It’s All About Speed
By Matt Keel
This year I went to the Waste Management Phoenix Open to watch the Pro-Am. During the round, I heard the amateur asking the pro to read his putt. The amateur asked the pro if the putt would break one cup outside the hole. The pro’s response was that it depends on the speed of the putt. The pro was 100% correct. Most amateurs are more concerned with the amount of break and do not consider the speed of the putt. When you’re reading a putt, consider the break and the speed. Speed is most important.
Getting the speed of your putt correct is simply putting the ball the correct distance. Going forward, I will refer the speed of the putt as distance and the break of the putt as direction. Think about the consequences of getting the direction wrong versus getting the distance wrong. If your direction is wrong, you typically miss the hole by a foot or so on either side leaving yourself a short second putt. However, if you are wrong on speed, you could be long or short by ten feet leaving yourself a long second putt. If you consistently struggle putting the ball the right distance, you probably have a lot of three putts on your card.
How do you control your distance?
The size of your backswing of your putting stroke will control your distance. A shorter backswing will hit the ball shorter and a longer backswing will hit the ball further. Here is a good system to use as a starting point. You need four inches of backswing for every ten feet you want to putt. 4 inches = 10 ft, 8 inches = 20 ft, and 12 inches = 30 ft. This is a general basis and may vary due to the speed of the greens and for uphill and downhill putts. This system is a good starting point until you develop feel and touch.
Here is a great drill to use to implement this system for a ten-foot putt. Refer to photo 1 to set up the drill. Place a tee ten feet away from the hole. Place a second tee four inches behind the first tee. Next, place a third tee 8 inches in front of the first tee. Place your ball just in front of the first tee so your putter face is in line with the first tee. Your putting stroke should start at the middle tee, go to the back tee and follow through past the front tee. Refer to photos 2 and 3. Your putting stroke should be one motion from beginning to end. Use this drill to practice ten-foot putts and then move to twenty-foot putts. For a twenty-foot putt repeat the process but place the back tee eight inches behind the middle tee and lengthen the distance for the forward tee.
Make your goals eliminating three putts and making more shorter putts. When you read your next putt, consider both distance and direction with distance being more important. Use the size of your backswing to control your distance. Begin with the 4-inch system as a guideline until you develop feel and touch and watch your scores come down.
Matt Keel is the Director of Instruction at Wildfire Golf Club located at the JW Marriott at Desert Ridge Resort and Spa. For any questions or information about golf lessons email Matt at Mattkeel@pga.com or visit the website www.Mattkeelgolf.com.
