Why Is Putting Important?

The Importance of Putting

Whether you're a seasoned golfer or just starting to explore the greens, putting practice is a cornerstone of honing your skills and perfecting your overall golf game. The saying "Drive for show, putt for dough" holds undeniable truth in the game of golf. Learning to putt is crucial for several reasons, and it holds a special significance in the game of golf. In our experience, you gain or lose most of your strokes on or around the green. With that said, here are some key reasons we highlighted signifying the importance of mastering your putting stroke.

1. Scoring Efficiency:

The putter is the most frequently used club in a golfer's bag. Your putter will be used on almost every single hole during your round unless you hole out from off the green. As stated above, a significant portion of your strokes during a round will occur on the green, so mastering putting allows you to minimize the number of putts per round, which leads to lower overall scores.

2. Game Decider:

In many instances, matches and tournaments are won or lost on the putting green. A player with a reliable putting stroke has a distinct advantage when it comes to crucial moments in a round. Being able to sink critical putts can make the difference between victory and defeat.

3. Course Management:

Putting is not just about making short putts. It involves reading greens, understanding the slopes, and gauging the speed of the putting surface. A skilled putter can effectively manage every aspect of the green, the intricacies of different greens, and adapting to varying conditions on each hole.

4. Consistency Across Rounds:

Putting proficiency contributes to consistency in your golf game. Other aspects of the golf round like driving and iron play may vary from round to round, but developing a reliable putting stroke helps provides stability throughout all of your rounds. Consistency is a key factor in establishing a golfer's overall performance.

5. Confidence Booster:

Success on the putting green breeds confidence. Knowing that you can tackle short putts or lag long putts into gimmie range and navigate challenging greens instills a positive mindset. This confidence extends to other aspects of your game and can influence decision-making and execution throughout the course on all your other shots.

6. Short Game Emphasis:

Putting is a fundamental aspect of the short game, which is often considered the most critical part of golf. A strong short game, including putting, can compensate for shortcomings in other areas of your game like being short or wild off of the tee. It's a major factor in keeping scores low.

7. Mental Toughness:

Putting requires a high level of mental focus and composure. Learning to putt well teaches golfers to manage pressure, deal with missed putts, and maintain concentration. These mental attributes are invaluable, not just on the green but throughout the entire round. You are not always going to have your best stuff when driving the ball or flushing your irons, but if you can develop the mental toughness to forget about the bad shots and focus on the next shot.  

8. Time-Efficient Improvement:

Putting practice is highly time-efficient. Golfers can see significant improvement in their putting with dedicated, focused practice sessions. Unlike some aspects of the game that may require extended time on the course, putting drills can be accomplished in a relatively short period.

Final Thoughts:

Learning to putt is vital for golfers of all skill levels. It goes beyond simply getting the ball into the hole; it's about understanding the nuances of the putting game, building consistency, and developing the mental resilience required to excel on the green. A solid putting game is a cornerstone of a well-rounded golfer's skill set and significantly contributes to overall success and enjoyment in the sport. If you want to learn about which putting drills are the best for lowering scores see "Coin on the Putter Head", "The Gate Drill" and "The Clock Drill".