Short Putts
Also known as: missing short putts, miss short putts, missing 3 foot putts, three footers, missing three footers, knee knockers, short putt misses
Short putts are often missed because the putter face is not square at impact or the stroke slows down through the ball. Pick a precise target, make a firm stroke that would roll the ball a little past the hole, and keep your head still until the ball is gone.
On a short putt there is little break, so the start line decides almost everything. The direction the putter face points at impact sets most of that start line. A face that is slightly open or closed misses the hole from even three feet. Slowing down into the ball, or jabbing at it, makes the face harder to control. So does looking up early to see if it went in.
Build a simple routine and repeat it. Read the putt, pick a spot on the back of the cup and commit to it. Aim the putter face at that spot first, then set your feet and shoulders. Make a smooth stroke with about the same length back and through, and let the putter accelerate gently. Firm speed takes much of the break out, but very firm putts can lip out. Keep your head and eyes still until you hear the ball drop or it is well on its way.
Practice the start line and the pressure. Putting through a gate made of two tees just wider than the ball trains the face. A circle of balls around the hole at three feet adds pressure if you start again after any miss. If the problem is a twitch or freeze in the hands, it may be the yips. A grip change such as the claw or cross-handed grip helps some golfers.
Tips by skill level
Practice from three feet until you hole ten in a row. Then move back one foot and repeat.
Use one start-line drill and one pressure game each session. Making putts on the practice green under a reset rule builds the trust you need on the course.
Example
A golfer keeps missing three-footers to the right. Putting through a two-tee gate shows his face is open at impact. He aims the face first, makes a smaller, firmer stroke and starts holing them again.
Why it matters
Every missed short putt is a full stroke lost. Holing them reliably also takes pressure off your chipping and lag putting.
Common mistakes
- Aiming at the whole hole instead of a precise spot on the cup
- Decelerating into the ball or jabbing at it
- Looking up early to see if the putt dropped
- Never practicing short putts because they seem easy
Frequently asked questions
How do I stop missing short putts?
Aim the putter face at a precise spot, make a smooth stroke firm enough to roll the ball slightly past the hole and keep your head still until the ball drops. A two-tee gate drill shows if your face is square.
Why do I keep missing 3-foot putts?
Usually the face is open or closed at impact, or the stroke slows down through the ball. Looking up early makes both more likely. Check your start line with a gate drill.
Should I hit short putts firm?
Firm enough to take out most of the break and roll a little past the hole if it misses. Very firm putts can lip out, so aim for a confident, steady pace.
Related terms
- Putting StrokeThe putting stroke is the controlled pendulum motion that rolls the ball along the intended line. Good mechanics include a square face at impact, consistent tempo, and path that matches the putter's arc.
- Putting FundamentalsSet up with your eyes over or just inside the ball, the ball a little forward of center and a light grip. Rock your shoulders to move the putter back and through with quiet wrists. Aim the face first, then focus most of your practice on speed.
- YipsThe yips are involuntary twitches or spasms that disrupt the stroke, most often in putting or chipping. They are part neurological, part anxiety-driven, and affect golfers at every level.
- Claw Grip (Putting)In the claw grip, the trail hand holds the putter handle like a pencil against the palm instead of wrapping around it. Separating the hands this way is a popular fix for excess trail-hand wrist action and the putting yips.
- Cross-Handed Grip (Putting)A cross-handed (left-hand-low) putting grip reverses the standard hand order, so the lead hand sits below the trail hand. It is a common fix when the trail hand dominates and breaks down the lead wrist through impact.
- Gimme PuttA "gimme" is a short putt that playing partners agree is close enough to the hole. It can be counted as made without actually being holed. It is a casual convention rather than an official rule, and formally allowed only in match play through a genuine concession.
Related guides & benchmarks
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