Golf Tips: Putting practice is the key to lower scores

Of all the golf tips you’ll ever read or hear, this much is clear. Putting is the most important part of your game when it comes to golf. It can be the deciding factor in whatever style you’re playing. Whether it’s by yourself, a skins game, with buddies, or at a state tournament. If you want to drop your scores, hit the practice green.

When you are out on the course, it doesn’t matter if you can bomb the ball 350 yards. Yes, it does look cool, and it will draw people’s attention, especially on the range. It doesn’t mean much if you can drive near the green, only to have three or four putts on every hole. You need to practice your putting.

I can’t emphasize the need to practice your putting enough. I’ve had some rounds I’ve played personally saved by my good putting this year. Even with a new grip and stance I’m working through, putting has kept my score low. I had a 28 putt round, which is likely the best I’ve had.

I’m not tooting my own horn here. What I’m setting up is the importance of why you practice your putting. This was my fifth year as a high school varsity coach. In our school’s golf history (35+ years), we have only sent three boys golfers to state. We are not a golf school.

This year we brought two boys to state for the first time ever. 1A golf state in Washington is a two-day event. If the second boy had worked on his putting more, he would’ve had a chance to finish top ten.

Instead, he missed the cut on the first day. Given that we are a 1A school, which is fairly small at 340 students, the cut is high at 87. He struck the ball better than he ever had in his life. He was on or near the green in regulation on almost every hole. He had only broken 90 once in his life, and was striking the ball like a single digit handicap.

Practice your putting. I try and drill it into everyone I’ve ever coached. Don’t worry about hitting further than other kids. If you can be confident in your putting, you WILL have a good round. Unfortunately, he hadn’t taken it to heart enough.

The boy on my team was a senior. This was going to be the last competitive round he ever played. Yes, he would play with his buddies and play in random tournaments after he graduated. This would be the one with the most on the line though. This is why you practice your putting.

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He shot a 90. He only missed the cut by three. However, he had 26 putts. On the back nine. Three-putts on five holes, and a four-putt on another. The front nine wasn’t much better, as he had around 20 putts there as well. There is no exaggeration here. He had around as many swings with his putter as with his other clubs.

It was the best round of his life. Until he took out the putter. Even a decent round putting and he would’ve shot around 80, easily making the cut. He would’ve been in the top 10 heading into day two. If he had focused more on his putting, he would’ve been able to hit around 35 putts.

This is a fairly extreme example of why you need to practice your putting. Not many people are going to find themselves in a position like this. It transfers to almost everyone though. It doesn’t matter who you are, a three-putt leaves a sour taste in your mouth. Almost every time, you know you could’ve putt better when it happens.

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Whether you are playing on your own, in a tournament, for skins, or just for fun. Putting is important. Smoking a drive looks and feels great. It feels even better to sink a nice putt. To look at the scorecard after the round and see no three-putts. To see the look on the faces of the people you are playing with when they know you have the hole locked down because you are going to drain that 9 footer.

Practice your putting. You can thank me later.

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