Ava Romero
Putting in golf is the act of propelling a golf ball into a hole using a putter. It is considered the ultimate test of precision and patience in the game. While there is no single correct stroke, there are several techniques and methods that can help improve your putting. These include the Plumb Bob Method, the Visual Inspection Method, and the AimPoint Method, which help golfers read the slope and undulations of the green. Additionally, maintaining a steady posture, aligning your shot, and keeping your head still during the stroke are crucial for accurate putting. Ultimately, the best technique is one that feels comfortable and natural to you, allowing you to knock the ball into the hole with confidence.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Putt technique | Putt all your weight on the insides of your feet, like you are pigeoning your knees |
| Putt technique | Stand up straight with your arms extended forward, holding your putter |
| Putt technique | Draw your elbows into your rib cage, then bend over until your putter head rests right behind the ball |
| Putt technique | Slightly bend your knees |
| Putt technique | Lean forward from your hips so that your eyes are directly over or just inside the ball |
| Putt technique | Keep your head over the ball |
| Putt technique | Do not lift your head or sneak a peek with your eyes on your putts |
| Putt technique | Visualize the putt going into the hole |
| Putt technique | Maintain a steady posture |
| Putt technique | Align your shot |
| Putt technique | Read the green |
| Putt technique | Line the golf ball up |
| Putt technique | Plumb Bob Method |
| Putt technique | Visual Inspection |
| Putt technique | Book Method |
| Putt technique | AimPoint Method |
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What You'll Learn
Keep your head still and eyes focused on the ball
Keeping your head still and your eyes focused on the ball is one of the most widely given pieces of golfing advice. While it is often said, few people know how to actually do it.
One way to help keep your head still is to hold a golf tee in your lips. Point the tee at the ball and keep it pointed at the ball throughout your backswing, on the downswing, and through impact. This will give you immediate feedback on how it feels to keep your head still, which you can internalize and build upon.
Another way to think about keeping your head still is to reframe it as keeping your head "in the circle". This refers to the idea that the golfer's neck tilt is the gateway for the head to remain in the circle. The head is connected to the body via the cervical spine, which has a very mobile construction. Understanding this can help you change the concept of how you move in your mind.
Additionally, it is important to study the hole before you take your swing. Take note of the angles and obstacles and strategize accordingly. Be decisive with your putts and have a confident approach. This will help you keep your head still and your eyes focused on the ball, as you will have a clear plan and intention for your swing.
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Read the green to determine the slope and direction
Reading the green is an essential skill in golf that can significantly improve your game. It is an art and a science, and it takes practice and patience to master. Here are some tips to help you read the green and determine the slope and direction:
Start early: Begin reading the green as you approach it, from about 100 yards out. Take in your surroundings and get a sense of the undulations within the green. Detecting the slope and direction of the green can be easier from a vantage point in the fairway.
Observe the grass grain: Note the direction in which the grass is growing. Some say that if the grass is growing over the edge of the hole, the grain is in that direction. Others suggest that the grass grows toward the sun, so the grain goes in the direction of the sun (often south or southwest in North America).
Understand the predominant tilt: Greens often tilt toward the fairway, pitching from back to front. Look for high and low points, and determine if your putt is uphill, downhill, or flat. If you cannot see it clearly, walk past the cup to your ball and use your feet to sense the slope.
Use the plumb-bob method: Hold your putter by the grip and let the head dangle. Align the shaft with your target line and observe how the putter head hangs. If it points left, the green slopes left; if it points right, the green slopes right.
Visualize the path: Pick a specific spot or line on the green to aim for and commit to it. Visualize the path the ball should take to reach the hole, including the "high point" where the ball begins to break toward the hole.
Break up the putt: On longer putts, divide the putt into two or three sections. Analyze each section to determine the overall direction. On shorter putts, try walking in a circular path behind your ball to feel the slope, or stand with a wide stance and rock gently back and forth to sense the tilt.
Remember, when reading the green, be aware of environmental factors such as the position of the sun and shadows, which can exaggerate slopes and affect your perception.
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Get in your stance: stand straight, bend your knees, and lean forward
To get in the right stance for a putt, stand straight with your arms extended forward, holding your putter. Draw your elbows into your rib cage, then bend over until your putter head rests right behind the ball. It is important to bend your knees slightly—stiff legs will restrict your movement.
Your feet should be placed shoulder-width apart, parallel to your target line. Lean forward from your hips so that your eyes are directly over or just inside the ball. This position allows you to swing the putter back and through along the target line.
Before you putt, you should also read the green. Take a look at the green as you approach the area to get a sense of its slope and gradient. When you are closer to the ball, squat down to see if it will be travelling uphill or downhill, and whether there are any left or right breaks in its path.
