How to Make Long Putts

Any golfer, amateur or professional, would admit that the key to a low score is being able to sink a putt. When faced with the challenge of draining a long putt of 25 feet or more, there are a few things a golfer could do to prepare and gain the ability to drop it in the cup. Being able to do so can provide a boost of confidence that can translate into recording more birdies and pars as opposed to bogeys or worse.

Instructions

    • 1

      Take a step back and do your best to judge the length between the ball and the hole. Look closely at the green and try to determine if it is fast or slow, or if there is an uphill or downhill slope that may keep the ball from getting close or going in the hole. Being able to read a left or right break is, of course, important, but the ball winding up close to the hole and missing left or right is better than missing left or right and overshooting the target by 5 or 10 feet. Inability to judge speed could leave you with a difficult second putt, which leads to higher scores.

    • 2

      Stand tall. Once you have a good idea about how far the ball is from the hole, the taller you stand will help you maintain knowledge of that distance and allow you to use your arms more than your wrists during your stroke, giving it a more natural pendulum feel.

    • 3

      Take a few practice swings to build confidence in your swing. Being scared of leaving a putt too short can lead to just that, and the same goes for being scared of hitting a putt too hard. One way to train yourself on learning how much of a backswing you need is by practicing putts on a green or your carpet with about a dozen balls at varying distances. Hit toward a target, starting with the closest ball, and work your way to the ball furthest from that target. Pay close attention to how much your backswing increases with each putt, and make sure that the forward swing you use is the same. As you get further away from the target, start to decrease the amount of bend in your knees, which will help you stand more upright and judge the distance better.

    • 4

      Watch for imperfections on the green. Footprints, leaves, sticks, or divots can impede a ball's path to the cup, especially from longer distances. Be sure to remove any debris from the green and repair any ball marks so the path between the ball and the cup is as clean as possible. Then address the ball and take your shot.

    • 5

      Control the need to be aggressive. Depending on your distance from the hole, being aggressive and striking the ball hard may not be the best approach. Sometimes, an aggressive putt can hold its line better, but if your read of the green is incorrect, it may stop outside of a range where you can make an easy second putt. Try taking a lag approach and hitting a ball that dies as it gets close to the hole. Slower putts have about 75 to 100 percent of the hole available to them as it gets closer. Faster putts only have about half of the cup due to the higher speed.

    • 6

      Give it a go and try to sink the putt. Don't think that just because the ball is far away, the best plan is to get it close and two putt. Hit toward the hole and go for it, because you have a better chance of getting it close or getting it in if you're actually trying to get it in.