How to Not Miss Short Putts
Scottie Scheffler and I have something in common. We both missed 6 footers on the 18th hole this weekend. Mine was for… a lot less money.
A few weeks ago I wrote about putters being born vs made. While I think some people have more natural “touch,” today I want to share my philosophy that helps me not miss short putts.
On Saturday I had a six footer to save bogey on the last hole. I lined it up, made a good stroke, and watched the putt snap off as I missed long on the low side. I tapped in and as everyone started shaking hands, I said out loud, “Huh, I don’t usually miss those putts.” That comment was not an accident.
I don’t remember exactly when it started, but at this point it’s definitely a thing. I talk to myself when I putt. Usually it’s just in my head. Other times, if I’m really feeling confident during match play, I’ll say it out loud. I tell myself the same thing every time I step over a putt within ~7 feet.
“I don’t miss these putts.”
There’s a bit to unpack here. First of all, the comment is ridiculous. Professional golfers only make ~60% of putts from 7 feet (shocking number). For me to claim that I don’t miss from that range is bold.
But when I tell myself that I don’t miss, I feel like it is part of my identity. I am someone that does not miss short putts. And when, like on Saturday, I do miss, I am genuinely shocked. It’s as if a short putt not going in is antithetical to who I am as a golfer. The more I say it, the more it seems to come true.
Call it induced confidence, but I see it as part of a formula that I use to hit the back of the cup more often from within that coveted 7 foot range.
A bit of technique: How to make more shorties
First off, most public courses have relatively flat greens. Especially around here in Chicago. Because of this, I have developed a few rules that help me knock down these putts with ease.
Do NOT give away the cup. From 5 feet, the ball is not going to break outside the hole when you give it pace. It’s hard to have the discipline, but I encourage you to try keeping it inside the hole inside 5 feet for an entire round. Even if you feel like there is more break. I bet your make percentage goes up. From 7 feet you may play a ball or two outside the cup. I’d rather miss low and long and be surprised that the putt had more break (like on Saturday) than try to curl in a short putt with perfect speed.
Give it pace. Pick which side of the hole you are keeping the putt inside. Line it up and hit it with pace. A missed putt should run ~18 inches past the cup. Taking the break out by hitting a putt firmly removes any doubt about your read. Just pick the edge and go.
Shorten your stroke within 7 feet
Less things go wrong when you only take it back a few inches.
The worst feeling is taking your putter back and seeing it go offline right away. You try to over correct it and start pushing or pulling your putts.
From within 7 feet, try only taking the putter back three inches and accelerating through. I’ve found that it’s almost impossible to leave putts short from this distance. The ball will get to the hole. You don’t need to take it back so far only to go offline or decelerate on the way through.
Three Simple Steps to Make More Short Putts
Tell yourself you are someone that does not miss short putts
Pick which side of the hole the putt is breaking
Shorten your putting stroke
Accelerate through the putt with some pace
3.5. Stop practicing 30 footers on the practice green. Pick a hole and make all the five footers you can until your tee time from every angle. This is where you save strokes.
Back to Scottie
I’m no psychologist, but watching Scheffler hit an iron directly at every flag strikes me as someone who tells themselves, “I don’t miss the center of the club face.” Some can argue that the language introduces the thought of doing the very thing you are trying to avoid. But when you execute enough times it takes on a life of its own. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy in a good way.
I think Scottie could use some more of that confidence on the greens. Even if it’s just speaking something into existence, I imagine we’d see less tentative strokes on must make putts like we did this weekend. As for me, I could use some better self-talk in just about every other part of my game.
This is awesome - love the tip of not giving away the cup from inside 5 feet!! Huge! If you miss the FKN hole you cannot make it or give it a chance. One item I would add from the great Lee Trevino - is get that weight on the leading foot (closest to the hole) why? Better contact, more consistent path, and roll. Great stuff here.
I think…too much