Next up: Short putt speed video


Stop missing putts on the low side

Keith Williams has a great drill that will help you stop missing putts on the low side from six feet and in.

Tom Clarke

These tips will help improve your short putting, especially if you are prone to missing putts on the low side of the hole. This is often described as the amateur side to miss on as not allowing for enough break means that you never really gave the putt a chance in the first place.

This drill is designed to help you groove a better stroke, while also gaining a feel for how subtle breaks can affect short putts. I’m going to focus on subtle breaks here – you’ll be able to find advice on more extreme breaks by clicking here. Also, if you feel you are consistently missing on one side or the other, it would be worth working on your technique with these putting tips.

Here, I’ve found a dead-straight six-footer, and have created a tunnel using two clubs through which the ball will travel to the hole.

Start by hitting a series of putts through the corridor – this is a great way to see if you are setting the ball rolling on the intended line.

Once you feel happy with that, find a putt with a subtle break and aim the shafts at the high side of the hole.

Hit the ball through the shafts and let it take the break at the end and go into the hole. This shows how the break has a much bigger effect, the slower the ball is moving – ie, the closer you are to the hole, the more more the break will play a part. You should be able to hit the ball straight through the shafts, with the ball only breaking at the end.

Read more putting tips from our top coaches

Top tips

  • This drill will help you groove a better stroke, whilst also getting more of a feel for how subtle breaks can have an influence on short putts.
  • Find a dead straight six footer and create a tunnel using the shafts of two irons.
  • Hit a series of putts between the two clubs and up the corridor.
  • This is a good way to see if you are rolling the ball on the intended line.
  • Once you’ve mastered the straight putt, find one with a subtle break and realign the shafts to the high side of the hole.
  • Hit the ball through the shafts and let it take the break and enter the hole.