The Importance of Putting in Golf

← Golf Instruction & Improvement | Short Game Mastery

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Quick Answer

• Mastering your short game, especially putting, is crucial for lowering your golf scores.
• Consistent putting significantly impacts your overall performance and final score on the course.
• Focusing on your putting is how you truly “putt for dough” and see tangible results on your scorecard.

Who This Is For

• Golfers of all skill levels who are serious about improving their scores and consistency on the course.
• Players who recognize the significant impact that putting has on their game, often being the deciding factor in a round.
• Individuals looking to gain a strategic advantage by honing a skill that directly translates to fewer strokes.

What to Check First: The Importance of Putting

• Putting Stroke Mechanics: Grab a mirror or use your smartphone to record yourself. Check your putting stroke for smoothness, consistency, and any unwanted wrist action. Are your shoulders initiating the stroke? Is the putter head staying low?
• Putter Fit: Verify that your putter’s loft and lie angle are suitable for your stance and posture. An ill-fitting putter can force you into an awkward position, leading to inconsistent results. A quick chat with a golf professional or a look at your putter’s manual can help confirm this.
• Grip Condition and Placement: Inspect your putter grip for wear and tear. A worn grip can lead to slipping and inconsistent pressure. More importantly, check your hand placement. Are your hands in a comfortable, repeatable position that promotes a relaxed and controlled stroke?
• Ball Position: Ensure your ball is consistently positioned relative to your stance for each putt. A slight adjustment here can make a difference in the quality of your strike and the roll of the ball.
• Alignment Aids: If your putter has alignment lines, make sure you’re using them correctly and consistently. They are there to help you aim accurately, but only if you trust them and set them up properly.

Mastering the Drive for Show and Putt for Dough: A Step-by-Step Plan

1. Adjusting Your Grip for Control

• Action: Take your putter and adjust your hands on the grip.
• What to look for: Aim for a neutral, relaxed hold with consistent, light pressure. Your hands should feel like they are working together harmoniously, not fighting each other. Imagine holding a small bird – firm enough not to let it fly away, but gentle enough not to crush it.
• Mistake to avoid: Gripping the putter too tightly. This is a common pitfall that kills your feel, restricts your wrists, and makes your stroke jerky and inconsistent. Relax those hands, my friend.

2. Developing a Stable and Balanced Stance

• Action: Find a balanced stance that feels grounded and repeatable.
• What to look for: Your eyes should be directly over the ball, or very slightly inside it. Your weight should be evenly distributed between your feet, promoting stability throughout the stroke. You should feel athletic and ready to make a controlled movement.
• Mistake to avoid: Leaning too far forward or backward, or having your weight too much on your toes or heels. This throws off your balance, making it difficult to maintain a consistent stroke path and strike the ball solidly. Stay centered and feel connected to the ground.

3. Creating a Consistent Pendulum Stroke

• Action: Initiate and maintain your putting stroke using your shoulders.
• What to look for: A smooth, rhythmic motion, much like a pendulum on a grandfather clock. Your shoulders should rock back and forth, dictating the length of your backswing and follow-through. Keep your wrists firm but not locked, allowing them to stay connected to the shoulder rotation. The putter head should remain low to the ground throughout the stroke.
• Mistake to avoid: Scooping the ball with your hands or making jerky, independent wrist movements. This is a surefire way to produce inconsistent contact and unpredictable results. Let your shoulders be the engine of your stroke.

4. Practicing Consistent Distance Control

• Action: Practice hitting putts of varying lengths.
• What to look for: Develop a feel for how different backswing lengths correspond to different distances. Focus on making your follow-through match your backswing in terms of length and tempo. The goal is to get the ball to the hole, or at least within a comfortable tap-in distance.
• Mistake to avoid: Over-swinging on longer putts or decelerating through the ball on shorter ones. This often results in leaving putts short or blasting them past the hole, leading to frustrating three-putts.

5. Improving Your Green Reading Skills

• Action: Learn to accurately read the slope and speed of the greens.
• What to look for: Walk around the putt, observe the overall break of the green, and note any subtle undulations. Consider the grain of the grass and how it might affect the roll. Feel the slope with your feet. Visualize the path the ball will take.
• Mistake to avoid: Rushing your read or only looking at the ball from behind. This can lead to misjudging the break and speed, resulting in missed putts. Take your time and gather information from multiple angles.

6. Developing a Pre-Putt Routine

• Action: Establish a consistent pre-putt routine.
• What to look for: This routine should include your green reading, your practice strokes, and your final alignment. It helps calm your nerves and ensures you’re mentally prepared for each putt. A good routine builds confidence and consistency.
• Mistake to avoid: Inconsistent or rushed routines. This can lead to indecision, anxiety, and ultimately, poor execution. Stick to your routine every single time, no matter the pressure.

The Critical Role of Putting: Why “Drive for Show and Putt for Dough” Rings True

It’s a phrase we’ve all heard on the golf course, and for good reason. While a booming drive down the fairway might draw applause, it’s the putts that ultimately decide your score and your bank account, especially in competitive play. The difference between a good score and a great one often comes down to how well you navigate the greens. Think about it: a long drive might set you up for an eagle or birdie opportunity, but if you can’t convert the putt, it’s just a missed chance. Conversely, a solid iron shot that lands you on the green, followed by two smooth putts for par, is a score that counts just as much.

