How to putt better

 

Putting is 50% of a golf game, yet we rarely practice it. When we do practice putting, we practice lagging 10-15 footers. It doesn't make sense. In order to putt well consistently, we need three basic things:

 

•   A GOAL
•   A REPLICABLE STROKE
•   SMOOTH TIMING

Part One: The Goal

 

To define our goal we need to focus on a positive outcome, what we want to happen. To "not three putt" or to "not miss short putts" are negative goals which attract more negative thinking and more of what you don't want. (How many times have you known you'd miss the putt and did!) To "make more putts" is too vague. (More putts than what?) To "make all putts" is unattainable. There are too many variables to assume you can, and will, make every putt. We need a clear, concise and attainable goal.

Our goal needs to be:

 

"MAKE ALL THREE FOOTERS!"

 

Make all three footers? Doesn't sound like the loftiest of goals but it's actually very powerful.

 

Why three footers? Because, most three putts are a result of a second missed three foot putt. It's that simple. 

If you know you can drop the three footers, you can drive at the hole with the first putt without hesitation or fear of going past the hole.  Because you've given yourself a "three-foot-as-good-as-in-radius", you can attack the hole instead of timidly lagging the putt. You've heard the saying "never up, never in". Well it's true. You need to get the ball to the hole for it to even have a chance of going in.

Our goal is to

"MAKE ALL THREE FOOTERS!"

Part Two: The Stroke

 

Have you ever lagged a 5 foot putt? Presumedly, not... wrong! You may have never consciously lagged it, but that is exactly what you're doing when you secure the tap-in, if the putt is missed. The reality being, you would prefer to miss the 5 footer by 6 inches (lay up) than go at the hole and risk it going past by 2 or 3 feet. That's a lay up cloaked in fear.