Learn to Putt: Simple Tips for More Confidence on the Green
The green is where rounds are won. With these putting tips you will hole out with more confidence.
„Drive for show, putt for dough“ – few golf sayings ring more true. Almost half of all shots in a round happen on or around the green. Putt well and you save the most strokes. The good news: putting is wonderfully easy to practise, and even small changes make a big difference.
1. Steady stance, steady hands
Stand shoulder-width apart and relaxed, your eyes directly over the ball. The putt comes from your shoulders, not your wrists – picture a pendulum swinging evenly back and through. The steadier your hands, the more cleanly the putter meets the ball.
2. Pace beats line
The most common cause of three-putts is not the wrong line but the wrong pace. So practise distance above all: a ball rolling at good pace is more likely to drop or finish close. A proven rule of thumb is to imagine rolling the ball about 30 to 40 centimetres past the hole – that way it does not catch every small imperfection just before the cup.
3. Read the green
Look at the path to the hole from behind the ball and watch the slope. Water runs downhill – so does your ball. On a side slope, aim slightly above the hole and let the ball break in. On our greens on the Lower Rhine it pays to read the overall slope, not just the last few centimetres.
4. A fixed routine
Professionals have a fixed pre-putt routine for good reason. Practice stroke, line it up, one last look at the hole, then stroke it – always the same. This routine calms you and keeps you from overthinking under pressure.
5. Practise, practise, practise
No area of golf is as easy and inexpensive to improve as putting. Arrive 20 minutes early and use our practice green: alternate short putts from one metre (for confidence) and long lag putts (for pace). That mix delivers the most.
Want to work on your game specifically? Our golf school helps you with pro tips – from putting to the full swing.
