What is the secret to better putting? The secret to better putting is simple: consistent practice focusing on solid fundamentals like grip, aim, and stroke mechanics. Now that you know the quick answer, let’s dive deep into how you can improve every putt you face on the green.
The Core of Consistency: Your Putting Technique
Great putting starts long before the ball leaves the putter face. It begins with your setup. If your setup is flawed, even the best stroke will miss. Developing a solid putting technique is the bedrock of consistent success.
Selecting the Best Putting Grips
Your grip is the primary link between you and the putter. A good grip reduces tension and encourages a smooth, pendulum-like motion. Many amateurs grip the putter too tightly. This chokes the hands and introduces unwanted wrist action. We are looking for stability, not a death grip.
There are several best putting grips, each suited to different body types and tendencies.
| Grip Style | Description | Primary Benefit | Common Issue It Solves |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conventional Overlap | Pinky finger of the top hand rests in the lifeline of the lower hand. | Promotes hand unity and feel. | Overactive hands or wrists. |
| Reverse Overlap (Jack Nicklaus style) | Index finger of the top hand extends down the shaft over the lower hand. | Calms the dominant hand. | Pushing or pulling the putter face. |
| Claw Grip | Fingers of the lower hand hook over the shaft; less palm contact. | Minimizes wrist hinge and promotes a stable triangle. | Excessive wrist breakdown during the stroke. |
| Pencil Grip (or 10-Finger) | Hands are close together, almost like holding a pencil. | Maximum relaxation and less hand movement. | Too much tension in the arms. |
When trying a new grip, focus on lightness. Your grip pressure should be about a 3 or 4 out of 10. You should be able to hold a tube of toothpaste without squeezing the paste out.
Establishing Proper Stance and Posture
Your posture sets the stage for your putting stroke mechanics. Stand close enough to the ball so your eyes are directly over the ball or slightly inside the line. This allows you to see the intended line clearly.
- Keep your feet relatively close together. This helps keep your lower body still.
- Bend forward from your hips, not your waist. Keep your back relatively straight.
- Let your arms hang naturally from your shoulders. They should form a slight “V” shape pointing towards the target.
- Your shoulders must be square to your intended line. Square shoulders lead to a square putter face at impact.
The Ideal Putting Stroke Mechanics
The best strokes move like a pendulum. Think of your shoulders and upper back as the anchor. The putter head swings back and through, driven by the rotation of the shoulders, not the manipulation of the hands.
Key elements of sound putting stroke mechanics**:
- Face Control: The putter face must remain square to the target line throughout the stroke.
- Arc vs. Straight: Most pros use a slight arc, returning the face squarely at impact. Avoid trying to keep the putter perfectly straight back and through, as this often leads to manipulation.
- Pace Dictates Line: Speed control is paramount. A putt struck too firmly gives you less margin for error on the line. Learn to match speed to distance first.
Deciphering the Green: Green Reading Tips
A perfectly struck putt will miss if you aimed incorrectly. Green reading tips help you see the break before you see the line. The ball will always roll downhill faster than it rolls uphill.
Slope, Speed, and Grain
Three factors determine how a putt breaks: slope, speed, and grain.
1. Fathoming the Slope
This is the most crucial factor. Walk around the putt. Look at it from behind the ball, behind the hole, and from the low side (the side where the break starts).
- High Side vs. Low Side: The ball will break away from the high side and toward the low side.
- Apex: Identify the highest point the ball will travel before gravity pulls it toward the hole. This is your aiming spot.
2. Assessing Speed
The speed you hit the putt dictates how much the slope affects it.
- A faster putt fights the break more. It needs a straighter starting line.
- A slower putt succumbs to gravity earlier and needs more starting line correction (aimed further away from the hole).
3. Interpreting the Grain
Grain refers to the direction the grass is growing. This is especially important on Bermuda grass greens.
- Shiny vs. Dull: If the grass looks shiny from behind the ball, you are putting with the grain (it will be faster). If it looks dull or dark, you are putting against the grain (it will be slower).
- Grain pulls the ball slightly in the direction it grows, regardless of slope.
Aiming for the Hole vs. Aiming for the Line
When aiming for the hole, you are focusing on the final destination. This is often hard because the hole appears small. Instead, pick a specific spot just a few feet in front of your ball—an intermediate target. When aiming for the hole, you should line up your putter face precisely to that spot, not the cup itself. Trust that if the speed is right, the line will follow.
Drills for Mastery: Golf Putting Drills
Practice separates the good putters from the great ones. You need specific golf putting drills that simulate real-game pressures and reinforce good habits. Don’t just hit balls aimlessly.
The Gate Drill for Face Control
This drill fixes issues related to the putter face being open or closed at impact—often leading to fixing a slice in putting (a push or pull).
- Place two tees or markers slightly wider than your putter head. This creates a “gate” right in front of your ball.
- Set up as normal. The goal is to swing the putter through the gate without hitting the tees on the backswing or the follow-through.
- If you hit the outside tee on the takeaway, your stroke is too far inside. If you hit the outside tee on the follow-through, you are over-the-top or manipulating the exit.
The Coin Drill for Tempo and Distance
Tempo controls distance better than arm length. This drill focuses on rhythm.
- Place a coin or small marker about 12 inches directly behind your golf ball.
- Make your stroke. The goal is to hit the coin on the backswing, then strike the ball, and finish your stroke without knocking the coin over with your follow-through.
- If you hit the coin on the follow-through, your stroke length was too long or your tempo was too fast, causing you to decelerate or decelerate into the ball.
