Putting is often the most challenging yet rewarding aspect of golf. It demands a fine touch, with all the pressure resting on sinking that final putt.
We’ve all felt the frustration of missing putt, but nothing compares to the thrill of nailing a long-distance putt. With practice and focus, becoming a better putter is within your reach.
In this guide, we’ll take you through a step-by-step approach to improving your putting, from selecting the right putter to mastering green reading, positioning, and building mental toughness.
Importance of Putter Selection
Improving your putting game starts with the right putter. The putter you choose greatly affects your performance.
Finding the right putter can be challenging, as every golfer’s stroke is unique. A putter that works perfectly for one player might not suit another, highlighting the importance of choosing a putter tailored to your style and needs.
- Putter Head Design: There are many putter designs, from blades to mallets. Try different ones to see which fits your stroke best.
- Shaft Length: The shaft’s length affects your posture and stroke. Make sure it matches your height and arm length for comfort and consistency.
- Putter Weight: The putter’s weight impacts your feel and control. Heavier putters offer stability, while lighter ones are more maneuverable.
By considering these factors and trying out different putters, you’ll find the perfect one for your game. This will help you perform better on the green.
Master Green Reading
After selecting the right putter, the next step is to observe the greens carefully from every angle.
To read greens accurately, first observe the green’s shape. Look for changes in height, ridges, and slopes. These affect the ball’s path.
Notice the direction and steepness of these features. They decide how much your putt will break.
- Find the green’s high and low points, and any slopes or undulations that could affect the ball’s roll.
- Look at the grass grain, as it can add to the break and change your putt’s speed.
- Think about wind and other factors that might change the ball’s path.
By mastering green reading, you’ll make better putting choices. This will lower your scores and make you a better putter.
Become a Better Putter with Proper Stance and Grip
A stable grip and balanced stance form the foundation of an effective putting stroke. By focusing on the basics, you can unlock your full potential on the green.
Proper Putting Grip
The Reverse Overlap Grip is one of the most popular grips for putting. For right-handed golfers, place your left index finger over your right pinky. This helps connect both hands and reduces wrist movement, leading to better control over the putter’s face.
Apply the reverse overlap grip (or your preferred grip) with the putter’s handle placed in the lifelines of your palms, not your fingers. This promotes stability in the clubface throughout the stroke.
Both palms should face each other, and your thumbs should run straight down the grip. Keep your hands close together to minimize wrist action.
Aim for a grip that feels secure but natural. If the grip feels too wobbly or tight, it can affect your stroke’s fluidity.
Proper Putting Stance
A balanced stance helps you control and stabilize your stroke. Here are the key elements of a proper putting stance:
Foot Position for a Stable Putting Stance
There’s no strict rule for how wide your feet should be during putting. The key is to find a stance that feels comfortable and stable for you. Here’s how some top pros approach it:
- Rickie Fowler and Brandon Wu putt with their feet close together.
- Xander Schauffele opts for a shoulder-width stance.
- Tiger Woods finds balance somewhere between these two approaches.
The most important thing is that your stance allows for a consistent stroke.
Knee Flex for Balance and Control
For optimal stability, maintain a slight flex in your knees. This knee flex helps you stay grounded, providing the balance necessary for a steady, controlled putting stroke. Proper knee positioning prevents unnecessary movement, keeping your body aligned throughout the stroke.
Knee flex in putting enhances balance, allowing for a smoother stroke and better results.
Proper Hip Position for Stability
To ensure balance and avoid unnecessary sway during your putt, focus on keeping your hips stable and square. Bend from your hips (not your waist) to create a natural forward tilt. This allows your arms and putter to hang freely in front of you, leading to better control and consistency.
Eye Position Over the Ball
Your eye position can vary, depending on what works best for your stroke:
- Some players, like Xander Schauffele, keep their eyes slightly inside the ball.
- Others prefer to have their eyes directly over or even a bit outside the ball.
Experiment to find the position where you can best align your putter and aim.
Shoulder Alignment in Putting
Maintaining square shoulders is key to an effective putting stroke. Your shoulders should be parallel to the target line, allowing for a smooth pendulum motion that helps control the ball’s direction. Avoid slouching or rounding your back, as it can restrict arm movement and cause inconsistencies in your stroke.
How to Check if Your Golf Putting Stance is Correct
Ensuring that your putting stance is correct is crucial for maintaining consistency and control during your stroke. Here’s how you can check each aspect of your stance:
1. Check the Shaft Alignment with Your Forearms:
Hold the putter in your normal stance and look at the alignment of the shaft with your forearms. The putter’s shaft should form a straight line with your forearms. If it doesn’t, adjust your posture or grip until you achieve that alignment. This helps promote a more stable and consistent stroke path, reducing wrist movement and keeping the clubface square at impact.
