Putting

Can't read greens without a golf course is correct...BUT, You can work on your stroke distances so that when you do read a break, you'll be able to accurately roll the ball to the spot you need to get it close to avoid 3 putting.

Some of my friends miss 15 foot putts by 10 feet. " Bad read " they say. We all know better.

During the winter, I like to put 3 coins on a carpet at 5-10- and 15 feet. Rolling the ball to each coin will help you develop a feel for distances. Your carpet will have breaks in them. Pick one. Put a 4 inch white circle on the floor and keep putting at it til you get each ball rolling over it and staying close.

God Luck Tyler

Deno

Putting is about feel and a pretty good eye. An older gentleman helped me understand putting to a spot, keeping my head down and letting gravity do the rest. He stressed the importance of setting up the ball correctly in my stance and a light grip. I still have my moments, but overall I have eliminated those dreaded three putts.

My best way to practice when I can't go to the course is on a low pile carpet rug that simulates a green pretty well. Then, I play different games with different distances. It's a 12ft rug so I can actually get some decent off-season, cold-weather practice in.

I would recommend practice in the house with a putting matt or even on the carpet. Also, work on drills and mechanics (eyeline mirror working on start line, staying square, and path). Just feeling comfortable and maintaining a constant stroke through the winter is important.

Luckily, we here in the South have access year-round to our practice greens but from all my years as a Northerner I fondly remember putting on the carpet. It is an effective way to keep your stroke ready even if you just hit a few balls daily.

Learning to read greens is an art form and can take many years to understand and very few will ever master. Green reading takes way too many factors. Think local lay of the land, grass type, weather conditions, etc.

I would agree with the other posters here and focus on what you can control which is your putting stroke. If you have trust and confidence in that then you will make more putts. Even if you are the best green reader if you are unable to hit your target line you will never make putts.

All of what Roseski said.

I’ve found the two most important things in my putting game is starting the ball on line (aim) and it staying on line. Pace is a close third, then the gap for everything else is substantial.

My go to drill is a tour putting ruler. I find a straight 12’ putt, line up the ruler and putt on the ruler. Helps with two things;

One, it gets my setup right so my eye line matches the actual line. When I was younger I couldn’t use a line on the ball bc I always second guessed the line when I got over the ball bc my eye line didn’t match the physical line. I was setup to far away from the ball and too upright making it near impossible to properly aim a putt. My eye line was actually 2-3” right of the target (left handed golfer). The ruler helps “calibrate” my eyes to the correct line and gets my aim where it needs to be.

Second, it ensures my face is square at impact. If the ball stays on the ruler my face is within 0.5* open or closed. If it comes off left it’s greater than 0.5* open (left handed golfer), and if it’s closed if it comes off right. If it stays on the full length of the ruler it’s a pretty safe bet the ball will remain on line for the entire putt without an outside force like wind or an old spike mark.

A few minutes with this drill a couple times a week keeps my aim and line on point, and keeps me sinking enough putts that I’m happy on the greens.

Agree with all Roseski's views.

For me, what's been progressing with my putting journey in minimizing 3-putter strokes; how I feel it. Every time about to put.

Wondering if this does make sense to others. Or, am I just crazy wanting to be a good golfer?

We were having a discussion about putting at the 19th hole today after our matches. One of the guys who use to live in the Boston area, retired, and that he use to be a great putter. Since moving South to our lovely city of Charleston, SC his putting has really gone bad. My comment to him was you played on bent greens and a lot of people have a hard time converting to our types of Bermuda greens down here. Additionally, our greens have been renovated and the course is about ten strokes harder, and it is because of the new greens. Told him not to be so hard on himself. The grain in Bermuda is very tough to read and the greens to take time to learn. Focusing on target line came up on our conversation with him.

Durring the TTI at Stremsong, Brad Faxon gave us a clinic. He laid down an alignment rod, a ball near it and a dime two (2) feet infron of the ball. He then rolled an eight (8) foot putt over the dime, stating, "this is the alignment trick I use". It work!

As for choosing the line, he said to read the putt from further behind the ball but also, at 90 degrees and from the other side of the hole. Now, this takes a lot of time and may get you beaten up by your playing partners, so do it QUICKLY! Otherwise, the read the putt from 10 feet or more and get after it.