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Stop Missing Those Three Footers

three-footerIf you’re like most golfers there’s nothing that can ruin your round faster than missing a three foot putt. In fact, it’s probably the most frustrating way to add an extra stroke to your score.

The good thing about short putts like these is that with just a little bit of proper technique and practice you can start sinking almost all of them.

Stop missing your three foot putts by focusing on these tips:

1) Align your eyes over the ball.

When address a putt it’s absolutely essential that your eyes are aligned directly over the ball so you can see directly down the target line. To test your eye alignment set up to the ball with your putter. Next take another golf ball, place it directly between your eyes, and drop it straight down. If it lands outside the ball you are leaning too far forward. If it lands inside the ball you are leaning too far back. Adjust your stance until the ball you drop hits the ball you are addressing.

2) Align your arms.

If you want to swing your putter along the target line you’ll need your arms to be aligned one behind the other. To check your arm alignment ask one of your playing partners to stand behind you while you address the ball and adjust your arms until your trail arm is completely hiding your lead arm.

3) Make a smooth stroke.

Many golfers struggle with short putts because they are stabbing at the ball. If you want to make short putts you’ve got to make a smooth swing with your putter and accelerate through impact. To test the quality of your swing place a coin on the back of your putter and take a few test strokes. If the coin stays on the back of your putter through impact you’re doing it right. If the coin falls off of your putter at any point it means you need to work on smoothing out your stroke.

These three tips will help you start sinking more of those pesky three foot putts but just remember – there’s no substitute for practice. Getting out on the practice green and working on your short putts for even 10 or 15 minutes can have a huge impact on your overall scores.

12 Comments

  1. Avelino

    November 23, 2016 at 4:30 pm

    HOW TO ALIGN THE CLUB HEAD TO TARGET ?

    Reply
  2. Steve Johnson

    November 23, 2016 at 7:06 pm

    If you are still missing those 3 Footers after the previous tip try this:
    1. Over read the break and favor the high side of the hole. Most amateur golfers tend to under read break by almost 3x the actual break
    2. Make sure ball starts out on intended line. Use a line on the ball and line that up with your starting line. If the all rolls end over end you have managed to square the face to the line at impact.
    3. Consistently stroke the ball the correct distance. If you consistently have distance control you can accurately read the break. No distance control = bad putting

    Reply
  3. Steve Flowers

    March 13, 2017 at 2:38 pm

    Other tips:
    1. Walmart or Dick’s has a golf ball marker tool ($6-8) that not only puts a line on the ball you can use to align to the hole but it puts another line perpendicular to the first to align with the face of the putter. This small aid has big benefits especially on short putts.
    2. Check your balance. Rock from toes to heels to get to a middle position. If you’re too much over your toes, pulling putts could be a problem.
    3. Finish at the hole with the putter. This helps to keep the putter head square.
    4. I try to keep my left wrist frozen. Any break of the wrist risks changing the alignment of the putter head.

    Reply
    • Keith @ GolfersRX

      January 16, 2021 at 10:46 am

      Good stuff Steve. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
  4. Roger Stewart

    March 14, 2017 at 6:34 pm

    Very good info. Too often we forget these basic concepts she putting.
    I appreciate the suggestions.

    Reply
  5. Carrie

    May 20, 2017 at 6:50 am

    I’m not easily imeresspd but you’ve done it with that posting.

    Reply
    • Keith @ GolfersRX

      January 16, 2021 at 10:42 am

      Thanks Carrie.

      Reply
  6. Raymond CHASTEL

    August 21, 2017 at 2:39 am

    To Steve FLOWERS ,A good way to keep the left wrist “frozen “is to have the top end of the handle ” hug” the Inside of the left wrist ,up to where the clock wrist band is . It delofts somewhat the putter and you have to put the ball a bit more back in your stance :as I am a right eye dominant player,ths OK for me

    Reply
  7. Peter Boyce

    December 3, 2017 at 5:32 pm

    Short putts are missed often because the ball was not struck on the sweet spot of the putter. Hit the sweet spot, less twisting of the putter head

    Reply

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