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Putting Tips: Green Reading, Speed & Video Lessons

Q: Left-hand-low or conventional grip: which should you choose?

There is no single right answer. A left-hand-low or claw grip helps golfers whose right hand takes over; test them on the practice green and keep the one that keeps your face most stable.

Putting accounts for about 40% of the shots in a round. Identify what’s causing you to lose strokes on the green, then find the pro lesson that addresses it: stance, swing, reading the green, stroke control, or mental game.

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Putting in 30 Seconds

A good putt comes down to three things: a line well-read, a speed well-balanced and a square face at impact. Most missed short putts are due to the clubface or the stroke; most three-putts are due to poor judgment on long putts.

Start by identifying where you lose the most strokes using the diagnostic tool below, then work on one thing at a time on the putting green.

Where Are You Losing Strokes? The 6-Question Diagnosis

Think about your last few rounds, then click the option that sounds most like you.

1Do you often miss short putts, to the left or right of the hole?Your putter face or your stroke → 2Do your wrists break, or does your putter accelerate poorly?Stabilize the movement → 3Leaving your long putts way short or way long?Work on speed control → 4Not sure which way the putt will go?Learn how to read the greens → 5Not comfortable or not well aligned at address?Review your grip and posture → 6Losing your nerve on the putts that matter?A solid routine and mental game →

Where should I start?

Three lessons to build the foundation: putting step by step, centered contact and speed control.

20 minLearning to Putt: From Grip to Speed ControlAll the basics of putting in order: grip, stance, eye focus, arcing stroke, reading the green from four angles, the “one potato, two potato” tempo, and two exercises for controlling the stroke.Paige Spiranac · 126K views · 🇬🇧 Summary★★★★★11 minTiger Woods' Putting Drill: The Two TeesTiger hits every putt right down the middle by placing two tees at the toe and heel of the putter, then puts “toward the image,” just as his father taught him.Tiger Woods · 975K views · 🇬🇧 Summary★★★★★2 minViktor Hovland's Lag Putting SecretOn a 45-foot putt, Hovland doesn't just look at the hole: he picks a point 60 percent of the way there and gauges how fast the ball needs to travel to reach it.Viktor Hovland · 5,000 views · 🇬🇧 Summary★★★★

Grip and Posture

Good posture positions your eyes above the line and allows your arms to hang freely. The grip—whether classic, left-hand-low, or pinch—is primarily used to keep the face stable.

4 minNelly Korda's Left-Hand-Low Putting: Interlocked GripNelly Korda putts left hand low, fingers interlocked, so she moves the putter with her chest rather than her hands, especially under pressure.Nelly Korda · 224K views · 🇬🇧 Summary★★★★★2 minTommy Fleetwood's Claw Putting Grip: A More Stable FaceFleetwood has switched from the classic grip to a “pinch” or “pencil” grip, which takes the right hand out of the swing and stabilizes the rotation of the clubface.Tommy Fleetwood · 180,000 views · 🇬🇧 Summary★★★★10 minJustin Rose's putting session with Phil KenyonBefore a tournament, Rose and his coach check his setup, the ball's line matched to the top of the putter, a start-line gate and the slope in percent.Justin Rose · 63K views · 🇬🇧 Summary★★★★★4 minPutting Tips from the Champions: John Daly and Gary PlayerA compilation of encounters: aim with the clubface, turn the body, and on the greens go straight back, straight through, head down.John Daly · 3,000 views · 🇬🇧 Summary★★★2 minJohn Daly's Chip and Putt for Beginners: Learning BackwardsAccording to John Daly, everyone knows how to hit a driver: the difference is made within 150 yards, which is why he advises beginners to focus on chipping and putting first.John Daly · 263K views · 🇬🇧 Summary★★★17 minMatthieu Pavon's Putting Exercises: Proper StanceSetup calibrated with marks on the ground, a ball-bearing plate for the roll off the face, then each ball hitting the previous one: Pavon's routine.Matthieu Pavon · 30K views · 🇫🇷 In French★★★★★3 min3 Putting Green Drills: Neck, Card and StickThree checks on the putting green: keep the back of your neck parallel to the ground, hold your scorecard above your knees to stabilize your lower body, and align the clubface with your sternum.Patrice Amadieu · 12K views · 🇫🇷 In French★★★★2 minPutting Stroke for Beginners: The Basics by Patrice AmadieuA symmetrical pendulum of arms and club, the face sliding along a club laid on the ground, then speed controlled by the length of the stroke.Patrice Amadieu · 19K views · 🇫🇷 In French★★★6 minTwo putts per green: Jean-Marc Espelt's 3 keysA smooth swing thanks to the putter’s weight, the ball positioned below your left eye, and your neck parallel to the ground: three tips to help you avoid three-putts.Jean-Marc Espelt · 1K views · 🇫🇷 In French★★★

For more information: The grip · Address posture · Alignment

The Stroke: Face, Centered Contact and Wrists

Short putts are made with a square face and a strike in the center of the putter. These exercises eliminate wrist action and help you feel a smooth, consistent swing.

