While there are days where I hit a few approach shots inside 10 feet to the pin, it’s more likely that I will leave myself with a long putt.  And this is where strokes can add up very quickly for the amateur golfer.

Think about it, how many times have you had a putt of 30+ yards that has resulted in a 3 putt? Or worse yet, a 4 putt. A round in the 80s and quickly approach the century mark if you have too many holes like this.

Here’s a few golf putting tips that will help turn those 3 or 4 putts into 2 putts more often than not.

As you line up for your long putt, make sure that you spend time reading the area around the green. Remember that as the ball gets closer to the hole it will be moving slower and any misread around the hole can put your ball several feet off your original line. This may sound simple, but you don’t want to overlook this step.

My goal for these putts isn’t to sink it but rather to get it within 3 feet of the hole. 

Learn more about the golf putting tips that will have you sinking putts with ease and playing with the confidence of the pros.

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If you’ve watched Phil Mickelson the past several years on the PGA tour, you’ve probably noticed that he has a very unique pre-shot routine to his short putts. Frequently, Phil will line up to the left or right of his ball and take one or two practice putts facing the hole.

So why does he do this?

It all goes back to a practice routine that he started to incorporate into his short game a few years ago via golf great Jackie Burke.

Phil will line up about 10 balls around the hole each about three feet from the hole. He proceeds to work his way around the circle sinking every ball in the hole. And if he misses a putt, he will frequently start over again until he sinks 100 in a row.

While you might not have the time or patience to sink 100 putts in a row yourself, there a two key benefits of this drill:

• It keeps you from falling into the common trap of trying to steer the ball to the hole on short putts and
• Helps you build confidence by developing a natural reflex on short putts

Even if your goal is to sink 20 putts in a row, you’ll find that these knee-knockers can be turned around to strengths in your game and will help your drop strokes off your game.

Learn how to flawlessly sink putts with these backwards golf putting tips.

Have you ever hit your putt right on the line you set up for only to have it come up short of the hole? Or have you run your ball past the hole leaving yourself much more than a tap-in putt coming back? 

A lot of games have been lost on the putting green and in most instances it has been due to poor distance control, rather than the direction of the ball. Most beginners quickly get a feel for the direction the ball will travel, even on sloping greens. 

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