Having been laid up with a knee injury sustained playing football (soccer), I haven’t been able to hit the golf course for over a month. With constant rain delays during the U.S. Open over the past week, I was coaxed to come out of temporary retirement for a quick nine holes on Saturday. I was fine, a little rusty, but all in all it just felt great to get back out on the course after a long layoff. My biggest concern, as usual, were the poor habits and fundamentals of my friends. All three of them can hit the ball, but none of them can putt to save their lives. This is not surprising in the slightest, considering 95% of their already limited practice time is spent on the driving range, and not on the practice green.
Two of them are what I would call “recreational players”. Guys who are out there just to have a good time, where their performance is not of the highest concern. The other one is a gradually improving serious golfer who has gotten much better over the last two years, and takes the game very seriously. All that aside, the three of them have the same major problem with their golf game: short putts.
I maintain, and will always maintain that the biggest reason mid to high handicappers miss so many short putts is BECAUSE THEY NEVER PUTT THEM!!! They lag a 20 footer up to about three feet from the hole, and then just rake the ball back to themselves…I hate that. The ball isn’t in until it’s actually in, but that’s a whole different story. The other reason they miss short putts is because of a mechanical flaw in their short putting stroke. Not all putts should be hit the same way. A lag putt should be hit with a longer flowing stroke in an attempt to establish a consistant feel for the speed of the greens. When you get inside of the dreaded six foot range, it becomes all about the line. In order to keep the ball on line on a shorter putt, you need to use a shorter stroke.
I see way too many people take the putter back on a five footer like they are hitting a 15 footer. Then, to compensate for that, they decelerate on the way through the ball. A serious mechanical flaw. For a putt in that range it is only necessary to take the putter back a couple of inches. If anything, this will help you keep the face more square, and the putter on the correct line, since it is traveling less distance, makes sense right? Also, since you aren’t taking it back as far as you usually would, it will force you to accelerate on the way back to the ball.
Unlike a change to the full swing, this is not a mechanical flaw that will take a lot of time and practice to incorporate. It is more psychological than anything else. The next time you get out to play, get to the course about a half hour or an hour earlier than you usually might, and hit the practice green. My favorite drill is the 2-4-6 drill. It’s pretty basic, find a flat putt or a straight up hill putt, and put a ball down at two feet, four feet, and six feet from the hole. Start with the two footer and work your way back, and keep repeating the process with a short, solid, and strong stroke. I guarantee you will be more confident and consistent with the short ones if you stick to a shorter stroke. And this way, you won’t have to rake back that three footer, you can just knock it in.
- Patrick Keegan
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You hit the nail on the head when you mentioned ‘raking back’ those ‘gimmies’. I’ve only been playing 2 years, and the guys that originally invited me onboard drive me crazy when they don’t shoot that final putt. Playing that way, then actually keeping ‘score’ without finishing the hole is a really strange way to play this game.
Personally… I like the sound of the ball…when it finally falls in the cup.
This is great advice, I have tried it and it works. Thanks a million.
Every now and then a little gem that really seems to help.
Shortening the putting backswing is one of those.
Thank you!
Thank you for this super insight. Putting is my weakness and this makes good sense. I will cetrtinly try it out.
Thanks Patrick
I have tried the two inch backswing for a couple of rounds. It makes sense and seems to work – I’ll use it again today. It is disturbingly easy to lose a couple of shots each round on these little putts.
Les
Hope it works for me, as putting is my weakness. one round is ok …then poor. but i see pros have hot days and bad days too. ?
will use this on the practice green and spend more time there .
Just wondering if keeping feet closer together would also help these two to three foot short putts.
A simple idea for short putts that makes much sense. I’ll go and try it.
Thanks Patrick/Andy
going to give this practice routine a go
It will never be reminded enough that green practice is essential.
Thanks for the tip to force an acceleration on short putts (a very short “backswing” with the putter).
As soon as it stops raining, i’ll be on the green, i promise!
Hi, Andy, that is exactly right. The short putts should never be given as they are never practised and, when necessary, very often missed.So often you see someone come up to the short putt (including me!!) and fluff it because they never practise them.
While the winds of winter howl outside and the snow drifts in fantastic patterns like the rakings of a mad groundskeeper fancifully mounding the sand traps in horrific patterns, I constantly visualize the coming of spring and the start of a new golf season in Canada.
Thank you for the putting tips which seem to logically at least make so much sense. I will take them to the imaginary links of my mind every night and practice them on the ever green fields of my golfing dreams.
Patrick and Andy, Thanks for the tip as short putts are my nemesis. I’ll try it today when I play.
Thanks again
I’m so used to playing with “rack-back” boys that I don’t even sweat the 4 footers anymore, as long as they don’t mind me going ahead and putting out. Everyone so commonly gives those that I don’t much think about them, just swipe them in and rarely miss – but the 5-10 footers are a different story. Those are the ones I feel I should regularly make, and don’t. Kind of a double whammy on those, since my lags are usually good, the 5-10 footers are generally for birdies, and my tendency is to lock up tighter than a drum.
