How do you figure out speed before line on the putts?

[FortAsel]

I can only figure out speed after I've figured out the line, but most of pros say that it is suposed to be the other way around...

I'm curious about tips and drills that you have when you want to make a putt with break. Do you do like I do or do you fihure out speed first?

Plus, how do you read the greens?

[ks8829]

I usually look at the break of the putt first and then consider the distance. I usually first start by finding where the putt is going to enter the hole and then look for the high spot of the break that I'll aim for to start the ball in that direction.

Judging distance , If it is a downhill putt, I calculate the distance I need to roll the putt, for example, if the green is slight downhill then my distance that I am hitting my putt might be a foot short of the hole and the slope of the hill will carry the ball the rest of the way to the hole, if the slope is greater, I'll hit my putt 3 feet short of the hole and let gravity help roll the rest of the way to the hole.

so once you know what distance your back stroke is for a given distance your ball travels you can shorten or length the back stroke for any distance you need to hit your putts.

Reading breaks is starting from the hole and see where its going to enter the hole. Once you established that you can walk back and find the high spot of the break and aim your putter to that spot. My last thought is the speed of the putt and keep my head still and make the perfect putting stroke.

[Golf Yokel]

I can only figure out speed after I've figured out the line, but most of pros say that it is suposed to be the other way around...

I'm pretty sure that there is no way to "find your line" without "finding your distance" at the same time.

See, I can hit the ball on the exact same line at three different speeds, and the ball will do three different things. I think when aiming your shot, subconsciously you estimate both your line and speed at the same time. I think it would be quite impossible to do one without the other, because by aiming a line without judging your speed, you would leave yourself with an infinite amount of possibilities. Anyone understand what I'm trying to say?

[Crafty]

It generally works best to find a general line, a speed, then an exact line. THat lets you know about where the ball will enter the hole and how hard when you are finding the exact line.

[marpr]

It generally works best to find a general line, a speed, then an exact line. THat lets you know about where the ball will enter the hole and how hard when you are finding the exact line.

what i think in my head is: Line, then Speed, then Line again.

[srjorion]

It generally works best to find a general line, a speed, then an exact line. THat lets you know about where the ball will enter the hole and how hard when you are finding the exact line.

Me too. I get an idea of the initial line, judge the speed, then adjust the line again if needed.

Now if I could just get the ball rolling on that line

[Crafty]

One great drill to work on matching a line and a speed is the three line drill, often used by Bob Rotella, one of the great instructors of the short and mental game.

What you do is find a hard breaking putt that is 6-10 feet long. You then do just what the name says; hit the putt on three different lines (soft w/ more break, medium w/ mid break, hard w/ less break). THis helps your mind see a speed matched with a line instead of a seperate line and speed.

[Ben]

I'm pretty sure that there is no way to "find your line" without "finding your distance" at the same time.

I'm with you!

I actually tend to read more into break than speed. I only read determine speed based on whether I'm putting uphill or downhill. Speed kinda comes naturally based on my line.

[iacas]

Almost Everything I Know about Making Putts

[srjorion]

Almost Everything I Know about Making Putts

Great article!

[Fourputt]

I can only figure out speed after I've figured out the line, but most of pros say that it is suposed to be the other way around...

I see both as inextricably tied together. Except on a perfectly straight putt, line is dictated by speed, and the speed you choose is dictated by your putting style. Are you aggressive... do you aim for the back of the cup? Or are you a die it into the side of the cup kind of putter? Your line on any sort of breaking putt will be different depending on your putting philosophy.

I can't even begin to explain how I read a putt. I look at it from behind the ball and just sort of "feel" it. On rare occasions I have to walk around to look from the hole to the ball when I can't get a feel for the read from behind the ball, but that is only when I can't be decisive with my normal routine. After I get that feel, then I pick a line and start my routine (takes about 10 seconds for my preshot routine). Unlike Eric, I don't see the value of a line on the ball. I've tried it and it just doesn't get me anything, but it does seem to work for others, so if you like it, go for it. I'm a spot putter... I pick a point on the green about 2 feet in front of my ball, on the line I've chosen, and I align my putter with that spot. I take one last look at the hole and follow the line back from the hole to the ball with my eyes, mostly to lock in the feel for the distance, then I hit the putt.

[itzzzberny]

i look for the break and try to see the line i want my ball to take. i like to trace that line w/ my eyes, what i mean by that is imagine how the ball will drop in the cup but starting from the cup all the way to where my ball is. while i'm tracing the line i take in the distance and let my body take over. a big part of missing putts for me is the bad habit of looking up instead of keeping my eyes down during contact.

[nevets88]

This sounds cliched and too simple, but it took me awhile to get the hang of it.

When you throw a baseball, you don't think how far back to take your arm or how much to cock your wrist, you just do it and learn to gauge your distance by experience.

It's the same with putting - imagine rolling the ball like you're bowling and then imagine the putter as an extension of your arms.

Also, minimal tension in the arms and hands.

Hope this helps.