Putting Fundamentals

The Short Game: Putting Fundamentals 🏌️

The Magic Wand of Golf

Imagine you have a magic wand. Not for casting spells, but for gently rolling a ball into a tiny hole. That’s your putter! While big golf swings look exciting, putting is where you actually WIN games. Think of it like this: you can kick a soccer ball really far, but scoring happens when you carefully tap it into the goal.

🎯 Putting Overview

What is Putting?

Putting is like playing a gentle game of marbles on a super smooth carpet. You’re on the “green” (the soft, short grass near the hole), and your job is to roll the ball into the cup with as few tries as possible.

Simple Example:

• Imagine rolling a marble across your kitchen floor into a cup lying on its side
• You need to push it JUST right—not too hard, not too soft
• That’s putting!

Why It Matters:

• About HALF of all your golf strokes happen on the green
• A 3-foot putt counts the same as a 300-yard drive
• Master putting = Lower scores = Happy golfer!

graph TD
    A["Start: Ball on Green"] --> B["Read the Green"]
    B --> C["Aim Your Putter"]
    C --> D["Smooth Stroke"]
    D --> E["Ball Rolls..."]
    E --> F["🎉 In the Hole!"]

✋ Putting Grip

How to Hold Your Magic Wand

Think about holding a baby bird. Firm enough that it won’t fly away, but gentle enough that you don’t hurt it. That’s exactly how you hold a putter!

The Reverse Overlap Grip (Most Common)

Step by Step:

1. Put your LEFT hand on top of the putter handle
2. Put your RIGHT hand below it
3. Take your LEFT index finger and lay it OVER your right fingers
4. Both thumbs point straight down the shaft

Simple Example:

• It’s like holding a broomstick with two hands
• Your hands work as ONE unit, not fighting each other
• The grip should feel like shaking hands with a friend

Key Points:

• Light pressure – Rate it 4 out of 10 (10 being super tight)
• Palms face each other – Like clapping hands with the putter in between
• Wrists stay quiet – No flippy movements!

💡 Pro Tip: If your hands are squeezing too tight, your arms get tense, and the ball goes everywhere except the hole!

🦶 Putting Stance

Stand Like a Statue

Your stance is your foundation. Imagine you’re a table—if your legs are wobbly, everything on top falls over!

The Perfect Stance Setup:

Feet Position:

• Shoulder-width apart (not too wide, not too narrow)
• Like standing naturally when waiting in line

Ball Position:

• Put the ball slightly LEFT of center (for right-handers)
• Just under your left eye
• About 2 inches inside your front foot

Body Position:

• Bend from your HIPS (not your waist!)
• Like you’re about to sit on a tall stool
• Arms hang naturally—don’t reach for the ball

Eyes Over Ball:

• Your eyes should be directly over the ball
• Drop a ball from between your eyes—it should land on your golf ball

Simple Example:

• Stand like a penguin looking at its feet
• Knees slightly bent
• Weight balanced 50/50 on both feet

graph TD
    A["Feet Shoulder Width"] --> B["Ball Under Left Eye"]
    B --> C["Bend From Hips"]
    C --> D["Eyes Over Ball"]
    D --> E["Arms Hang Freely"]
    E --> F["Ready to Putt!"]

⚙️ Putting Stroke Mechanics

The Pendulum: Your Secret Weapon

Remember a grandfather clock? The pendulum swings back and forth, smooth and steady. Your putting stroke should be EXACTLY like that!

The Pendulum Motion:

Shoulders Control Everything:

• Your shoulders rock back and forth
• Arms and hands follow along for the ride
• Wrists stay FROZEN (no hinging!)

Back and Through:

• Backswing and follow-through should be roughly EQUAL length
• Like a seesaw—balanced on both sides

Simple Example:

• Imagine your putter is hanging from a string attached to your chest
• When you swing, only your shoulders move
• Everything else stays perfectly still

The Stroke Path:

• Putter moves STRAIGHT back and STRAIGHT through
• Or a slight arc (like a smile) is okay too
• Keep the putter face SQUARE to your target line

Speed from Backswing:

• Short putt = Small backswing
• Long putt = Bigger backswing
• Never “hit” the ball—just let the putter swing through it

⚠️ Common Mistake: Flipping your wrists at the ball. This makes your putts go all over the place! Keep those wrists quiet like a sleeping cat.

👁️ Reading Greens

Becoming a Green Detective

Reading greens is like being a detective. You’re looking for clues about which way the ball will roll. The green is NEVER perfectly flat—there are always tiny hills and valleys!

