Reading Break on Short Putts

January 19, 2008

One of the things I find that golfers of all abilities often struggle with is reading enough break on short putts. Most good putters realize that the harder they hit a putt, the less it will break. This makes many low handicap golfers tend to hit putts within four feet as hard as they can feel comfortable hitting them.

The problem is, unlike what many golfers believe, thre is no such thing as a ”gimmie.” Every putt counts, and every putt needs the attention that it deserves - as much as any other stroke, because it’s worth just as much. Missing that two foot putt is equivalent to finding a pond off the tee, especially if you knock it four feet past the hole. And no, it wasn’t “good.” You proved that when you missed it.

For more advanced golfers, reconsider your strategy of ramming the back of the hole every time. There is certainly a time and place for it - an uphill putt with little break, for instance. But most of the time, it’s better to read the same amount of break as you would any other putt. Dave Pelz, a world-renouned putting expert and researcher, suggests that every putt should have enough speed to roll 17 inches past the hole. This is a solid pace and will suit a putt of any length.

And finally, for the high handicapper: putt out every hole! If you ever want to take your game to the next level, putting from within four feet of the hole is a crucial element to your success. In addition, the next time you see a PGA Tour professional miss a three foot putt on national television, you say with truthfulness, “I could have made that putt.”

Written by John at 6:15 pm. Short Game