Two Keys to Putting
Most of us who golf know how important putting is to scoring well. Putting helps convert good approach shots into birdies or pars. Putting can also save us by preserving pars or save us from making a large number. But there are two key components golfer need to putt well. It is not a specific fundamental like stance or grip. It is something more basic than that.
The two key components to putting are line and speed. These are the yin and yang of putting. They are two separate yet correlated entities of successful putting. Line and Speed need to work in harmony. Without this harmony your golf ball will have a difficult time finding its destiny.
Line is determined by the sideways slope in the green. If the right hand side of the greens contour is higher than the left then gravity will take over and the ball will turn to the left.
Speed is determined by the length of the grass, grain of the grass, uphill or downhill slopes, moisture in the greens, and even wind conditions.
Many of us have had days where out speed was good but our line was way off. Or we stroke the ball with more speed than the line required missing on the high side and running too far by the hole.
Today I had the nightmare round on the greens. You may as well have blindfolded me prior to reaching the green, place me beside my ball and say good luck. Worst part is it was on a golf course I know very well. If I read a putt that I thought should broke to the right it went left. My speed was able to roll through any lumpy doughnut Dave Pelz could have thrown at me today. Most of my putts went too far past the hole and with that speed I should have have read half the amount of break in most putts.
After having four three putts and a missed birdie and eagle try from inside 8 feet in the first 13 holes I was able to finish the round with somewhat respectable putting. I began to focus on the speed I wanted to roll the ball and chose the line to match that speed. I finished with two one putts and lipped out a birdie in the last six holes. Frustrating round because if it was not for my putting I probably would have had the round of the year. With the season winding down this may have been the last one of the year.
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Nice article! Damn, i haven’t played golf for ages now… used to play alot, but collage is now taking most of my time
I have found that using a 33 inch putter free’s up your shoulders because you are lower to the ball and makes the hole look bigger
Thanks for the tips. Very useful indeed. I hope i will play it again soon enough. I have a feeling that i have forgotten how to play it :).
My grandfather recently gave me his old clubs, they are probably 25 years old. I am just learning. My question is, especially with putting - there have been so many innovations in clubs in the past 20 years, do you think that there would be any advantage to learning with newer clubs? I understand the walk before run, but if there is something that I am really missing out on, I would make the investment. Thanks
For the most part putter design has not change a whole lot in the last few years. There have been innovations such a soft face inserts and face balancing. But over all the basic design of Ping putters for example have not change too significantly of the years. If I were start new I would be sure all of my clubs, from driver to putter, were made to fit my swing. Especially lie angle and length.
My son is actually the golfer in the family. I’m his caddie. After we played nine holes today (SW Ohio), we were looking at a putter in the pro shop. It was the heaviest thing I ever picked up. But my son said it felt good.
Maybe we’ll try a demo.
I find that a good way of improving your putting is by going to a mini golf course
I think I have tried about every size, shape and style putter in the world. I always go back to an old Bullseye blade or my Ping Anser. I believe speed is the key to any putt.
Great tips, but a lot of people these days are finding it hard to make there way to the golf course. Especially with the latest financial situation
Thank you for the tips. I am looking for every tip, beacause I am a golf beginner.
Any golf tips are greatly appreciated. My dad just joined a really nice country club in Norther California and I have full access. Its great. I find my self on the range and green for hours. I will defiantly be giving these putting tips a try. Thanks again..
thanks.
thanks for the golf tip
Great tips, i really need to work on keeping my back swing straight, i keep slicing when using my irons, does anyone know what may cause this?
thanks..
hey franco, try keeping your front shoulder down a little longer before your club head hits the ball, this will hopefully keep the ball on a straighter line if you hit it correctly. it takes a lot of practice to get your iron swing on point thats why all these pro players work day in and day out to get it right!
You know how important it is to keep your game up. I just hate it up here in Maine, you can only golf outside for so long and then it’s gone til next season.
My putting game needs to get better though. It seems to be the only thing killing my game.
Practice your puts pals.
I’m a caddie. After we played nine holes today (SW Ohio), we were looking at a putter in the pro shop.
you can drive the ball as far as happy gilmore and place to ball on the green in a smooth shot but putting will win you rounds.
Thanks for the usefull tips. Ebery new golfer shoud read your article
thanks.