What to Look For:

1. The Overall Picture:

• Walk around the putt from all angles
• Crouch down low to see slopes better
• Look from behind the ball AND behind the hole

2. High and Low Points:

• Water always rolls downhill
• Find the highest point near your putt
• Your ball will curve AWAY from high points

3. Grain Direction:

• Grass grows in a direction (usually toward the setting sun or water)
• Shiny grass = WITH the grain (ball rolls faster)
• Dull/dark grass = AGAINST the grain (ball rolls slower)

Simple Example:

• Pour imaginary water on the green
• Where would it flow?
• That’s where your ball wants to go too!

graph TD
    A["Walk Around Putt"] --> B["Find High Points"]
    B --> C["Check Grain Direction"]
    C --> D["Imagine Water Flow"]
    D --> E["Pick Your Line"]

🌊 Break Reading

The Curve Ball Secret

“Break” is how much your ball will curve on its way to the hole. It’s like rolling a ball across a tilted table—it won’t go straight!

Understanding Break:

How to Read Break:

1. Stand behind your ball, facing the hole
2. Ask: “Which side is higher?”
3. Aim toward the HIGH side—the ball will curve back

Types of Break:

• Left-to-Right Break: Aim LEFT of the hole
• Right-to-Left Break: Aim RIGHT of the hole
• Uphill/Downhill: Affects how much it breaks

The “Apex” Point:

• The highest point of the curve
• This is where you’re REALLY aiming
• The ball starts here and falls toward the hole

Simple Example:

• Put a ball on a dinner plate (tilted slightly)
• Push it across—see how it curves?
• Golf greens are just GIANT tilted dinner plates!

Speed Affects Break:

• Hit hard = Less break (ball overpowers the slope)
• Hit soft = More break (slope has more time to work)
• Find the right balance!

💡 Remember: “Aim high, watch it die into the hole” — putt to the high side and let gravity bring it back.

⏱️ Green Speed

Fast Greens vs. Slow Greens

Green speed is how fast the ball rolls. It’s like the difference between rolling on carpet vs. rolling on ice!

What Affects Green Speed:

1. Grass Length:

• Short grass = FAST greens
• Longer grass = SLOW greens

2. Weather:

• Wet grass = SLOWER
• Dry grass = FASTER
• Morning dew = Much slower!

3. Grass Type:

• Bentgrass (Northern courses) = Usually fast
• Bermuda (Southern courses) = Usually slower, grainy

Measuring Speed (Stimpmeter):

• A “stimp” rating measures how far a ball rolls
• 6-8: Slow (beginner-friendly)
• 9-11: Medium (typical golf course)
• 12+: Fast (tournament conditions)

Simple Example:

• Slow green = Rolling on thick carpet
• Fast green = Rolling on smooth tile floor
• REALLY fast green = Rolling on ice!

Adjusting to Speed:

🎚️ Speed Control in Putting

The Goldilocks Zone

Speed control is about hitting the ball JUST right. Not too hard (flies past the hole), not too soft (stops short). Goldilocks had the right idea!

The Perfect Speed:

The “Dying Ball”:

• Your ball should “die” at the hole
• Rolling just fast enough to fall in
• If it misses, it stops 12-18 inches past

Why This Matters:

• Too fast = Dangerous comeback putt
• Too slow = Never reaches the hole
• Just right = Maximum chance to drop!

How to Control Speed:

1. Length of Backswing:

• Longer back = Ball goes farther
• Shorter back = Ball goes shorter
• Keep the TEMPO the same!

2. Practice Distances:

• 3 feet = Very short backswing
• 10 feet = Medium backswing
• 30 feet = Full backswing

3. Feel the Distance:

• Look at the hole, feel the distance
• Let your brain calculate the swing
• Trust your instincts!

Simple Example:

• Tossing a crumpled paper into a trash can
• You don’t think about exact force
• You LOOK at the target and your body figures it out
• Putting is the same!

graph TD
    A["Look at Hole"] --> B["Feel the Distance"]
    B --> C["Match Backswing to Distance"]
    C --> D["Smooth Tempo Always"]
    D --> E["Ball Dies at Hole"]

The Ladder Drill:

Practice hitting putts to targets at:

• 10 feet
• 20 feet
• 30 feet
• 40 feet

Each ball should stop near the next target—like climbing a ladder!

🎓 Putting It All Together

Your Pre-Putt Routine

1. Read the green (walk, crouch, find slopes)
2. Pick your line (where are you aiming?)
3. Take your stance (eyes over ball)
4. Set your grip (light pressure)
5. One practice swing (feel the distance)
6. Trust and stroke (don’t second-guess!)
7. Hold your finish (watch the ball roll)

The Mental Game:

• Stay calm – Tension kills good putting
• Commit to your read – Doubt creates bad strokes
• Accept the outcome – Even pros miss putts!

🏆 Key Takeaways

🌟 Final Thought: Putting looks simple but takes a lifetime to master. The good news? Anyone can become a great putter with practice. It’s not about strength or athleticism—it’s about feel, patience, and repetition. So grab your putter and start rolling some balls. The hole is waiting!