Many golfers find success by forming a triangle with their shoulders and arms
2. Three-Ball Drill for Alignment
- Line Up Three Balls: Place three golf balls in a straight line, then set up in your normal putting stance. Look down the line from your setup position.
- Check Perception: If the balls appear misaligned (even though they are in a straight line), this may indicate an issue with your body alignment or posture. Try moving your feet slightly further back from the ball or bending more from your hips. Continue to make small adjustments until the balls look perfectly aligned to your eyes.
3. Using Alignment Aids
To make sure your stance is consistently correct, use alignment aids like sticks or markers. Placing alignment sticks on the ground can help ensure that your stance doesn’t unintentionally change from round to round. You can also mark your setup distance on the ground using a Sharpie, so you always know you’re standing the right distance from the ball.
By following these steps, you can ensure that your stance is aligned, balanced, and consistent, leading to better results on the green.
Grip Practice
- Start by holding the putter straight out in front of you.
- Tuck your upper arms against your rib cage to stabilize your arms and reduce movement.
- Bend forward from your hips, and keep your back straight.
- Slightly flex your knees to find a balanced and comfortable stance.
NOW, Pick up the putter, grip it, and set it down repeatedly. Practicing this 10,000 times will help engrain the correct grip and stance into your muscle memory. By repeating the setup, you’ll develop a consistent and automatic approach to your putting stance, which helps under pressure and during actual play.
Develop a Consistent Putting Stroke
Now that you have your setup and grip right, let’s move to the actual putting stroke. Focus on these basics to become a better putter and lower your scores.
1. Line Up the Putt
- Step behind the ball and select a target line that you believe the ball will follow based on the slope and break of the green.
- Align the ball’s marking with your target line to ensure accuracy.
2. Address the Ball
- Position the ball just ahead of the center of your stance, with your eyes over the ball (or adjusted to whatever feels most comfortable for you).
- Your feet should be parallel to the target line, and your putter face should be square to the ball.
3. Backswing
- Start your backswing by rocking your shoulders in a pendulum motion. Keep your wrists firm and minimize hand movement. Whether you’re using a straight-back-straight-through method or a slight arc, the backswing should be smooth and controlled.
- Maintain a 2:1 ratio, where your backswing is twice as long as your forward stroke. This consistent tempo will help with speed control
- The length of your backswing should match the distance of the putt, with longer putts requiring a longer backswing.
4. Strike the Ball
- On the downswing, accelerate smoothly while maintaining a steady tempo. Avoid decelerating, which can cause missed putts. Strike the ball squarely with the center of the putter’s face to ensure the ball rolls end over end.
- For best results, keep your body and head still throughout the motion.
5. Follow Through
After hitting the ball, let your putter continue forward along the target line. A proper follow-through is key for ensuring accuracy and speed control.
Hold your follow-through in place for a few seconds, keeping your head down to maintain focus.
Drills to Groove Your Putting Stroke
- The “Tee Drill”: Place a tee a few inches in front of the ball. Practice smooth strokes without hitting the tee.
- The “Gate Drill”: Set up two tees a few inches apart. Roll the ball through the “gate” without knocking the tees over.
- The “Mirror Drill”: Practice your stroke in front of a mirror. This ensures a consistent motion.
By focusing on the basics and using these putting drills, you’ll improve your stroke. This will greatly benefit your game on the course.
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Improve Distance Control
Great putters know how to control distance well. It’s key to avoid three-putts and make more mid-range putts.
The key to speed control lies in balancing touch and feel with solid technique. When you’re too aggressive, the hole effectively “shrinks” because a fast-moving ball has less margin for error when approaching the cup. On the flip side, leaving putts too short also puts unnecessary pressure on your second shot.
To get a feel for distance, notice how your stroke feels. Think about the putter’s weight, your swing speed, and the effort needed for each putt. Try different stroke lengths and speeds. This helps you understand how much power you need for different distances.