I also have the same problem as Franco. There is something messed up with my backswing. I have a lesson with a pro in two weeks. Hopefully he can get this straigtened out.
I just got this new Scotty putter. There is nothing better. It feels so good when I hit the ball with it.
In playing golf, i think putting is the most hardest part. With this tips i think i can make improvement with my putting.
Good points. I don’t know why, but I find my putting game is either on fire or isn’t, and when it’s cold, it’s cold.
I too have messed around with different putters over the years but have always gone back to my trusted Ping Anser.
I think that many club golfers disregard the fact that should practice with the same golf ball that they play with. There is no point in practicing putting with a handful of 2 or 3 piece balls if your ball of choice is a pro v1 or a Nike Softfeel.
You should make sure to find the right type of putter so that you best use your stroke.
I just played for the first time yesterday. My putting stank. Wish I would of read this before for tips. Great article
I have tried a few different putter but once I found one that helped me line up and make those dreaded 4 footers I stopped looking. Find the one you can consistently make the short ones with and forget the rest.
I could most defintley use some help with my putting. Its horrible.
I keep buying new putters thinking it’ll improve my putting. It never does. One day I’ll just have to admit that I’m the problem, not the putter.
I like Ping putters personally. They are weighted well so I can’t blame my 3 puts on it…
Thanks for the tips. I starting back up after taking some time off for a knee surgery.
Like the articles you have here on site! great job.
I find the smoother i can hit the ball with control and speed
and focus on that seems to help my putts and i always feel better if i know my putter is of great quality, seems i hit better.
Thanks for the great information and comments.
I like the putter i have now and has given me more confidence
maybe because i know its a good one from scotty cameron!
always help a little seems i focus more with my stroke.
I think it is also important to focus on what you want to achieve, many golfers I have worked with have the skill and the ability to putt, however they just need to focus on the target and what they want to achieve i.e. putt. It is a bit like if I asked you not to think of a blue tree, our unconscious minds can’t process a negative, so when you think ‘i don’t want to miss’ it can effect the result you get.
Putting - the bane of my existence. I really need to work on my putting swing. I don’t know why but I just can’t get it consistent. I think that’s one of the most important things in putting. I mean I work a lot on getting that consistent swing with my irons and driver, but it’s just that short stick I can’t get right! Thanks for the post. I always enjoy your posts on putting (for obvious reasons).
Good tips about line and speed. Reading the green is quite an art into itself especially on an unfamiliar course or when the holes are placed on a different section of the green.
Great advice on putting! Line and speed really are critical to avoiding 3 putts and keeping a low score. I’ve always found that both of these are influenced by having great equipment, too.
Great Post! Having recently moved house, I now have the perfect garden for practicing my putting and it has improved immeasurably. Tips are great but like most things in life it comes down to practice, practice, practice!
It is frustrating when you can’t seem to get the proper line and speed on the greens. I find that it helps to arrive early before my tee off time to practice my putting. However, I only concentrate on my lines because the speed of the greens on the course is usually different than the practice green.
Line and speed is to putting what backward step and slide is to Michael Jacksons moonwalk. A good drill for speed is to place a tee 1 foot behind the hole and put no further than the tee irregardless of making it into the hole.
Nice article - putting has always been my most inconsistent part of the game. I’m not sure which is more annoying, a 3-putt or an awful drive on a big fairway!
For me, I’ve found that putting on the practice green of a course is the most important thing so you get a feel for the speed (and hopefully green conditions).
Those are good tips but being a horrible golfer I found that it’s more important to enjoy myself. I gave up worrying about score a long time ago and just want to have fun.
I practice putting in my hall way so grass doesn’t control my speed carpet does, so if the kids have worn down a spot the ball rolls faster , towards the carpet edge is the sand trap,and the toilet is the drink
eewww
You made putting sound so simple by starting with the basics of line and speed. It is simple to explain but always harder to implement. Thanks for explaining it in such simple terms.
Line and speed are really very important in the golf games,if you know how to count and control them,you would paly it well in the game.
I think it is also important to focus on what you want to achieve, many golfers I have worked with have the skill and the ability to putt, however they just need to focus on the target and what they want to achieve i.e. putt. It is a bit like if I asked you not to think of a blue tree, our unconscious minds can’t process a negative, so when you think ‘i don’t want to miss’ it can effect the result you get.