Putting · Tip
Hit Short Putts Firmly
Part of our putting programs for three-putts, missing short putts, start line. Build a program with it
On short putts, nervous golfers slow down and steer. The ball wobbles off line. Be firm instead. Aim inside the edges of the cup. Plan for the ball to hit the back of the hole. Firm speed takes out a lot of the break and the doubt. Make a slightly shorter backstroke and accelerate through. Keep your head still until you hear it drop. Slowing down is the most common reason short putts miss.
Step by step
- Aim inside the edges on short putts.
- Plan to hit the back of the cup.
- Short backstroke, accelerate.
- Keep your head still.
- Make ten in a row from three feet.
Why it works
A putt that rolls slowly is affected more by small bumps, grain and slope, so it curves and wobbles off line. A firmer putt spends less time on the green, so less break acts on it and the start line holds. A shorter backstroke with acceleration through the ball keeps the face square and the speed steady, and a still head keeps your stroke from pulling off line before contact.
Common mistakes
- You decelerate through impact because you are afraid of going past the hole.Keep the backstroke short and let the putter keep speeding up until after the ball is gone.
- You aim at the edge of the cup and rely on the ball dying into the hole.Pick a spot inside the edges and plan for the ball to hit the back of the cup.
- You look up early to watch the ball, which pulls your shoulders and the putter off line.Keep your eyes on the spot where the ball was until you hear it drop.
How you'll know it's working
- The ball reaches the hole on a straight line without wobbling in the last foot.
- Missed putts finish a short distance past the hole, not short of it.
- You hear the ball hit the back of the cup, and your head is still at impact.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Practice from a shorter distance, such as two feet, on a flat putt until the firm stroke feels natural.
Harder: Move to a putt with a slight slope and still keep the same firm speed and a ten-in-a-row goal.
Common questions
How hard should I hit a three-foot putt?
Hit it firmly enough that a miss would roll a short distance past the hole. Plan for the ball to hit the back of the cup.
Why do I keep missing short putts?
The most common reason is slowing the putter down and steering the ball. Use a shorter backstroke, accelerate through and keep your head still.
