Improving Your Putting Technique

← Golf Instruction & Improvement | Short Game Mastery

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Quick answer

• Lock in a consistent setup: grip, stance, and alignment are key.
• Develop a smooth, repeatable putting stroke. Focus on tempo.
• Practice smart. Drills for distance control and aim will shave strokes.

Who this is for

• Any golfer tired of three-putts and missed makeable chances.
• You, if you want to feel more confident stepping up to that crucial putt.

Tools and prerequisites

Before you get too deep, make sure you’ve got the basics covered. It’s not fancy gear, just good habits. This is where the magic starts, right here on the green.

What to check first

• Your Grip: Is it too tight? Hands feeling like a vise? Relax that grip. You need feel, not a death squeeze. It’s the only connection you have to the club.
• Your Stance: Are you balanced? Weight even? Knees soft? You shouldn’t feel like you’re about to fall over. A solid base is non-negotiable.
• Your Alignment: Putter face square to the target line? Body lines parallel? This is crucial for hitting it where you look. If you’re aimed left, you’ll hit it left. Simple as that.
• Your Ball Position: Is it consistent? Usually just inside the lead heel is a good start. This impacts how squarely you strike the ball.

Step-by-step plan for how to put golf

Let’s get your putting dialed in. It’s about building a repeatable motion that you can trust when it counts.

1. Action: Assess your current grip.

• What to look for: Even pressure, no tension in hands or wrists. Your hands should feel connected but not locked up. Think of it like holding a bird – firm enough so it doesn’t fly away, but gentle enough not to crush it.
• Mistake: Gripping too tightly. This kills feel and makes your wrists stiff, turning your smooth stroke into a jab.

2. Action: Establish a consistent stance.

• What to look for: Feet about shoulder-width apart, slight knee flex, weight balanced evenly. You want to feel stable and athletic. Your posture should allow your arms to hang naturally.
• Mistake: Leaning too far forward or backward. This messes with your eye line over the ball and can cause you to lift or press the putter on the downswing, leading to inconsistent strikes.

3. Action: Practice alignment drills.

• What to look for: Putter face, feet, and hips aimed precisely at the target line. Use an alignment stick on the ground to check that your body is parallel to the intended line of putt.
• Mistake: Aiming your body, not the putter face, at the hole. The clubface is king here; it dictates the initial direction of the ball. Get that square first.

4. Action: Develop your putting stroke.

• What to look for: A smooth, pendulum-like motion. Shoulders and arms move together as one unit, with wrists staying firm but not locked. Think “one-piece takeaway and follow-through.” The putter head should feel like it’s gliding.
• Mistake: Too much wrist action or a jerky stroke. This leads to inconsistent distance and direction control because your hands are trying to do too much independently.

5. Action: Work on distance control.

• What to look for: Feeling the length of your backswing and follow-through directly correlates to the distance the ball rolls. Practice longer putts on the practice green, focusing on hitting the ball to specific yard markers.
• Mistake: Hitting at the ball instead of stroking through it. This often results in deceleration, where the putter slows down before impact, leading to weak putts that miss on the low side.

6. Action: Implement a pre-shot routine.

• What to look for: A consistent sequence of steps before every putt, no matter the pressure. This might include reading the green from behind, visualizing the ball rolling into the hole, waggle the putter to get a feel for the stroke, and then taking your stance.
• Mistake: Rushing your preparation or getting distracted by playing partners or your own thoughts. A solid routine keeps you focused and helps you commit to your line and speed.

7. Action: Practice your stroke with different lengths.

• What to look for: Understanding that the length of your backswing and follow-through dictate the power. A short putt requires a short, controlled stroke, while a longer putt needs a more extended, flowing motion. The tempo should remain consistent.
• Mistake: Trying to “hit” longer putts with more force by just swinging harder. This disrupts your tempo and can lead to poor contact and control.

Improving Your Golf Putting Technique

Getting better at putting isn’t about magic wands or secret handshakes. It’s about building a solid foundation and then honing your skills through deliberate practice. Many golfers focus too much on their long game, forgetting that a significant chunk of their score is often decided on the greens. Improving your golf putting technique can dramatically lower your scores and boost your confidence. It’s a skill that, with the right approach, is very attainable for golfers of all levels. Improving Your Golf Putting Technique delves into this further.

