5 Common Putting Mistakes—and How You Can Correct Them During Your Next Round
Putting can make or break your golf game. While hitting long drives and crisp iron shots feels satisfying, it’s the putter that ultimately determines your score.
Unfortunately, many golfers struggle on the green due to a few common mistakes. The good news? You can correct these issues during your next round with a little awareness and practice. Let’s dive in.
Poor Alignment
The Mistake: Many golfers aim their putter face incorrectly, either to the left or right of the target. This misalignment causes the ball to miss the hole, even if you make a perfect stroke.
How to Fix It: Before you putt, take a moment to align your putter face squarely to your target. Use alignment aids on your putter or the ball to double-check. Stand behind the ball to visualize the line, and trust your setup. If you’re using the Focalpoint Putter, its built-in alignment features can make this step much easier.
Inconsistent Tempo
The Mistake: Rushing or decelerating through the stroke leads to poor distance control and accuracy.
How to Fix It: Focus on maintaining a smooth, consistent tempo. Think of your putting stroke as a pendulum—a back-and-forth motion with no jerks or pauses. Practice saying “1-2” in your head, timing “1” for the backswing and “2” for the forward stroke.
Failing to Read the Green
The Mistake: Ignoring subtle breaks and slopes can cause you to misjudge the line, resulting in missed putts.
How to Fix It: Take time to assess the green. Walk around your putt to observe the slope from multiple angles. Look for changes in elevation and grain direction. Trust your instincts and commit to the line you choose.
Hitting the Ball Off-Center
The Mistake: Striking the ball anywhere but the center of the putter face reduces accuracy and consistency.
How to Fix It: Work on striking the sweet spot of your putter. During your next round, focus on a smaller backswing to improve control. You can also use a training aid like impact tape to see where you’re hitting the ball. The Focalpoint's Optimum Putter's forgiving design can help you achieve better contact naturally.
Overthinking the Stroke
The Mistake: Allowing nerves or overanalysis to take over, leading to a stiff, mechanical stroke.
How to Fix It: Keep it simple. Trust your preparation and make a confident stroke. A pre-shot routine can help calm your mind and focus on execution. Take a deep breath, visualize the ball going into the hole, and let your muscle memory take over.
Conclusion
Putting mistakes happen to everyone, but they don’t have to derail your game. By addressing these common errors and using rounds as opportunities to practice, you’ll build confidence and improve over time. If you’re looking for a putter designed to make putting simpler and more effective, consider Focalpoint's Optimum putter—the ultimate tool for training while you play.
Ready to elevate your game? Check out Focalpoint Putters and take the first step toward mastering the green.
