Putting Tips For Fast Greens
Golfers of all skill levels know the importance of accuracy and finesse on the putting surfaces. When faced with fast greens, it can be a challenge to make your ball come to rest in just the right spot. But there are ways to improve your game even when the conditions make it tricky.
The key is understanding how speed affects direction. A golfer needs to factor in not only the distance between them and the hole but also any slopes that may affect the roll.
By following these helpful tips below, golfers will develop an instinctive feel for putting on fast surfaces — enabling them to ace even some of the most difficult shots. With a combination of careful observation and practice, anyone can learn how to sink putts no matter what type of green they’re playing on.
Here’s how golfers can master their putting skills on quick greens.
Steps To Putt Successfully On Fast Greens
I think the most important aspect to be able to putt well on quick greens is the consistency of your strike.
If you aren’t striking the ball from the sweet spot then it’s going to be nigh on impossible for you to consistently judge how far you need to swing the putter for a given length of putt.
Work on grooving your stroke and spend plenty of time training yourself to hit the middle of the face.
Practice short and medium-length putts where your focus is on quality of strike above all else. If necessary get some lessons from a PGA professional.
Work on learning how to roll the ball with a slight upward strike to minimize the time the ball is in the air. (look at a slow mo of someone putting)
Use the gate drill to make sure you are starting the golf ball on the line that you intend.
During your practice sessions try to get a feel for how long a backswing you need to produce a putt of a certain distance. If you are playing somewhere that has faster greens than you are used to then you should be able to adjust the length of your stroke to compensate.
If you are playing somewhere new that it’s always best to turn up early and spend some time on the practice green so you can get used to the speed. I would usually work on a few short putts to make sure I was striking the ball okay and then pick a variety of medium to long putts to work on building up a feel for the pace. I would always try to do some uphill, downhill and sidehill putts.
Here are 5 tips to help you play golf on fast greens:
- Use a lighter putter. If you’re finding that distance control is hard on fast greens then you might want to experiment with a lighter putter which might make it easier for you to judge the speed more accurately.
- Try to use lighter grip pressure. Holding the club lightly should help you feel the putter more and enable you to control the speed better.
- Choke down your grip. If you can’t afford to have multiple putters then try choking down the great as this should help reduce the amount of power you apply to the ball.
- Strike the ball with the toe of the putter. Some PGA Tour players will attempt to hit the ball from the toe end of the face to transfer less energy to the ball. I wouldn’t advise trying this method unless you are a good player.
- Aim for a spot short of the hole. This can be a useful tip even if you’re only putting downhill as it focuses your mind on hitting the ball with less speed.
Once you have these technical aspects sorted, it then comes down to this working on your feel for distance and your ability to read the green.
Reading The Putting Green
Assuming you have improved your stroke the next thing you need to do is work out how much the speed will affect the break. Generally speaking, a downhill putt will break more than an uphill putt across the same slope. As you approach and walk around the green try to determine any slopes that will affect the speed of your putt.
If the greens are quicker than you are normally used to then you are going to have to play more break as well.
Always watch your playing partners putts as they will give you a great feel for just how fast the green is.
Always try to work out the high side of the hole so if the greens are super fast you can attempt to die the ball into the hole.
Here are some more tips for green reading.
Best Putters For Fast Greens
When playing on quick greens, it’s important to select the right putter. The ideal putter will help you maintain a consistent stroke and give you better distance control. Slow greens require more power and so perhaps a club with more mass is recommended. On lightning-fast greens, however, a lighter club might make more sense.
Check out some tips from Brad Faxon who was one of the best putters on tour.
Adjusting Your Putting Stroke
While some advocate striking the ball from the toe I think that’s too complicated for most ordinary golfers. Stick with your normal stroke but adjust the distance you hit the ball by taking a shorter than usual backswing or by grouping down the shaft. Golf’s complicated enough as it is without trying to make it even more difficult.
Just remember to allow for a greater amount of break when the speed of the greens is faster than normal.
Quiet Wrists For More Holed Putts
When putting on fast greens, it is important to keep your wrists quiet. This will help ensure a smooth and consistent stroke that can be easily repeated. Keeping the wrists quiet during the putt allows you to make better contact with the ball and get it closer to the hole. The less movement in the wrist, the more likely you are to hit an accurate shot.
When the greens are extremely fast then you need to be striking the ball well as any errors tend to be magnified.
Creating A Pendulum Putting Stroke
To putt successfully on lightning fast greens, you must develop a pendulum putting stroke. To do so, start by taking a smaller backswing and then let the clubhead move in a straight line toward the hole. Your arms should stay relaxed throughout the motion, as tension will significantly affect your accuracy. Practicing this technique before hitting the green is essential for success when playing on lightening-fast surfaces.
When it comes to speed control, practice makes perfect. Pre-round warm-ups can help you gauge how hard you need to hit each putt. This allows you to adjust your swing accordingly and avoid those dreaded three putts during an important round of golf! If you want to make more putts at the golf club then having a solid putting stroke will certainly be a great start.
Putting Tips For Fast Greens: Conclusion
It’s time to put your new putting skills into action. Putting on a greens is akin to a dance; you must find the correct rhythm and groove in order to get it right. You have all the tools now, so go out there and work it!
They say that practice makes perfect – but even if perfection isn’t achieved just yet, I’m sure that applying these tips will make you a better putter. So take some deep breaths, remain calm and focused, and watch those balls drop into the cup with ease.
