Short putts should be so easy—with this tip they are
Top Teacher Todd Anderson shows how to lock in your stroke and beat your nerves
JD Cuban In 2025, the PGA Tour average for putts made from five feet was nearly 81 percent. That’s practically a gimme, whereas the average 15-handicapper is closer to 50 percent on putts from three to five feet, according to statistics from Arccos Golf. What makes short putts a challenge for amateur golfers?
For one, nerves. There’s a lot of pressure because so many of these shorties are to save par, bogey or worse. Poor technique is also to blame.
I see many flying elbows and an overuse of the shoulders. The trail elbow separates from the body on the backstroke, leading to inconsistent contact and speed. On short putts, the more stable you keep your trail elbow, the more freely you can swing the putterhead ( above) and the more likely you are to find the bottom of the cup.
JD Cuban JD Cuban So how do you keep the trail elbow from running away? First, at address, lock that elbow in so it’s resting on your hip socket. Then, as you swing back, feel like the elbow is staying in tight to your body and let the putterhead swing behind the grip.