Short Putts

Short Putts: Handle the knee knockers

By: Bruce Munch

Head Professional, White River Golf Club, Rochester, Vt.

One of the most frustrating events on the golf course occurs when we face those testy little 3 or 4 foot puts and don’t make them. How many strokes per round do you typically give away by failing to convert putts inside of 4 feet?

Here are some tips to help you gain the confidence to make these puts more consistently.

First: Have a putting routine. Every touring pro has a routine they go through before hitting any putt. Here is a routine you might try. 1) Get 4 or 5 feet behind the ball and get as low as you can to view the line. This is the best view you will ever have of this putt because you are looking down the line the ball will travel. It may look very different when you turn sideways to putt the ball. 2) While in this position make your best educated guess as to the amount of break in the putt. Once you have made this decision, pick out an intermediate target about 2 feet from the ball. 3) Make a few practice strokes, either while continuing to look down the line, (a-la Corey Pavin) or from the more conventional address position. These strokes are your best educated guess as to the stroke necessary to carry the ball the necessary distance. 4) Address the ball, square the putter face to your intermediate target and duplicate your practice stroke.

Duplicate your practice stroke!! Sounds so easy and yet how few players do it. Here is why you should. Pressure is the opponent of a good swing. I think you will agree that there is less pressure during a practice swing than there is during an actual stroke. If this is not the case with you, please remind me not to play YOU for money! The chances are the practice stroke, or strokes would be very effective in rolling the ball in, or near the hole. So why, as the club is in the backswing, do we say, that is too hard and we leave it 8 feet short, or that is not enough break and we pull it left of the hole?? Learn to trust your practice stroke. Why do the pros put so well? Their years of practice have allowed them to make their educated guesses very good. With educated practice your guesses will become better and you will be a much better putter.

Here are a few drills that will help educate your short putting:

Take a yard stick with you and place it parallel to your target line, along your toes to help you line up correctly and practice putting right handed, left handed and both hands from one, two and three feet. This will help to teach each hand what its job is in putting. After you have completed this drill, place the ball at 1 foot, get set up, and before you take the club away, close your eyes and stroke it in the hole. If you have set up properly, you will make them with your eyes closed. This will build confidence in your stroke and help to eliminate the natural tendency to hit and look.
Using your putter shaft as a measurement, place tees in the ground at all 8 compass points around the hole. This will give you a circle of approximately 6’ in diameter. Start at North and make a putt, go to the next tee and work your way around the circle. Your goal is to make it around without missing. If you miss, you must start over. The pressure you will feel trying to make the seventh and eight put, not wanting to have to start over will duplicate the pressure you feel on the golf course.

Above all, realize that you are putting over a living surface. Grass is not as consistent as a pool table and so even well struck putts may not go in. All you can do is make your best educated guess regarding line and speed and trust it. Get your Masters Degree in putting and sink more putts.

Send your questions or comments to: golfpro@vermontel.net