Putt Skid and Forward Roll
Also known as: putt skids, putts skidding, skid on putts, ball skids off the putter, forward roll putting, ball hops off the putter face, putt bouncing off the face
Your putt skids because the ball leaves the face sliding instead of rolling. Every putt skids a little, but too much skid or a hop comes from the wrong loft at impact. Hitting down with too much shaft lean or flipping the hands both cause it. Strike the ball at the bottom of the stroke with the shaft near vertical.
A putter has a little loft to lift the ball out of the small dip it sits in. If impact loft is right, the ball skids briefly, then rolls end over end. Good roll holds its line and its speed better.
Too much forward shaft lean, or a ball played far back, makes you hit down. That adds backspin, so the ball skids farther. Flipping the hands adds loft, so the ball hops into the air and bounces. Both make speed hard to judge.
Play the ball slightly ahead of center and keep the shaft close to vertical at impact. A putter fitter can also check whether your putter's loft matches your stroke.
Tips by skill level
Draw a line around the ball and roll some putts. Watch whether the line wobbles, slides or rolls cleanly.
Use a putting analysis system to read launch, spin and skid distance. Small changes in ball position and shaft lean change all three.
Example
His putts hop and come up short. A line on the ball shows backspin at the start. He moves the ball forward and stops pressing his hands ahead, and the ball rolls smoothly.
Why it matters
Clean roll makes speed predictable. Many "misreads" are really putts that skidded off line.
Common mistakes
- Playing the ball too far back
- Pressing the hands far ahead at address
- Flipping the hands to lift the ball
- Blaming the green for poor roll
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if my putts skid?
Draw a line around the ball and watch it after impact. If the line slides without turning at first, or the ball hops, you have too much skid.
Does ball position affect putt roll?
Yes. Playing the ball slightly ahead of center lets you strike it level or slightly up. Too far back makes you hit down, which adds backspin and skid.
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.
- Putter FittingPutter fitting matches a putter's length, lie angle, loft, and balance style to a golfer's actual stroke path, using putting-specific measuring tools.
- Shaft LeanShaft lean is when the hands and grip end are ahead of the clubhead at impact. It reduces dynamic loft, compresses the ball, and marks good iron contact.
- Dynamic LoftDynamic loft is the actual loft presented by the face at impact — not the loft stamped on the club. It is the main driver of how high the ball launches.
- Speed Control (Putting)Speed control is calibrating stroke length and tempo so a putt rolls the intended distance. It is widely considered the single most important putting skill.
Related guides & benchmarks
Work on the cause
Video shows how you move, not the ball itself. Film one swing to find the movement behind this result — free to start.
See a sample Golf report first