Putting. Firm or Soft?

[James_Black]

People say that if you put softly there's 4 doors in instead of one.

But I prefer to hit it firm for most putts, better to be a bit long than to have never given it a chance.

what do you think?

[sean_miller]

Other - wobbly.

I have some decent putting rounds, but this season I've also blown the first putt past, coming up short on the comebacker, then stroked that tap-in putt like it was shot out of a gun. I rock!

[pxc]

I usually do the opposite of whatever my last miss was (this is NOT effective), so I picked I don't know.

[dhanson]

It depends on the putt. I put three footers into the back of the cup, but might take a different approach with a lengthy putt that has a lot of break.

[misty_mountainhop]

I voted soft but I'm a bit mixed. Tend to hit the shorter putts firm(ish) but like to die the longer ones at the holeside.

[hoser]

I voted for soft but mixed would better describe my style.

Most short or uphill putts I like to hit firmly. Anything downhill I usually die at the hole. Then there is the occasional 4 foot slider that I want to break into the top of the cup. Those I'll hit at a medium pace. I want them to catch the break but not lip out.

[$2 Nassau]

I'm a pretty soft putter. I started noticing it this year, I tend to try to die the ball in the hole. Not purposely it's just how I putt I guess...I am trying to get a little firmer with those 3-5 footers.

[MMouse]

Other - wobbly.

I feel ya on this one. This weekend was the club championship and my putting was ALL OVER. Way past, way short etc etc etc.

[bwdial]

Firm. Putting is (usually) the strongest aspect of my game. I did four putt a hole the other day, but it was just a massive brain fart. I actually hit the first putt way too softly. Three footers coming back usually don't worry me too much.

[buckeyeben14]

I tend to strike the ball firm so i dont leave a birdie put short. It paid off today

[zeg]

I tend to go soft, because I have somewhat poor distance control for longer putts. If I try to go firm, I will often miss WAY long. It's frustrating leaving putts short, but I can usually leave < 5 feet short, whereas I'll usually be more than 5 feet long. If I'm putting downhill, I'll usually try to miss long so my next putt will be back uphill, but otherwise I try to leave it right at the hole, and if it comes up short, it's ok with me.

I'm picking up a new blade putter, since I seem to have a bit better feel with those than with my fairly hefty mallet. We'll see if that helps... I'd like to be able to leave it a couple feet long with consistency.

[goob3r]

Die into the cup. Definitely soft, though inside of 3-4 feet I usually just bury those.

[jamo]

Soft. When I start putting it too hard I run short putts by, and I start lipping them all out because I tend to read them as I were hitting the ball soft.

[right handed phil mickelson]

Firm. Everyone is so weirded out with my putting stroke because I take it back like 3 inches for a 30 foot putt haha (massive acceleration). So I'd say that I hit it firm.

[danieldrieberg]

It depends on the putt. I put three footers into the back of the cup, but might take a different approach with a lengthy putt that has a lot of break.

depends on each putt. My speed is chosen first then line.

[Jay-Bird]

Both. Depends on what's going on behind the hole, on the way to the hole, distance etc.

Today I had three one-putts in a row. One was a five-footer that had a lot of left to right, quite down hill. I smoothly rolled it into the high side. The next hole I made in a slightly downhill left to right 20 footer that trickled in. On the next hole I firmly hit a right to left, slightly uphill putt and it went in with some speed. Then I doubled 7...

[Zeph]

Both. On longer putts, I take a long backswing and lag the clubhead down to the ball. Helps me a lot on distance control.

On shorter putts with less break that I am confident I can get in the hole, I hit it firmer.

[TourSpoon]

Lately, I have been all about speed and hitting it to the hole so that it dies or goes past a few inches so I would definitely say softer. On the shortish or uphill putts I tend to hit it firm.