Putting · Lesson
Four Areas to Check in Your Putting
Part of our putting programs for three-putts, start line. Build a program with it
When putting goes wrong, check four areas. Setup, path and face, tempo, and focus. At setup, a slight forward lean of the shaft works for many golfers. Point both thumbs down the grip. Favor your lead foot a little. Set the ball just inside your lead foot. For path and face, keep the stroke simple and the face square. For tempo, let the forward stroke be quicker than the backstroke. A shorter backstroke that accelerates beats a long one that slows down.
Step by step
- Lean the shaft slightly forward.
- Thumbs down the grip, a bit of weight forward.
- Ball just inside your lead foot.
- Keep the face square through the stroke.
- Short backstroke, accelerate through.
Why it works
A slight forward shaft lean, thumbs down the grip and a little weight on the lead foot put the low point of the stroke near the ball. That makes contact more consistent. A square face at impact sets the start line, and a simple stroke keeps the face from twisting. A short backstroke that accelerates gives you speed control, while a long backstroke that slows down makes the face flip or stall at impact.
Common mistakes
- Leaning the shaft too far forward, which de-lofts the putter and pushes your hands ahead of the ball.Keep the lean slight, so the shaft tilts a little toward the target and the putter still sits flat on the ground.
- Taking a long backstroke and then easing off the putter on the way through.Shorten the backstroke and let the forward stroke be quicker, so the putter speeds up into the ball.
- Letting the face close through impact, which sends the ball left of the target and causes pulls.Keep the thumbs down the grip and the face square, and keep the stroke simple without rolling your hands.
How you'll know it's working
- The ball starts on your chosen line and does not start left of it.
- The ball comes off the center of the face with a clean, consistent sound.
- Your forward stroke feels a little quicker than your backstroke, and the putter never stalls at impact.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Practice from three feet on a straight putt, and set a club on the ground along your line to see the path and the face.
Harder: Move back to longer putts and change the distance each time, keeping the same short backstroke and acceleration.
Common questions
Why do I keep pulling my putts?
Pulls usually come from a face that is closed at impact or a path that moves left. Check that your thumbs point down the grip, the ball is just inside your lead foot, and the face stays square through the stroke.
Should my forward stroke be faster than my backstroke?
Yes, the forward stroke should be a little quicker as the putter accelerates into the ball. A short backstroke that speeds up gives better distance control than a long one that slows down.