The Ladder Drill for Lag Putting
Lag putting (distance control on long putts) is vital for saving strokes. This drill builds confidence over 20, 30, and 40 feet.
- Place three balls in a line, spaced 10 feet apart (e.g., at 20 ft, 30 ft, and 40 ft from the practice hole).
- Start at the 20-foot ball. Hit it so it stops within a 3-foot circle around the hole.
- If successful, move to the 30-foot ball. Again, stop it within a 3-foot circle.
- Continue to the 40-foot ball.
This drill forces you to focus entirely on pace, making short game putting preparation more robust.
The Importance of Short Game Putting Practice
Most strokes lost on the scorecard happen inside 10 feet. Mastering short game putting is the fastest way to lower your scores dramatically.
Inside 5 Feet: The Pressure Putts
Putts inside 5 feet should be automatic. If you are missing these, your setup is likely inconsistent, or you are rushing the stroke when nervous.
Use the “Circle of Confidence” technique: Draw a chalk circle around the hole about three feet wide. Practice making 10 consecutive putts from various spots around that circle. If you miss one, start the count over. This builds mental resilience.
The Practice Putting Routine
A consistent routine eliminates nerves because your body knows what to do. This is often part of professional putting secrets.
Your routine should be the same for a 3-foot tap-in as it is for a 30-foot birdie attempt.
| Step | Action | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Read | Walk the line, check slope from multiple angles. | Select the proper line and apex. |
| 2. Setup | Align the face, settle your stance, confirm eye position. | Ensure visual confirmation of the line. |
| 3. Pre-Putt Routine | Take one slow practice swing away from the ball, matching the desired tempo. | Set the stroke rhythm. |
| 4. Final Look | Lock in the intermediate target spot (a blade of grass). | Commit fully to the aim. |
| 5. Execute | Smooth stroke, eyes down until the ball drops. | Execute the plan without hesitation. |
Advanced Concepts and Common Flaws
Even with good fundamentals, specific issues can creep into your game. Learning how to spot these helps you adjust quickly on the course.
Fixing a Slice in Putting: Understanding Push/Pull Errors
When golfers talk about fixing a slice in putting, they usually mean they are pushing the ball right (for a right-handed golfer) or pulling it left. This is almost always a face alignment issue or a stroke path issue.
- Push (Putter Face Open): The face is open relative to the target line at impact. This is often caused by the hands creeping too far ahead of the putter head through impact, or the lower hand rolling over too early.
- Pull (Putter Face Closed): The face is closed relative to the target line at impact. This happens when the hands lag too far behind, or the stroke path moves too far inside-to-out.
Use the Gate Drill mentioned earlier. If you consistently hit the outside tee on the follow-through (pulling it), focus on keeping your chest steady and ensuring your putter releases naturally rather than being forced open.
The Role of Weighting and Putter Selection
While technique matters most, the tool matters too. Putter weight affects tempo. Heavier putters encourage a steadier stroke, while lighter ones can encourage faster hand action.
- Blade vs. Mallet: Blades offer better feedback but are less forgiving on off-center hits. Mallets offer higher Moment of Inertia (MOI), making them more stable on mishits. Choose what feels stable to you when you are setting up for a crucial putt.
Professional Putting Secrets: The Eye Line and Stability
Many professional putting secrets revolve around extreme stability in the lower body and perfect visual setup.
Pros rarely look up early. They keep their eyes fixed on where the ball was before the stroke began until the putter is fully through the impact zone. Looking up too soon causes the head to lift, which raises the spine angle, often causing the putter to strike the ball too high or too low (a “skid”).
Integrating Practice Putting Routine into Your Game
A dedicated practice putting routine shouldn’t just be what you do on the practice green; it should be your pre-round warm-up.
Before every round, spend 15 minutes on the practice green. Do not just hit 50 five-footers. Mix it up:
- Five minutes on lag distance control (Ladder Drill focus).
- Five minutes on 8-15 foot putts focusing on breaking balls (reading practice).
- Five minutes on “pressure” 3-footers (Circle of Confidence focus).
This mimics the variety you will face on the course and ensures all aspects of your technique are sharp.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Putting
Q: Should I keep my head perfectly still while putting?
A: Yes, your head should be very stable. Think of your head as being bolted to your spine. The motion comes entirely from the rotation of the shoulders. Any lifting or turning of the head changes your eye line, which instantly changes where you perceive the target to be.
Q: How hard should I hit a 30-foot putt?
A: The ideal speed is hitting it so that if the hole were not there, the ball would roll about 12 to 18 inches past the hole. This gives you the best chance of the ball dropping in while ensuring you don’t face a huge comeback putt if you miss.
Q: What is the ideal pace for putting?
A: The ideal pace is dictated by the break. A putt that breaks a lot needs to be slower to let gravity work. A straight putt can be hit slightly firmer. Always aim for a pace that minimizes side spin and maximizes the chance of the ball entering the cup on its final roll.
Q: Does the length of my putter matter?
A: Yes. Putter length affects your posture and how easily you can maintain a stable lower body. Most amateurs use putters that are too long, forcing them to stand too upright, which promotes more wrist movement. A custom-fitted putter is crucial for maintaining consistent putting technique.
Q: How do I know if I am pushing or pulling the putt?
A: If you are right-handed and the ball consistently starts to the right of your target, you are pushing it (putter face open). If it starts consistently left, you are pulling it (putter face closed). Use alignment sticks during practice to confirm your setup is square before executing your putting stroke mechanics.