Use Your Feet to Read Putts
From Mark Blackburn On April 05, 2022
Every stroke counts the same on the scorecard, but there's something particularly infuriating about missing a short putt. Nothing can derail a round like lipping out a gimmee. Sometimes we over-think and... put too much pressure on ourselves on these three and four-footers, but as Titleist staff member Mark Blackburn suggests, the most common cause of missed putts inside the leather is usually lack of proper preparation.
As Mark shares in this video, there are a few keys to performing like the pros on short putts. First, you don't have as much time during the stroke to course-correct, so it's very important to swing the putter head on the correct path and get the ball started on the correct line. Pace is less important.
You also have to give short putts the same respect and attention as any other putt you face. On the greens, go through the same green-reading process and routine no matter the length of putt.
And lastly, Mark believes that you should not trust your eyes on short putts. Instead, trust your feet. Straddle the line of your putt, and focus on how your weight is distributed. If one foot feels like it has more weight on it than the other, that foot is on the downhill side of the putt and the putt will break in that direction. If you feel like your weight is evenly distributed between your two feet, you're probably looking at a straight putt.
Give Mark's tips a try the next time you play and remember – they all count the same, so don't take any shots lightly. Even the gimmees.
As Mark shares in this video, there are a few keys to performing like the pros on short putts. First, you don't have as much time during the stroke to course-correct, so it's very important to swing the putter head on the correct path and get the ball started on the correct line. Pace is less important.
You also have to give short putts the same respect and attention as any other putt you face. On the greens, go through the same green-reading process and routine no matter the length of putt.
And lastly, Mark believes that you should not trust your eyes on short putts. Instead, trust your feet. Straddle the line of your putt, and focus on how your weight is distributed. If one foot feels like it has more weight on it than the other, that foot is on the downhill side of the putt and the putt will break in that direction. If you feel like your weight is evenly distributed between your two feet, you're probably looking at a straight putt.
Give Mark's tips a try the next time you play and remember – they all count the same, so don't take any shots lightly. Even the gimmees.
Every stroke counts the same on the scorecard, but there's something particularly
...
infuriating about missing a short putt. Nothing can derail a round like lipping out a gimmee. Sometimes we over-think and put too much pressure on ourselves on these three and four-footers, but as Titleist staff member Mark Blackburn suggests, the most common cause of missed putts inside the leather is usually lack of proper preparation.
As Mark shares in this video, there are a few keys to performing like the pros on short putts. First, you don't have as much time during the stroke to course-correct, so it's very important to swing the putter head on the correct path and get the ball started on the correct line. Pace is less important.
You also have to give short putts the same respect and attention as any other putt you face. On the greens, go through the same green-reading process and routine no matter the length of putt.
And lastly, Mark believes that you should not trust your eyes on short putts. Instead, trust your feet. Straddle the line of your putt, and focus on how your weight is distributed. If one foot feels like it has more weight on it than the other, that foot is on the downhill side of the putt and the putt will break in that direction. If you feel like your weight is evenly distributed between your two feet, you're probably looking at a straight putt.
Give Mark's tips a try the next time you play and remember – they all count the same, so don't take any shots lightly. Even the gimmees.
As Mark shares in this video, there are a few keys to performing like the pros on short putts. First, you don't have as much time during the stroke to course-correct, so it's very important to swing the putter head on the correct path and get the ball started on the correct line. Pace is less important.
You also have to give short putts the same respect and attention as any other putt you face. On the greens, go through the same green-reading process and routine no matter the length of putt.
And lastly, Mark believes that you should not trust your eyes on short putts. Instead, trust your feet. Straddle the line of your putt, and focus on how your weight is distributed. If one foot feels like it has more weight on it than the other, that foot is on the downhill side of the putt and the putt will break in that direction. If you feel like your weight is evenly distributed between your two feet, you're probably looking at a straight putt.
Give Mark's tips a try the next time you play and remember – they all count the same, so don't take any shots lightly. Even the gimmees.
431
Videos
Filter:
- Alex Buckner
- Brad Faxon
- Dan Whittaker
- Dr. Mo Pickens
- Matt Leach
- Matthew Johns
- Sophie Walker
- Cameron McCormick
- James Sieckmann
- Mark Blackburn
- Michael Breed
- Trillium Rose
- Jonathan Yarwood
- Dave Phillips
- Brandon Stooksbury
- Justin Parsons
- Layne Savoie
- Dr. Rob Neal
- Dr. Greg Rose
- Skip Guss
- Jason Baile
- John Kostis
- Jennifer Hudson
- Ryan Hager
- Corey Lundberg
- Tom Patri
- Driver
- Fairway
- Hybrid
- Utility Iron
- Iron
- Wedge
- Putter
- Fundamentals
- Shot Shaping
- Anti-hook
- Anti-slice
- Alignment
- Tight Lie
- Long Rough
- Bunker Play
- Consistency
- Distance Control
- Trajectory
Brad Faxon Putting I.Q. Test
Titleist staff member Brad Faxon poses a simple putting riddle to all the...
Rain Jacket Drill for Golf Swing Width
Creating width in the backswing is an important ingredient in maximizing...
Understanding What, How and Why in Your Golf Swing
Lance Gill, President of Lance Gill Performance in Jupiter, FL, shines some...
How to Recover from Hardpan Lies
Finding your golf ball on a tight hardpan lie does not have to mean bogey or...
Indoor Follow-Through Drills for Better Contact
If you want control your golf swing, take some advice from Titleist Staff...
How to Build Core Strength to Improve Your Golf Swing
Lance Gill, President of Lance Gill Performance, and Kayleigh Franklin, Director...
No results
Titleist Tips: Make the Most of Your Golf Practice Time
One of the coolest things about the game of golf is the fact that we play the same game as the pros. Most of us will never take batting practice in...
Morgan Hoffmann: #ProvingIt
On Dec. 4, 2017, Morgan Hoffmann penned an article for The Players' Tribune, an online media platform that provides first-person content written by...
Iron Selector Tool
This iron selection tool starts the fitting process by suggesting a recommended and alternative iron set. The next step is to experience a...