How to Fix Common Putting Mistakes and Lower Your Score

Here’s a hard truth: you can stripe drives and hit greens all day, but if you’re three-putting every hole, you’re hemorrhaging strokes. The putter isn’t just another club—it’s the scoring club. And for most amateurs, it’s also the most misused.

Fixing putting mistakes is the fastest way to shave shots off your scorecard. We’re not talking about buying a new $400 flat stick. We’re talking about understanding what you’re doing wrong—and how to stop doing it.

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TLDR – Quick Guide

• Mistake 1: Poor alignment – fix it with a chalk line or alignment mirror.
• Mistake 2: Inconsistent tempo – practice with a metronome or rhythm drills.
• Mistake 3: Decelerating through the ball – commit to your stroke.
• Mistake 4: Reading greens like a horoscope – learn to read slope, not hope.
• Mistake 5: Ignoring distance control – prioritize lag putting drills.

Detailed Breakdown

1. Poor Alignment

If your eyes aren’t over the ball or your shoulders are off, you’ll miss even straight putts. A classic sign? You consistently miss in the same direction.

Fix It:

• Use an alignment mirror during practice.
• Lay down a chalk line at home or on the practice green.
• Check eye position—your eyes should be directly over or slightly inside the ball.

2. Inconsistent Tempo

Many amateurs rush short putts and hesitate on long ones, wrecking rhythm. Tempo should stay the same, regardless of distance.

Fix It:

• Use the Tour Tempo app or a metronome to develop a consistent stroke cadence.
• Try a simple 1-2 count: backstroke on “1”, follow-through on “2”.

3. Decelerating the Stroke

Slowing down before impact leads to jerky, inconsistent contact. You want acceleration through the ball—not a death grip panic tap.

Fix It:

• Focus on making a smooth, accelerating follow-through.
• Picture tossing a ball underhand—same fluid motion applies.

4. Bad Green Reading

If you’re playing break where there is none or ignoring it where it exists, you’re gambling, not putting.

Fix It:

• Walk the line from both sides and behind the ball.
• Practice reading greens with a coin toss game: guess the break before putting and compare your guess to reality.

Tools like AimPoint Express have helped pros like Adam Scott sink more putts. Learn it, use it.

5. Distance Control Errors

Lag putting isn’t glamorous, but it’s what separates the 80s from the 70s. Misjudge pace and you’ll leave yourself sweating those 6-foot testers.

Fix It:

• Use the “ladder drill” to dial in feel.
• Focus on the length of your backstroke to control speed, not the strength of the hit.

Key Takeaways

• Alignment matters more than you think: Practice with visual aids to groove consistency.
• Keep your tempo steady: Smooth rhythm equals better contact.
• Accelerate through the ball: Deceleration kills good strokes.
• Read with intent: Make educated guesses, not hopeful stabs.
• Distance = confidence: Solid lag putting keeps scores low and mental games intact.

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