The Importance of a Repeatable Stroke

The goal of putting is to get the ball rolling on your intended line with the correct speed. A repeatable stroke is the most reliable way to achieve this. When your stroke is consistent, you can trust it on the course. This means your setup, your takeaway, your transition, your impact, and your follow-through should all happen in a similar fashion every time. This consistency allows you to focus on reading the green and judging the speed, rather than worrying about whether your stroke will betray you.

Drills for Better Distance Control

Distance control is arguably the most critical aspect of putting. You can be perfectly aligned, but if you hit the putt too hard or too soft, it won’t go in. Practice is key here.

• Ladder Drill: Place balls at 10, 20, 30, and 40 feet. Your goal is to get each ball to roll past the hole and stop within a few feet of it. This teaches you to feel the difference in stroke length for varying distances.
• Clock Drill: Place balls around the hole at a consistent distance (e.g., 3 feet). Putt each ball, aiming to get it to lip out or stop right next to the hole. This is excellent for short-putt confidence and stroke accuracy.
• Lag Putting Drill: Focus on putting from longer distances (30-50 feet). The objective isn’t to make them, but to get them within a tap-in distance, typically a 3-foot circle around the hole. This develops your feel for pace.

Mastering Alignment

Alignment is another fundamental that many golfers overlook. If your putter face isn’t square to your intended line at impact, the ball will start off-line.

• Alignment Sticks: Use two alignment sticks on the practice green. Place one on the ground along your intended line of putt and another parallel to it, representing your foot line. This visual feedback is invaluable.
• Putter Face Check: Before you even take your stance, place your putter face behind the ball and ensure it’s square to your target. A simple visual check can save you many strokes.
• Practice with a Mirror: A putting mirror can help you ensure your eyes are over the ball and your shoulders are aligned correctly.

Common mistakes

• Gripping too tightly — Why it matters: Creates tension and restricts wrist action, leading to a less fluid stroke and less feel for the putter head. — Fix: Consciously relax your grip pressure. Imagine holding a tube of toothpaste without squeezing it out. Your hands should feel connected but not rigid.
• Poor alignment — Why it matters: Even the perfect stroke won’t find the hole if you’re aimed wrong from the start. It’s like setting your GPS to the wrong destination. — Fix: Use alignment aids like chalk lines or alignment sticks on the practice green and check your alignment before every putt. Take a moment to ensure your clubface is square to your target.
• Inconsistent ball position — Why it matters: Affects your strike quality and the ball’s roll off the putter face. If the ball is too far forward, you might hit it on the toe; too far back, and you might hit it on the heel or the rising side of the clubface. — Fix: Mark your preferred ball position on the ball itself with a Sharpie and ensure it’s in the same spot for every putt. Find that sweet spot.
• Jerky or inconsistent stroke tempo — Why it matters: Leads to big misses in distance and direction control. A jerky motion means your acceleration isn’t smooth. — Fix: Focus on a smooth, rhythmic stroke. Try counting “one-two” for the backswing and “one-two” for the follow-through, or simply focus on a smooth acceleration. The speed of your backswing should generally match your follow-through.
• Looking up too soon — Why it matters: Your head movement can cause your shoulders to move, altering your stroke path and losing your connection to the putt. — Fix: Keep your head still until you hear the ball drop or feel the follow-through complete. Trust your stroke and let your ears do the work.
• Neglecting practice — Why it matters: Putting is a skill that requires constant refinement. Without regular practice, your feel and consistency will diminish. — Fix: Dedicate a portion of your practice time to putting. Even 15-20 minutes of focused putting drills a few times a week can make a significant difference.

FAQ

• What is the ideal putter grip?

There’s no single “ideal,” but a common and effective grip is the reverse overlap, where your lead index finger rests on top of your trail hand’s pinky finger. Other popular grips include the cross-handed (left-below-right for right-handers) and the claw. The key is light pressure and no tension, allowing for a free-flowing stroke. Experiment to find what feels most natural and repeatable for you.