10 minRory McIlroy's Putting: Right Arm and AimRory shares his two fundamentals—keeping his right arm tucked in and lowering his right shoulder—along with his challenge of six consecutive putts and his focus on a nearby spot.Rory McIlroy · 75,000 views · 🇬🇧 Summary★★★★★11 minBryson DeChambeau's Putting: Roll, Launch, ClockDeChambeau checks his roll along a chalk line, reviews launch angle in slow motion and finds the straight putts by walking around the hole.Bryson DeChambeau · 756K views · 🇬🇧 Summary★★★★★9 minWristy Putting: The Alignment Stick DrillTwo clubs taped under your armpits, a putter on top, hands underneath: an exercise that locks the “Y” formed by your arms and the putter and eliminates wrist movement.Gabriel Anglade · 21K views · 🇫🇷 In French★★★★7 min3-Foot Putts: The Ball-Under-the-Wrist DrillThe face controls most of the start direction: a ball tucked between wrist and grip stops the wrists from turning the face, so the torso does the work.Adrien Dubois · 8K views · 🇫🇷 In French★★★

Reading the greens

Determining the slope, its highest point, and where the ball will enter the hole: reading the green involves using your feet just as much as your eyes.

4 minReading Greens with Your Feet, Justin Rose's WayRose walks in a semicircle to feel where the slope changes direction, then adjusts his stance until a stick on the ground points to the center of the hole.Justin Rose · 335K views · 🇬🇧 Summary★★★★★4 minJordan Spieth's Apex Point in PuttingOn long putts, Spieth finds the highest point on the line, then reads from the high side to see where the ball rolls on its own.Jordan Spieth · 251K views · 🇬🇧 Summary★★★★★15 minRickie Fowler's Green Reading, Step by StepRickie Fowler reads the putt from the low side, starting from the point where the ball enters the hole, checks his setup in the mirror, and strikes the ball with a centered contact.Rickie Fowler · 551K views · 🇬🇧 Summary★★★★★10 minScottie Scheffler's Putting Pre-Shot Routine (with Nelly Korda)Scheffler and Korda compare their green reading, their practice strokes and their target: the entry point into the hole rather than an intermediate spot.Scottie Scheffler · 181K views · 🇬🇧 Summary★★★★★4 minTiger Woods' Putting Tips, by Martin HallTwo habits of Tiger Woods reported by Martin Hall: reading the second half of the putt first and practicing with just his right hand to get a feel for the clubface.Martin Hall · 22K views · 🇬🇧 Summary★★★★

Speed Control on Long Putts

On a long putt, the goal is to leave the ball within three feet of the hole. Speed control depends on ball position, the length of the stroke and a reference point on the line.

9 minGary Player's chip shot and putting: his key pointsPlayer puts the wedge away to roll the ball with a 7-iron, then works on long-putt speed, short putts and reading the worn edge of the hole.Gary Player · 597K views · 🇬🇧 Summary★★★★21 minXander Schauffele's Putting Drills: Aim and PaceWith his putting coach Derek Uyeda, Schauffele calibrates his eyes and aim (using a board, string, and plates) and then works on controlling his stroke based on the ball's roll time.Xander Schauffele · 20,000 views · 🇬🇧 Summary★★★★2 minJack Nicklaus Putting: How to Control Your SpeedFor Jack Nicklaus, speed matters more than direction: a lightweight putter that stays low to the ground at the start of the stroke, with weight felt at impact, followed by a follow-through.Jack Nicklaus · 66K views · 🇬🇧 Summary★★★6 minBall Position and Speed Control with Van de VeldeSpeed control starts with ball position: too far right and you hit down, so the ball bounces; at the bottom of the arc or slightly left, it rolls true.Jean Van de Velde · 4K views · 🇫🇷 In French★★★★

For more information: Range Practice

Pre-shot Routine and Mental Game on the Green

A consistent pre-shot routine on every putt leaves less room for doubt. These pros show how they read, aim, and strike the ball without freezing up over it.

