course management, mental, Putting

Avoiding 3 Putts

Posted by Surf&TurfDan on

The large majority of 3 putts happen when the player is not completely SOLD on the line and speed of the putt, basically you are not committed. Questioning anything over the ball will lead to 3 putts.

Here are a few tips on how to approach the green and avoid 3 putts.

  1. It starts with the approach shot into the green and the decision of direction you make to enter the hole. Scan the entire green with your eyes on the walk-up. Left to right and right to left. Look for a few seconds before you step onto the putting surface. This helps determine the high side and the low side, or if the green is relatively flat. Look for water drains, etc.
  2. Once you get to the ball, mark it. Take 3 steps behind your ball mark. Now you must pick a line… Left, Center, or Right of the cup. It should take seconds but for those that are not sure it will take longer. Understand that every putt has a statistical level of difficulty. So to increase the odds, players must avoid putting in the unsure mind, and take the time to figure out a line. I also find that people who are 3 putting are overly confident and just not committed.
  3. To commit, you must find the angle of entry into the cup. Walk up to the hole and look at the cup. How do you see the putt entering? I like using a clock. Is it entering the hole at 4? 5? 2? That helps you visualize the shape of the putt.
  4. To secure the line, stand behind the ball and find the starting line of the putt. Go through your AimPoint routine and confirm what you are seeing and feeling.
  5. Place your ball down and step behind it to view the line from behind the ball. Don’t pick up the ball mark until you have looked from behind. When you look, you need to scan the line from the ball to the cup with your eyes. While you are scanning, you can make adjustments to the line – left, right or center. Now, pickup the mark. This seals the deal on the line.
  6. Now it’s about speed. As you address the ball look to the apex and then the cup while making practice strokes to calibrate and gauge how far back and through the stroke needs to be.
  7. You have confirmed the line and speed of the putt. Now complete your stroke with confidence and see what happens. This process takes some patience and discipline, so practice it as often as possible, stick with it! It may take you and extra minute on the green, but the results will be worth it.