Why break putts instead of hitting straight?

[bradwillrockyou]

Why do most golfers break putts instead of putting in a direct line?

I think I understand the basics of green reading and how to make putts break, but it just doesn't seem like a slow breaking putt should be as accurate as a direct line putt that is hit at a higher rate of speed . The margin of error in reading a green correctly "seems" like it would be statistically less accurate than a straight putt (where it "seems" like the only variables are direct line and speed). I have not been able to find any solid reasoning or data that proves that a breaking putt has a higher rate of accuracy over a putt that is putted in a direct line. It just seems to be an accepted given in golf that you should make a putt break instead of putting in a straight line. Why?

(I can see how breaking putts makes a "little" more sense for really long putts, but I see many pros missing three foot breaking putts)

Just wondering. If anyone can enlighten me, it'd be appreciated!

Thanks!

[Gibby]

...so when you miss it doesn't go 10 feet by the hole. Plus, the faster the ball is traveling a it tries to enter the hole, the more likely it will lip out instead of dropping in. If the ball is traveling much faster as it comes up on the hole, you are essentially making the hole smaller. But hey, there are times where hitting a putt harder and taking the break out makes sense. Particularly on uphill putts, and short ones. Anything above ten feet I wouldn't try "taking the break out of".

[jonnythan]

When you hit straight line, you will miss the hole, and if you try to hit it hard enough so that it goes to the hole, and you don't get a miracle, it will go 50 feet past the hole.

The ball is going to follow the contours of the green, no matter what. You have to compensate for that. Your ball follows the break of the green - you don't putt so that your ball breaks. The ball will break regardless and you are trying to predict how it will do so.

[Titleist_ProV1x]

I hear ya, I try to take the break out of every putt I can, and have had great success in doing so, then again I'm not like most golfers because I look at the hole as I putt, I know, I know this is totally wrong as I've been told, but I very rarely 3 putt, and my lag putts usually stop within 2 feet of the hole, it's a gift I have it has to be, because I never practice putting

I can understand the faster the putt, the smaller the hole, but at 3 feet GO FOR IT! lol

[Uber$winG]

Maybe I’m misreading what it is that you are trying to convey… But I don’t think one tries to “make putts break;” instead, one tries to play the break – one tries to play the contours of the green.

Having said that… all putts are straight line putts to a target. Sometimes the target is the actual hole, but not very often.

[Rexx]

(I can see how breaking putts makes a "little" more sense for really long putts, but I see many pros missing three foot breaking putts)

Actually, pros are typically far more aggressive on putts inside of 3 feet than amateurs. Most do aim at the center (or just off-center) and hit it with speed. But unlike amateurs, they can putt on a line nearly every time, so it is right choice for them. For amateurs (i.e. not so good putters), the choice can be hazier.

[jamo]

No matter how hard you hit a putt (within reason), it will break. And when it does you will be left with 20 feet left for your come-backer. Especially if your aim is off by a degree or 2.

There are basically 2 schools of thought in putting: either you play more break and die the ball into the hole (where if your line is off the ball went the perfect distance), or you try to hit it through some of the break, playing less of it and hitting the ball harder. Typically in the second case if you miss you want to be 18 inches past, or at least that is what most people say. You seem to want an extreme version of the second example, and it really isn't possible. Gravity will still make the ball break.

[Zeph]

On shorter putts I sometimes take the break out, if it's not too much, but never long anything with some distance on it. I want the ball to have the speed so it will roll no further than a foot past the hole. By taking away the break on a 10 feet putt, you could end up farther from the hole than you were. How much a putt breaks depends on the speed. The more break on the putt, the harder you have to hit it. Consequently, when you miss (which will be most of the time), you will risk being farther from the hole. Now, using the same technique you could end up on the other side again, still far from the hole. Does it sound like a good strategy? No.

I expect most putts to go in, but to be so sure it will go in that you knock out all the break is just silly.

[Shorty]

I hear ya, I try to take the break out of every putt I can, and have had great success in doing so, then again I'm not like most golfers because I look at the hole as I putt, I know, I know this is totally wrong as I've been told, but I very rarely 3 putt, and my lag putts usually stop within 2 feet of the hole, it's a gift I have it has to be, because I never practice putting

Your posts get more and more ridiculous. lol.

You have obviously never putted on fast greens. lol Either that or the greens you play on have no break. lol. Describing your putting as a "gift" is silly. lol If you have even a three foot putt that a normal player would allow 3 inches of break for with a firm putt, you are going to have a five footer coming back if it is a quick green and you miss. lol My guess is that your greens are flat and that you are taking the break out of putts because there is no break to start with. lol The only time I will take the break out is if it is a stableford or par competition and this is my final putt for. If it goes five feet past I'm picking it up anyway. On slower greens with a small amount of break, I'll be firm, but it's not going far past if I miss.

[saevel25]

Downhill, putt with break
Uphill, take the break out of it.

Those are how i putt. Unless the sucker is a nasty putt, like i had last thursday. I was on the front of the green, the pin in the back, and the whole green goes right to left and back to front. So i had a huge uphill put that broke some 15 to the left. I almost made the 40 footer for birdie.

But usually if its with in 10 feet, i will take some break out of it with an uphill putt, and play more break on a downhill..

[goblue107501]

Why do most golfers break putts instead of putting in a direct line?

It is pretty simple really, putts break because of gravity. You could hit every putt straight at the hole, but many of them will never go it because you will have to hit them so hard the ball will just roll over the hole. The shorter the putt, the easier it is to do, but even then, if there is some break, you have to hit it so hard the margin for error is very slim. If you don't hit the exact right spot, the ball will lip out since it will be going too fast to drop.

Let's say you have a 5 foot putt and the proper read is to hit it a cup outside the right edge. This is a putt that is going to move from right to left, no question about it. If you hit it a cup outside, with the right speed, the ball will go in. The good thing is, you can be off by an inch or two and it will still go in since it won't have much speed to go by the hole. You could take this same putt and hit it hard, directly at the hole. It might go in, but for it to do so, you have to hit the hole in the exact right spot for it to hit enough of the hole to drop rather than lip out. The catch is, if you miss, the ball will roll several feet by the hole, leaving another tough putt coming back. My question would be, why take that risk? If you play the break with less speed and miss, you will be left with a 6 inch tap in. So basically, the harder you have to hit it, to take the break out, the less margin for error you have. The further the putt is, the more you have to play any (significant) break to make it. If you have a 15 foot putt that breaks 2 feet and you want to hit it hard staight at the hole, you will miss and have 30 feet coming back since you have to hit the ball so hard to take the break out.

[bradwillrockyou]

Thanks for all the replies to this everyone! This is all very helpful. I hadn't considered that you should be trying to make a (possible) second putt as short as possible, so the thoughts about not hitting a faster putt (that may run way past the hole) make a lot of sense. I think I was a little off in my estimation of many pros using the break for three foot putts. Anyway, thanks again. This is exactly the kind of help I was hoping for. You guys rock!