Golf Course Strategy: Where Rounds Are Won and Lost
Putting is often seen as the simplest part of golf, but it’s also one of the most important. It doesn’t matter how well you hit the ball if you can’t convert on the greens.
At its core, putting comes down to two things: start line and speed control.
Start line is your ability to roll the ball where you’re aiming. If you can’t consistently start the ball on your intended line, even the best read won’t help. This is where many golfers struggle. They focus on reading greens but ignore whether they can actually start the ball where they’re aiming.
Improving start line begins with a repeatable stroke. You don’t need a perfect stroke, you need one that produces consistent results. Focus on keeping the putter face stable and returning it square to your target.
Speed control is the second piece. Good speed turns three-putts into two-putts and gives your putts a chance to go in. Poor speed makes even short putts difficult.
The Around-the-World Pressure Drill (Make Short Putts Automatic)
The key to speed control is developing feel. This comes from practice, but it needs to be intentional. Work on rolling putts different distances and paying attention to how far the ball travels with different stroke lengths.
Distance control drills, like putting to a fringe or stopping the ball within a certain zone are extremely effective. They train your ability to match stroke to distance.
Reading greens is important, but it should come after you’ve built confidence in your start line and speed. A perfect read doesn’t matter if you can’t execute the putt.
Like all areas of the game, putting practice should include pressure. Set goals, track results, and challenge yourself. Make five putts in a row from a certain distance. If you miss, start over.
Putting isn’t about making everything. It’s about being consistent, controlling what you can, and giving yourself the best chance to score.
Because at the end of the day, the scorecard doesn’t care how you got there.
It only counts how many putts it took.