I agree whole-heartidly. My handicap has came down from 9.4 to 6.9 by just using the simple shorter stroke on the six footers and less. Genius. Thanks a lot
I have often wondered why it is so much easier to lag a long putt, and how hard it is to make the short ones. I have read about using a shorter stroke for shorter putts, but I have not seen the comparison that Patrick made concern the long and short putts. The combination of the two makes perfect sense, and I will keep each in mind as I attempt each putt. Thanks for the tips.
Thanks Patrick
Been waiting for some short yet sound advice over this.
Will try it out immediately
excellent advice Patrick.
Short putts. About 10 years ago I was at La Quinta Country Club at Palm Springs, CA. On the practice green was no other than Gary Player. He practiced short putts for it seemed like an hour, and I mean short..3 to 5 feet. I read later that he considers these the most important shot in golf because if you miss it there is no tomorrow, no recovery.
Hi i’m kwashie if you can help me in my putting,so that i can improved my putting game.
Thanks.
Excellent commonsense advice. I have decided to practice my putting recently and my putting has improved immesurably. Eugene
The old guy (long since departed) who started me on the game 35 years ago, always used the addage: “never up, never in”. Basically if tha ball never goes past the hole, it can’t possibly drop into the hole. He also used to say of “gimmies” that there was plenty of golf left in that shot!
I had it instilled into me from the start, that the way my game would improve started in the area 50 yards or less from the pin. I was even encouraged to try stuff for myself, playing such shots as the flop-shot with relative ease. Why have I not reached the top of the game, then? Simple – I didn’t want to play golf for a living. These days, I play off around 16, and am happy to string a handful of pars together every round, safe in the knowledge that I play each and every shot as it is presented to me!
No better words were spoken about putting. I had a 75 year young man who started me playing golf when I was 3l and his instructions were almost the same. Your lesson brought many great memories. Always injoy your articles. THANKS
Excellent advice. Anything that keeps the face angle square is the key and this advice does the job. Also, putt them out – all the time!
Very good and effective advice. Definately the best way to handle the short ones. The pros can be seen doing this in every tournament on TV. My one concern is, when do you revert back to your normal flowing stroke ie where is the cut off point. I hope to get a reply to this.
Guilty as charged I’m afraid! I often get to the course just in time to Tee Off so dont get any practice in. I’ll have to take the advice on board and be a bit more disciplined. Enjoy all the articles bye the way.
Excellent advise, I know I could shave 6 0r 8 strokes off my game just by consistant putting. Pratice,pratice,pratice, the pros do it and so should we.
Thanks for the tip
Fred Wilkinson
Thanks for the short stroke tip. I played this morning, (Saturday) ,and missed two puts of less than two feet. I also missed three birdies from four to eight feet. Shot 88. Hope they don’t complain about the chalk marks.
This evening I intend to start this drill. (With my chalk line.)
Thanks,
Dana
Gerry,
I built my entire short game around the 2,4,6 drill when I was a youth, and I could really putt back then. So I’m glad it works for you.
Also, since there has been so much feedback on this article, there is one other thing I have to stress. As I said, a shorter stroke is ideal for a shorter putt, but you still have to make a smooth and complete stroke. I have seen some of my friends get far too “jabby” or “quick” with their putting strokes. There is a difference between short and quick, so keep that in mind when you stand over your next four footer.
Cheers all!
Patrick
Hi there Pat, thanks for the putting tips. I will start practicing today. I just purchased a long putter and would really appreciate any tips regarding using a long putter. Looking forward to seeing your thoughts, thanks again.
Hi Andy,
I’ve lately had a few problems with my putting so gave patricks 2,4,6 method a go. wow how my putting has improved.
Thanks , you’ve got me back on track:
Thanks for that tip on short putts. I use it and of course it makes sense. John.
Andy.
Great item. I have tried the 246 and it works. I just have to remember to use it all the way round!
I agree with your suggestions. I am 76 and have recently started playing golf again, after not playing for 30 years due to business and personal health problems.
The first thing I realized was I can’t hit the ball anywhere near as far as I used to. After playing for several months, I began to adopt more and more strategy to my play just to score better.
It became clearly obvious that putting was the major part of my game that didn’t require physical excellence. Over the past two years my scoring has reduced from the 120′s to the 80′s, and I enjoy each round much much more.
That is a great piece of advice. One drill I’m using at the moment is to place a tee in the green just a few inches behind the ball (about the length of a putter head) on a four foot putt. Then I make a short back stroke trying not to hit the tee. This immediately helps to accelerate the putter through the ball. The results have been amazing for 4,6 and 8 foot putts
Claudia,
I sprained the MCL in my right knee, so I just had to avoid putting unnecessary pressure on it for about a month. Your injury sounds much more serious. I would do as your doctors say, and just take it slow. Start with the short game and shorter swings. As you become more comfortable, you can move on to big turns and different shots, but don’t do anything that can risk re-injuring your knee.