Drills for Better Distance Control
| Drill | Description | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Pace Putting | Set up a series of putts at different lengths and practice controlling the speed of your stroke to reach the hole consistently. | Develops a feel for distance and stroke speed, improving overall putting consistency. |
| Distance Ladder | Place markers at various distances and challenge yourself to roll the ball to each marker with the appropriate force. | Trains your distance perception and ability to match the required stroke to the target distance. |
| Judging Distance | Estimate the distance to the hole before each putt and then compare your perception to the actual distance. | Calibrates your distance awareness, helping you make more accurate judgments on the course. |
These drills will help you develop a feel for distance control. This skill will make you a better putter and help you shave strokes off your game.
| Skill | Importance for Putting | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
| Green Reading | High – Crucial for making accurate putting decisions | Medium to High – Requires practice and experience |
| Stroke Mechanics | High – Ensures consistent and repeatable putting stroke | Medium – Can be developed through drills and practice |
| Distance Control | High – Determines how close the ball gets to the hole | Medium to High – Requires feel and practice |
Develop Mental Toughness for Putting
It’s hard to stay focused, confident, and calm on the green, especially under pressure. Here are some techniques to help:
- Visualization: Picture the ball going into the hole before you putt. Imagine the ball rolling smoothly and feeling it drop.
- Breathing exercises: Breathe deeply before you putt. This can calm your mind and steady your nerves.
- Positive self-talk: Tell yourself you can do it. Use positive affirmations to boost your confidence.
- Accept Mistakes and Move On
- Manage Pressure Effectively
- Routine consistency: Have a pre-putt routine and follow it every time. This can make you feel more in control.
- Celebrate small victories to build momentum
Mental toughness for putting takes time and effort. But, with visualization and a consistent routine, you can master the mental game of putting.
Incorporate Putting Drills into Your Practice Routine
Improving your putting skills takes consistent practice. By adding different putting drills to your routine, you can better your stroke and control. Spending time on purposeful practice will help you learn and feel more confident on the greens.
Drills to Improve Consistency and Accuracy
Here are some effective drills to enhance your putting skills:
- The Baseline Drill: Set up a line on the practice green. Try to make putts from different distances, focusing on a steady stroke and solid contact.
- The Clock Drill: Arrange balls around the hole like a clock. Practice putting from each spot, improving your aim, distance control, and consistency.
- The Gate Drill: Create a “gate” with two tees or sticks a few inches apart. This drill helps you putt straight and on-line.
- The Ladder Drill: Place balls at increasing distances, forming a “ladder.” Practice putting up and down, focusing on distance and consistent contact.
Adding these practice putting drills to your routine will help you improve. Remember, consistent practice is key to mastering putting.
Conclusion: Mastering the Art of Putting
Becoming a better putter doesn’t happen overnight, but with dedication and the right techniques, you’ll see improvement.
Focus on mastering your alignment, perfecting your stroke, and developing a strong mental game. Incorporate these putting drills into your practice sessions and soon, you’ll be sinking more putts and lowering your score.
FAQ
What are the key fundamentals of a proper putting stroke?
A consistent putting stroke is key to a good game. It includes grip, posture, and swing path. Practice and drills help make your stroke smooth and reliable.
How can I accurately read the slopes and breaks on the green?
Mastering green reading is vital for better putting. Learn to spot subtle contours and understand grain and wind effects. Use techniques like walking the line and visual references to improve your green reading.
How can I improve my distance control on the greens?
Great putters control distance well. Practice drills to develop a “feel” for distance. This sharpens your distance judgment, helping you make accurate putts and avoid three-putts.
What is the importance of proper putting stance and grip?
Your stance and grip affect your stroke’s consistency and accuracy. A proper stance and grip help you strike the ball confidently and consistently.
How do I choose the right putter for my stroke and playing style?
The right putter can greatly improve your game. Consider head design, shaft length, and features that fit your stroke and style. The perfect putter can enhance your putting.
How can I develop mental toughness for putting?
Mental toughness is as important as physical skills in putting. Use visualization, pre-putt routines, and other mental tools to stay calm and focused. Mental strength helps you stay composed under pressure.
What putting drills can I incorporate into my practice routine?
Practice is essential for improving your putting. Include various drills in your routine to work on stroke, distance, and consistency. These drills target specific areas of your game.
How can I build confidence on short putts?
Short putts can be nerve-wracking. Develop a consistent approach and positive mindset to improve your short putt success. Pre-putt routines and visualization can boost your confidence.
What is the role of the mental game in putting?
The mental game is crucial in putting. Manage anxiety, stay positive, and develop mental toughness to become a better putter. Mastering the mental game improves your focus and composure.
Why is a consistent pre-putt routine important for putting?
A consistent pre-putt routine boosts your putting. Include green reading, visualization, and commitment to your stroke in your routine. This helps you approach each putt with confidence and consistency.