There are also several methods you can use to judge the slope, such as the Plumb Bob Method, the Visual Inspection Method, and the AimPoint Method. For example, the AimPoint Method involves standing over your putt and feeling the slope with your feet. You then estimate the angle of the slope and extend your arm out in front of you, raising a number of fingers that correspond to the slope percentage. Your fingers should be held vertically. The point at which your fingers intersect with the hole gives you an 'AimPoint'. This is where you should aim your putt, rather than aiming directly for the hole.
Remember, your head should remain still throughout the putting stroke.
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Align your body and shoulders with your target
When putting in golf, alignment is key. While you may have the perfect stance and posture, if your body is not aligned with your target, your putt will likely be off-course.
To align your body and shoulders with your target, you must first establish your target. Choose a target that is close to your ball and in line with the path you want the ball to follow. This will help keep the ball on the line. Once you have chosen your target, you can begin to align your body.
Start by standing behind your ball, facing the hole. Position your feet shoulder-width apart, parallel to your target line. Your toes should be approximately 2.5 putter head lengths from the ball, but you can adjust this distance to find the most comfortable stance for you. Lean forward from your hips, keeping your arms extended in front of you, so that your eyes are directly over or just inside the ball. This will allow you to swing the putter back and through along the target line.
Now, align your shoulders with your chosen target. Ensure that your shoulders are parallel to the target line, with the putter face pointing directly at your chosen target. This step is crucial, as a misalignment of even a few degrees can cause your putt to veer off-course.
While alignment is important, it is also essential to align your mind's eye with the path you want the ball to take. Visualize the line that you want the ball to follow, all the way to the hole. This mental preparation will help guide your physical alignment and improve the accuracy of your putt.
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Practise, practise, practise
Golf putting requires a unique combination of technical skill, spatial awareness, and mental focus. The perfect putt is a trifecta of speed, aim, and stroke. The speed at which you hit the ball is critical as it determines how far the ball travels and how much the slope and condition of the green will affect it.
There are several methods to read the green and determine the slope. The Plumb Bob Method involves using your putter as a plumb line to judge the slope. Stand behind your ball at a right angle to the hole and hold your putter up so it covers the ball. Then, align the shaft of your putter with the ball. If the shaft tilts to one side, the green also slopes in that direction. The Visual Inspection method is a straightforward approach where you stand behind the ball and look at the hole, then look at the ball from the hole’s side to get a good overall visual of the green’s undulations and slopes. The Book Method involves using green-reading books, especially in professional tours, which provide detailed illustrations of the green’s undulations and gradients, allowing for more accurate putt planning. The AimPoint Method, developed by Mark Sweeney, uses the golfer’s feet to feel the slope of the green and a hand-based system to express the slope’s steepness.
When you putt the ball, there is no one right way to do it. Whatever works for you is perfect. However, there are some key things to keep in mind. Your head must remain completely still throughout the putting stroke. Your eyes should be focused on where the ball is resting and you should not lift your head or sneak a peek at your putts, especially on putts inside 10 feet. You should only hear the ball go into the cup, not see it.
To get your left eye as close to directly over the ball as possible, stand up straight with your arms extended forward, holding your putter. Draw your elbows into your rib cage, then bend over until your putter head rests right behind the ball. Make sure you bend your knees slightly for more freedom of movement. Professional golfers stand with their toes, on average, 2.5 putter head lengths from the ball, so try anywhere from 2 to 2.75 lengths to find the most comfortable distance for you.
To practise your putting, it is recommended to hit the practice green and take some putts from various distances, uphill and downhill, to get a feel for the greens. There is no secret tip for this, just practice and keep playing.
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Frequently asked questions
There is no single best way to putt in golf. The best method for you is the one that feels the most natural. However, there are some general tips that can help improve your putting, such as keeping your head still, visualising the putt before you hit the ball, and getting comfortable with the feel of the greens by practising from different distances and slopes.
One way to practice keeping your head still is to set up a golf ball a couple of inches away from a wall. Take your stance with the top of your head touching the wall and stroke the putt. If your head moves, it won't touch the wall anymore, so this is a good way to get instant feedback on your head movement.
Visualisation involves imagining the entire process of a putt, from start to finish. Picture the ball going into the hole, following the line you've chosen. Regular practice of visualisation can improve your focus and reinforce good habits.
When you get time on the practice green, try to sink putts from different ranges and slopes. This will help you understand how much power you need for putts of different lengths and on different slopes. Miniature golf putting courses can also be a fun and relaxed way to practice your putting skills and improve your aim, control, and adaptability.
One drill you can try involves setting up to a ball as you normally would, then leaning your putter against your hip. Place your hands together, palms facing as if you were holding the club, and rock your shoulders in a pendulum motion to get a feel for keeping your wrists firm. Another drill is to practice making nine putts in sequence from 6 feet away, repeating until you can do so without any misses. This will help build your confidence from inside 10 feet.