Patrick
great advice,i practiced, it really worked.also imp is to look at the ball,while hitting the ball.
Spot on. I’ve been saying this for years. It also applies for short chips and short pitches. The chip isn’t an abreviated iron shot with a slower swing. As you say for putts, deceleration is the killer, and consistency and feel goes.
Hi Patrick,
Thank you very much for the good advice on putting short strokes.As you told us that you had an injury from socer, I ,myself had a bad injury on January, I had surgery on my ligament, and they had to put a replacement, so you can imagine I haven´t been able to play golf at all, but now I´ve got the green light and I will start with ” putts” and approaches, I had pretty much the same surgery Tiger Woods had, but I am lives away from being like Tiger Woods, I am a normal average person, so ,do you have any advice on what to start doing with my game, because I think it is going to be very very rusty,s o I´m open for suggestions. Thank you very much, Claudia.:wink:
I just started playing last year.
My goal is to break in to the 80′s this year. I am only able to play once a week.. With The 4 Magic Moves my best score was a 99 with 54 on the front 9. This was with bad putting and chipping . I have since increased my putting practice. Most ranges don’t have a good putting green and I find that getting to the course early is tough. I am 56 yars old and hit 2 jumbo buckets on the driving range at least once a week mostly 2 last night I had 4 pars in 9 holes on a course that I never parred any. We started at 6:30 so think what might have happened. keep up the good work Andy
That all made so much sense. Thanks
The man has hit the nail right on the head. I had trouble with these short puts, trying to do a shorter version of the full stroke. I’ve had a lot more success with short tap at the ball, just like tapping a nail in…………:cool:
I would be very grateful for your opintion as to my putting stroke.
For a long time I have been using the rap putting stroke, with the reverse grip. I line my putter to my ball I am right handed, I then move
my putter two inches from my ball on a short putt of three feet then I only take a two inch back stroke towards the ball.
I increase my measurements accordingly on longer putts.
I am quite happy with my results.
I feel I putt better this way. I feel my way keeps my putter head under
more control. Please give me your thoughts on this matter.
At home I have a long hallway running into my bedroom. This gives me a
over thirty foot putting area I use it a lot as the carpet is laid on a
concrete floor and lucky for me it has a lot of tinny dips in it.
I understand Billy Casper rap putted.
Yours gratefully
Jim Cox
Thank you for that reminder i was advised to do that years ago and completely lost my rythm but i will be giving it another go
Andy , that was good stuff. How’s the gal on the women’s tour doing?
Andy’s Reply:
Hi Monty,you can follow Nicole’s progress at http://www.Twitter.com/NicoleHage
Cheers
Andy
Thank you. Advice could not have come at a better time. I played today and had a terrible time with my putter. Everything you say touched a cord. I am sure I will have more confidence next time I play, particularly taking your advice for practing on board.
Patrick, you are the man! Lance
That was a great remInder for me I have been working on my long irons this year and have gotten away from putting drills etc. and I have noticed on my score card I’ve been three putting when I normally may have one three putt after three rounds and tha has to do with the short putt.
I know that what you have written on short putts is just what I needed, thanks again for that importand message on short putts.
Pat
I consider putting my strong point but have never analysed it this way i.e. using 2 different strokes. It makes sense , I often lag very well and keeping the same type of stroke then miss from a couple of feet. I am off to the practice green !
Andy: Interesting comments. I like to spend time on the range and practice putting but have difficulty doing it because of my friends being so eager to get on the course. I’m working on it with mixed feelings because I know if they do practice before playing , and do it properly , they too will improve and be more competitive. Hm!. Have a good day. Bobc
I have just had a round where I missed everything inside 6 feet.
I will try the short stroke on the practice green tomorrow using your drill.
I’ll let you know if it works!
I agree with Patrick about not practising enough on the putting green. About six months ago I got a putting mat and I have been practising the six footers every evening for about ten to fifteen minutes. Nowadays my playing partners have given up hope about me missing putts below six feet unless the break is signficant.
Patrick,
That advice can be a real stroke saver. Two missed short putts takes a 79 to an 81. To me, that’s a 12 stroke difference.
Thanks
Thanks Patrick,
I continually try to work on short putts lately, I used to be very unconfortable over them because I also didn’t use the right technique. Since trying to putt :To the hole” and some more playing time, my handicap has gone down 6 strokes. Thanks again for the remainder.
Patrick, this article is so true! I really love the 2 4 6 practice tip idea. Good advice! Thank you
I have always had trouble with the short putts.So I will try your method which makes a lot of sense to me. Taking the stroke too far back seems to take it off course, so I don’t strike it right in the middle.Hopefully I will get it right from now on.
Great post, I couldn’t possibly agree more. Another sin that I find my playing partners committing is leaving the short putt short of the hole. One would think (hope? wish?) that they would at least strike the short putt firmly enough to have a chance of going in. Ah well.
Good solid advice, Patrick. Thanks for sharing the technique as I have been having the shot putt blues lately! I am certain it will work.
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