What makes a good putter (the player, not the equipment)

[Jasonbolt]

When I look at the players on tour, they all have a unique setup and stroke.  This brings me to the question: what makes a good putter?  Is it the ability to read greens and match the speed to hole putts?  Is it the mental attitude on the greens?  Setup?

Also, when you're putting is hot, what are you "feeling?"  Confidence matched with ___?  Or is it just confidence?

[jbishop15]

My teacher's top three for putting are: Reading the green, judging the speed, and consistent technique, in that order of importance.

For me, in putting, I like to feel steady. I rotate my forearms too much in both my full and short game swing, so I really focus on keeping everything together.

[NM Golf]

Originally Posted by Jasonbolt

...what makes a good putter?

The ability to make more putts than everyone else!

Sorry, all kidding aside any good putter has to be a good green reader obviously. After that its just a skill like being a good ball striker. The skill encompasses many areas, setup, confidence, proper technique etc.

[VegasRenegade]

s1 Judging the speed,

2 reading the line

3 truly trusting in one and two

4 a smooth stroke

I think speed is more important than line. a put with the right speed but of line by 10 percent will still

be close. Not so the other way around

When they start going in I fell like I can make them all

[GaijinGolfer]

Mental attitude, IMO.  You have to think that you can make every putt and believe that the longer youve gone without making one, the more likely you are to make the next one.

Being able to read the green or having a good touch isnt worth a thing if you are doubting your read or your stroke.

[dsc123]

I don't disagree with green reading, speed control, and confidence, but I want to add focus, which is a related concept.

After I read the green and select the line, I find that I putt my best when I really focus on the distance control.  I want to be standing over the ball thinking about nothing but hitting that ball with the right speed.

I do think that if you're trying to improve, you should start with finding a setup that you can comfortably repeat and will put you in position to make a consistent stroke.  I think that eliminates distractions and puts you in position to focus exclusively on speed.