3 RULE N0.
It’s no secret that putting is the great equaliser when Own the short putts
competing against longer hitters. I’ve always been a very confident putter. I feel like I should never three-putt, and I expect to make every short one I’m standing over. You should, too. Get in the habit of thinking, I won’t miss, and that confidence will soon take hold. There’s nothing like halving a hole with a one-putt par to wear down someone who went driver-flip wedge to get on in regulation. The reason I’ve excelled on short-range putts is because I hit them with a “pop.” There’s not a lot of arc to my stroke, so the putterface stays relatively square to its path, which means I rarely miss right or left. To try my method, hinge the putter back with your wrists, leaving the butt end of the shaft pointing at your belly button like it was at address (right). Your shoulders and arms should stay virtually still. From this short backstroke position, use your wrists again to give the ball a pop and then stop the putterhead almost immediately after impact. Restricting the handle movement makes it much easier to control the putterface and start the ball on the line you choose. Shortening the through-stroke after impact imparts a lot of energy into the ball, so it starts rolling quickly with some pace, helping it track directly into the cup.
56 GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2026
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