Putting
Putting is rolling the ball along the ground toward the hole using a flat-faced club (putter). It accounts for roughly 40% of strokes in a typical round, making it the most impactful single skill in scoring.
Good putting combines green reading (assessing break and speed), a repeatable stroke that starts the ball on the intended line, and distance calibration so the ball arrives at the hole with the right pace. Stroke mechanics include a face that is square to the aim line at impact, consistent tempo, and a path that matches the arc of the pendulum. Putting improvements yield the fastest measurable scoring gains of any area of the game — a player who three-putts rarely can improve significantly without touching their full swing.
Example
Reading a right-to-left break and aiming two cups outside the right edge, the player drains a 12-footer — green reading and stroke mechanics working together.
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.
- Green ReadingGreen reading is assessing the slope, grain, and speed of a putting surface to predict how much and which way the ball will curve from its starting line to the hole.
- Distance ControlDistance control is calibrating how far the ball travels — in putting by swing length and tempo, in the short game by carry distance — so the ball ends up close to its target.
- YipsThe yips are involuntary twitches or spasms — most often in putting or chipping — that disrupt the stroke. They are part neurological, part anxiety-driven, and affect golfers at every level.
Related guides & benchmarks
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