How do I putt better?

What causes it

Putting problems come from the stroke, speed control or green reading. Poor setup, deceleration and a nervous, tight grip can each lead to misses and three-putts. Speed matters more than line for most amateurs. A putter that arrives with an open or closed face, or one that decelerates through the ball, sends putts offline and short. Eyes not over the ball and a grip that is too tense both make the stroke less repeatable.

How golfers fix it

Data on putting is thin so far. Porzak Golf's Last Putting Lesson You Will Ever Need has 3 recommendations, covering seven tips on stroke and setup. Paul Wilson's putting tip has 3, using a wiggle drill and reset routine for yips. Jerome Rufin's twelve tips have 2. Golfers often practice:

• Gate drills for a square face.
• Ladder drills for speed control.
• A consistent pre-putt routine.

Common mistakes

Focusing on line while ignoring speed is common. Another is changing putters constantly. Judge progress using putts holed from 3 to 6 feet. Golfers also make the mistake of reading greens only once they stand over the ball; walk up from behind and look at the slope from the low side as well.

Written with AI from the lessons and recommendations above. Not a substitute for a coach.