What Makes The Length of The Putt so Difficult?
Some golfers struggle with a certain distance when putting. You might do well with long putts, but struggle on short putts.
Or you might struggle only with longer putts that require more touch.
Why would one length of putt give you fits on the green? Does your smooth stroke on 10-20 foot putts turn into a jerky stroke on shorter putts?
It’s the same task, right? You try to roll the ball along a line or at a target into the hole.
What makes the length of the putt so difficult?
Your mind gets in the way with preconceptions and expectations…
Golfers who struggle with short putts often have expectations about making them.
“I should make this three-footer.”
And if you don’t, you know you’re failing to reach your expectations. And embarrassment often plays on your mind.
Golfers who struggle with longer putts, don’t trust their touch or distance control. And to make matters worse, they have a bad history of three-putting, which form mental scars.
How can you maintain a smooth stroke on both short and longer putts?
First, you have to stop labeling your putts–in terms of length: “the dreaded 3-footer” for example.
When you put a label on a certain length putt, you change your approach to putting.
Instead you have to focus on: “a putt is a putt” no matter the distance.
When I was at The University of Virginia as a grad student, I got a chance to talk to David Duval who was playing for Georgia Tech at the time.
Duval’s approach: A three-footer is an extension of a one-footer; a five-footer is an extension of a three-footer. And a ten-footer is an extension of a five-footer.
He approached every putt the same no matter the distance or type… He did not label the putt as a certain type.
Second, I want you to think about the “common denominator” in putting.
What do you have to focus on–no matter the distance of the putt?
- Getting a confident read
- Picking a line or target
- Roll the ball on your line or at the target
- Have the right pace to match the line
No matter what the distance or type of putt, only the common denominators matter for good putting!
This means once you have your line selected, only (1) hitting the ball on your line with (2) good pace matters. And for most golfers, they tend to focus on one or the other.
Stop labeling your putts, and instead focus on rolling the ball down your line–no matter the distance. Doing so will lead to a smooth or consistent stroke no matter the length.
Related Golf Psychology Articles:
- Can Golfers Overcome the Yips?
- The Putting Yips and Over Thinking
- Golfers Who Become Anxious on The Greens
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