• How should my weight be distributed during a putt?

Your weight should be balanced, perhaps slightly favoring your lead foot (around 55-60%). This helps maintain stability and prevents excessive weight shift during the stroke. Avoid having all your weight on your back foot, which can lead to lifting the putter on the downswing. Keep it steady.

• What is the proper stance for putting?

Stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart, knees slightly flexed, and your eyes directly over the ball or slightly inside it. This creates a stable base and allows your arms to hang naturally. Your posture should feel athletic and balanced, not strained.

• How far back should I take my putter?

The length of your backswing and follow-through should be equal, creating a smooth pendulum motion. For shorter putts (inside 10 feet), a shorter stroke is needed; for longer putts, a longer stroke is required. It’s about maintaining a consistent tempo and accelerating through the ball, not just the length of the backswing.

• How can I improve my distance control on longer putts?

Practice putting drills that focus on hitting the ball to specific distances. Feel the difference in your backswing and follow-through for putts of 10, 20, and 30 feet. Using a practice green with distance markers is highly beneficial. Improve Your Putting: Tips and Techniques for Better Performance can offer more on this, focusing on drills that build feel for pace.

• Should I practice putting with my eyes closed?

This is a great drill to improve feel for distance and stroke consistency. It forces you to rely on your body’s motion and the feel of the putter head rather than visual cues. By removing the visual element, you can better detect inconsistencies in your stroke mechanics and tempo.

• How often should I practice my putting?

Consistency is key. Even 15-20 minutes on the practice green a few times a week can make a huge difference. You’ll see better results with regular, focused practice than with infrequent marathon sessions. Aim for quality over quantity. How to Improve Your Putting has more on effective practice strategies, emphasizing the benefits of short, frequent sessions.

• What is the best way to read greens?

Reading greens involves observing the slope from multiple angles. Start behind the ball to get an overall view of the break. Then, walk to the side of the hole to see the slope from a different perspective. Finally, look from behind the hole to gauge the severity of the break as the ball approaches its destination. Consider the grain of the grass as well; putting into the grain is slower.

• How do I deal with pressure on short putts?

Short putts are often mental battles. The best way to combat pressure is through a solid pre-shot routine that you trust implicitly. Visualize the ball going in, take a deep breath, and execute your practiced stroke. Knowing you’ve made hundreds of these on the practice green builds confidence. Remember, most pros miss short putts too; it’s how you recover that counts.

• What is the role of the shoulders in the putting stroke?

Your shoulders are crucial for a stable putting stroke. They should remain relatively still and act as the primary engine for the swing, moving the arms and putter back and through in a unified motion. Think of it as a rocking motion of the upper body, keeping your wrists and hands passive. This promotes a consistent arc.

• Should I use a longer putter if I have trouble with my back?

Yes, longer putters (like belly or broomstick putters) can be beneficial for golfers experiencing back pain or stiffness. They allow for a more upright stance, which can reduce strain on the back. The longer shaft also facilitates anchoring the putter against your body, which can simplify the stroke and reduce wrist action. Improve Your Putting Game: Drills and Techniques might touch on equipment choices.

• How important is the follow-through in putting?

The follow-through is just as important as the backswing. It ensures you’ve accelerated through the ball and provides a sense of completeness to the stroke. A good follow-through, where the putter continues to swing towards the target, helps maintain tempo and ensures solid contact. Don’t stop at the ball; swing through it.

• How can I improve my putting on fast greens?

On fast greens, the key is a softer stroke and more precise distance control. Practice hitting putts with a shorter backswing and a more controlled follow-through. Focus on feeling the pace rather than hitting hard. Reading the subtle slopes becomes even more critical as the ball will roll further and break more dramatically.

• How can I improve my putting on slow greens?

Slow greens require a slightly more aggressive stroke to get the ball to the hole. You’ll need a slightly longer backswing and a more decisive stroke through the ball. Be mindful of the grain of the grass, as putting against it will significantly slow the ball down. Practice hitting putts with more pace to get a feel for the required force.