clubface and a shorter, more controlled swing for chipping.
• How can I improve my putting on breaking greens? Reading the break is a skill in itself. Look at the entire slope from the ball to the hole. For uphill putts, you need more speed. For downhill putts, you need less. Practice visualizing the path the ball will take. Often, aiming slightly above the hole is the key.