4 minJustin Rose's Focus on PuttingHis attention and eyes move from the target to the ball, then Rose strikes as his attention goes back to the target: nothing stays frozen over the ball.Justin Rose · 49K views · 🇬🇧 Summary★★★★★1 minViktor Hovland's Putting Routine on a 10-Foot PuttHovland reads the slope with his feet (AimPoint), aims at the edge of the hole, aligns the ball's path and then the putter's path, and strikes the ball.Viktor Hovland · 5,000 views · 🇬🇧 Summary★★★★

For more information: Pre-shot routine · Psychology and Mental Game

Putting in the Context of Broader Lessons

Lessons on short game or strategy, with a strong emphasis on putting.

5 minJustin Rose's Tips for Making More BirdiesFrom the drive to the putt, Rose provides a tip for each shot: maximum speed after the ball, shift your weight to the left to compress the ball, and use your upper body when hitting wedges.Justin Rose · 512,000 views · 🇬🇧 Summary★★★★★22 minCéline Boutier's Course Management, from Tee to GreenOn the course, Boutier explains her choices: a target off the tee, minimal carry on the approach, a low or high chip depending on the lie, and reading from three angles.Céline Boutier · 4K views · 🇬🇧 Summary★★★★★16 minTommy Fleetwood's Short Game: Chip, Bunker, and Long PuttThree of Fleetwood's pre-shot routines around the green: the “lofted putt” chip, the bunker shot aimed at an impact mark, and the long putt read from the low side.Tommy Fleetwood · 2 million views · 🇬🇧 Summary★★★★★10 minPutting at Home: Alignment, Stability, and RhythmAt home, forget about slope and speed: focus on your stance angle, lower-body stability, the “1,001” cadence, and the two-ball drill.Golf Channel · 140K views · 🇬🇧 Summary★★★★8 minShort Game at Home: Putting Arc and Chipping to a FinishPutting: picture an arc and a narrow gate rather than a straight line. Chipping: start from the finish so the backswing falls into place.Danny Maude · 50,000 views · 🇬🇧 Summary★★★★17 minGolf Tips from Min Woo Lee: His Answers to Golf EnthusiastsMin Woo Lee answers fans' questions, offering a solution for each problem: slow backswing, heel-striking with long irons, over-the-top swing, ball position, pulled putts, and swing speed.Min Woo Lee · 177K views · 🇬🇧 Summary★★★★21 minGary Player's Backswing: Left Arm, Hip and PuttingBack foot turned in for coil, left arm across the chest, left hip clearing, then watch the putter strike the ball.Gary Player · 438K views · 🇬🇧 Summary★★★14 minPutting Session to Avoid 3-Putts: Jean-Baptiste Gonnet20 to 30 minutes of technique practice (stick rail, tee gate), followed by speed control drills: 4 balls in a row between the hole and a stick placed 60 cm behind it, from 5 to 8 meters away.Jean-Baptiste Gonnet · 2K views · 🇫🇷 In French★★★★5 minFace Angle in Putting: Marchildon's 80-20 RuleThe direction of a putt depends 80% on the angle of the clubface at impact and 20% on the path: focus on the clubface, aim with the ball, and keep things in perspective.Charles Marchildon · 90,000 views · 🇫🇷 In French★★★2 minCéline Boutier's Long Putts: Reading Slope and SpeedOn a putt of about 50 feet, Céline Boutier looks at the whole line, spots the rise and the slope, then makes her practice strokes with her eyes on the hole.Céline Boutier · 2K views · 🇫🇷 In French★★★

Your Questions About Putting

Should you aim at the hole or at a point in front of the ball?

Both methods are valid. Many pros choose a target point close to the ball on the read line, then strike the ball while focusing on speed. On long putts, a midpoint reference helps with pacing, as Viktor Hovland does.

How can you avoid three-putts?

Most three-putts result from a poorly judged first putt. Focus your practice on long putts, aiming to leave the ball within a one-meter circle around the hole.

Left-hand-low or conventional grip: which should you choose?

There is no single "right" answer. A low left-hand grip or a pinch grip helps golfers whose right hand dominates too much; try them out on the putting green and stick with the one that keeps your clubface the most stable.

How do you read a green when you're just starting out?

Look at the overall slope as you approach the green, then position yourself on the lower side of the putt to get a better view of the slope. With experience, your feet will also sense the slope of the ground.

How long should you practice putting?

Short, regular practice sessions are better than one long session. Fifteen minutes before each round, with one short-putt drill and one distance-control drill, can already make a real difference.

What should you do when your hands shake on short putts?

Establish a short, consistent pre-shot routine, maintain a light grip, and focus on the stroke rather than the result. If the problem persists, changing your grip may help.