Many amateur golfers spend the majority of their practice time on the driving range, working on their long game. While this is important, it’s often the least efficient use of practice time when it comes to lowering scores. The strokes gained on the putting green far outweigh the strokes gained from adding 10 yards to your drive. For every drive, there are typically 30-40 putts in a round. That’s a massive opportunity to influence your score. Mastering the subtle art of putting requires a different kind of practice, one that focuses on feel, touch, and precision. It’s about understanding how to roll the ball consistently towards the hole, regardless of the conditions. This is where the real magic happens, and where you truly “putt for dough.”

Common Mistakes on the Green and How to Fix Them

• Mistake: Neglecting putting practice.
• Why it matters: This is the biggest self-inflicted wound for many golfers. You’re leaving strokes out on the course, plain and simple. Missed putts, especially those within a few feet, add up incredibly fast and can turn a good round into a disappointing one.
• Fix: Dedicate a significant portion of your practice time to the short game. Aim for at least 20-30% of your total practice time to be spent on putting. Even 15-20 minutes of focused putting drills several times a week can make a monumental difference.

• Mistake: Inconsistent grip pressure.
• Why it matters: Too much tension in your hands kills the feel and control you need to roll the ball accurately and with proper speed. A death grip leads to a restricted stroke and poor distance control.
• Fix: Practice holding the putter with a light, consistent grip. Focus on keeping your hands relaxed throughout the stroke. Periodically check your grip pressure during practice to ensure you’re not tightening up.

• Mistake: Poor distance control.
• Why it matters: This is a primary cause of three-putts or even worse. If you can’t get the ball close to the hole, you’re essentially giving away strokes. Excellent distance control means you’re leaving yourself with tap-ins for par or birdie.
• Fix: Practice putting drills that specifically focus on varying your backswing length for different distances. Develop a feel for how a shorter backswing relates to a shorter putt, and a longer backswing to a longer putt. Focus on a smooth tempo and a full follow-through.

• Mistake: Not checking your putter’s fit.
• Why it matters: An ill-fitting putter can force you into an awkward stance or stroke, leading to inconsistency and frustration. If the putter is too long, too short, or has the wrong lie angle for your setup, it’s fighting you from the start.
• Fix: If you’re struggling with your putting, consider getting your putter checked for loft and lie angle by a golf professional or club fitter. Sometimes, a simple adjustment can solve a host of problems and make putting feel much more natural.

• Mistake: Rushing your pre-putt routine.
• Why it matters: Your pre-putt routine is designed to build confidence, confirm your read, and prepare you mentally for the stroke. Rushing it can lead to indecision, anxiety, and a lack of focus, increasing the chances of a poor putt.
• Fix: Develop a consistent and deliberate pre-putt routine. This should include walking the line of the putt, taking practice strokes, and visualizing the ball rolling into the hole. Stick to this routine for every putt, big or small.

• Mistake: Trying to “guide” or “steer” the ball.
• Why it matters: This often comes from a lack of trust in your stroke or a fear of missing. Trying to steer the ball with your hands leads to manipulation, inconsistent contact, and poor roll.
• Fix: Trust your pendulum stroke. Focus on the process and the feel of the stroke initiated by your shoulders. Let the putter do the work and hit the ball solidly with a confident stroke.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How much time should I dedicate to putting practice?

You should aim for at least 20-30% of your total practice time to be dedicated to putting. Consistency is key, so even short, frequent sessions on the practice green are far more beneficial than one long, infrequent session. For example, if you practice for an hour, spend 15-20 minutes on putting drills.

• What is the ideal grip for putting?

There isn’t one single “ideal” grip that works for everyone, as personal preference plays a big role. However, most golfers find success with a neutral, relaxed grip where your hands work together harmoniously. Common styles include the conventional reverse overlap, the cross-handed (left-hand low), and the claw grip. The most important thing is to find a grip that feels comfortable, repeatable, and allows you to maintain light, consistent pressure.

• How can I improve my distance control on the green?

The best way to improve distance control is through focused practice. Use drills where you hit putts to specific yardage markers (e.g., 10, 20, 30 feet) or different sections of the practice green. Pay close attention to the relationship between your backswing length and the distance the ball travels. Focus on maintaining a consistent tempo and a full follow-through for every putt.

• Is it true that “drive for show and putt for dough”?

Absolutely. While a long, impressive drive might earn you admiration from playing partners, it’s the putts that ultimately determine your score and, in many cases, your winnings. The strokes you save on the green have a direct and significant impact on your scorecard. Mastering your short game, especially putting, is where you truly gain an advantage.

• Should I use the same grip for my driver as my putter?

No, definitely not. Your putting grip should be significantly lighter and more relaxed than your full swing grip. The goal on the greens is feel, control, and a smooth stroke, not power. A tight grip on the putter will hinder your ability to make a consistent stroke and control the speed of your putts.

• What are the most common mistakes golfers make on the green?

Some of the most common mistakes include neglecting putting practice, using too much grip pressure, poor distance control, not checking putter fit, rushing their pre-putt routine, and trying to guide or steer the ball rather than making a free stroke. Recognizing these common pitfalls is the first step to overcoming them.

• How can I practice reading greens effectively?

Practice reading greens by walking around the putt, observing the overall slope from different angles, and feeling the contours with your feet. Look at the grain of the grass and consider how it might affect the ball’s roll. Visualize the path the ball will take from your putter face to the hole. Don’t just look from behind the ball; get down low and look from the side and behind the hole as well.