How to Master Speed Control on the Greens – How To Break 80
Want to stop three-putting and lower your scores? Mastering speed control in putting is the key. Here’s how you can improve:
- Understand what affects putt speed: Green speed, slope, grass grain, and weather conditions all impact how your ball rolls.
- Adjust your stroke for distance: Use a proportional backswing and maintain forward momentum for consistent results.
- Practice effective drills: Try the Ladder, Clock Face, and Leap Frog drills to sharpen your distance control.
- Plan your approach: Test green speeds before your round and adjust your strategy for uphill and downhill putts.
Speed Control Basics
What Affects Putt Speed
Several factors influence how fast your ball travels on the green. Green speed plays a big role – on faster greens, you need less force, while slower greens require more effort to get the ball moving.
Slope is another key element. Uphill putts demand extra force to counter gravity, while downhill putts need a softer touch to avoid overshooting.
The grain of the grass, or the direction it grows, also makes a difference. Putting with the grain reduces friction, making the ball roll faster. Going against the grain adds resistance, slowing it down.
Finally, environmental conditions like moisture, sunlight, wind, and temperature can change how the ball rolls. These factors shape how speed interacts with your chosen line.
How Speed Changes Your Putting Line
Once you understand these factors, it’s clear that speed has a direct impact on your putting line. Faster putts tend to stay straighter, minimizing the break, while slower putts curve more, requiring you to adjust your aim.
For sidehill putts, a slower stroke follows the natural curve of the slope, while a firmer stroke reduces the break. Most golfers aim for a pace that allows the ball to roll just past the hole, making the next putt easier to handle.
Uphill putts are more forgiving and tend to hold their line, but downhill putts demand extra precision to avoid overshooting the hole.
3 Steps to Better Speed Control
Build a Smooth Putting Stroke
A smooth stroke is key for managing speed on the green. Start by aligning your eyes directly over the ball and keeping your lower body steady. Focus on using your shoulders to create a fluid, rhythmic motion.
Here’s how to refine your stroke:
- Keep your head steady and your eyes fixed on the ball.
- Relax your grip to avoid tension.
- Engage your shoulders to guide the movement.
- Minimize wrist action to maintain control.
Practice this motion without a ball to develop muscle memory. Once it feels natural, introduce the ball and focus on maintaining that same smooth rhythm. Adjust your backswing length depending on the distance of the putt.
Adjust Backswing Length for Distance
Visualize your stroke like a clock – shorter strokes for closer putts, longer strokes for farther ones. Keeping your backswing proportional to the putt distance helps ensure a balanced and rhythmic stroke. The goal is to maintain steady acceleration through impact, no matter the length of the putt.
Once you’ve matched your backswing to the distance, focus on keeping the stroke fluid and consistent.
Maintain Forward Momentum
One common mistake is slowing down at impact, which can throw off speed control. Instead, aim for steady acceleration as you strike the ball. Let your follow-through naturally extend beyond your backswing to keep the motion smooth and continuous. Practicing this forward momentum will help you avoid the urge to “hit” the ball and lead to more consistent speed control.
PACE PUTTING: 3 drills to improve your DISTANCE CONTROL
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Speed Control Practice Drills
Fine-tune your putting skills and master speed control with these practical drills.
Ladder Drill Setup and Practice
Place five balls at intervals of 10 feet, starting from 10 feet and extending to 50 feet from the hole. Begin at the closest distance and work your way back.
- Track how close each putt gets to the hole.
- Aim to leave each ball within 2 feet of the target.
- Complete three sets and jot down your results.
Focus on keeping your stroke smooth while adjusting your backswing to match each distance. Once you’ve completed this, move on to the Clock Face Drill to practice from different angles.
Clock Face Drill Guide
Stand 20 feet from the hole and position balls at four points around it: 12, 3, 6, and 9 o’clock. This setup helps you practice speed control across various slopes and angles.
- Putt three balls from each position.
- Pay attention to how slopes influence the speed of your putts.
- Maintain a consistent tempo regardless of the slope.
- Adjust your stroke for uphill putts (add about 20% more power) and downhill putts (reduce by 20%).
When you’re ready to work on distance control for longer putts, give the Leap Frog Drill a try.
Leap Frog Drill Method
This drill focuses on developing touch and precision for longer putts. Start with three balls placed 30 feet from the hole. Putt the first ball, then aim to place the second ball just beyond the first, and the third just beyond the second.
Progress through the following distances:
Try to keep 3-5 foot gaps between the balls. The goal is to achieve evenly spaced putts, each slightly farther than the last. Incorporate these drills into a 30-minute practice session to see noticeable improvements on the course.
Course Management for Better Speed Control
Pre-Round Speed Check
Before starting your round, test the green speed on the practice green. Roll a few putts from different distances and angles to get a feel for how fast or slow the greens are that day. This simple step helps you adjust your stroke accordingly. Afterward, try some drills to fine-tune your control over putting speed.
Conclusion: Speed Control Success
Speed Control Checklist
To improve your speed control, focus on these key points:
- Test the green speed before starting your round.
- Analyze the slope to understand the break.
- Adjust your stroke length based on the distance.
- Keep a smooth follow-through after making contact with the ball.
These basics build on the techniques covered earlier.
Keep Practicing Your Putting
Consistent practice is the secret to mastering green speed. Use drills like the ladder, clock face, and leapfrog to fine-tune your skills. For more tips and exercises, check out the How To Break 80 Precision Putting Video Course. It’s packed with useful strategies to take your speed control to the next level.
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