It happens every round. You miss a short putt. You curse under your breath, shake your head, and tell yourself you’ll fix it. And then—three holes later—you do it again.
Putting is where rounds go to die. It’s the silent killer of good scores, the part of your golf game that feels like it should be simple but somehow turns into a never-ending horror show. And if you’re an amateur golfer, chances are, you’re making the same frustrating mistakes over and over again.
The good news? Most of them are fixable. And fixing them? That’s the fastest way to stop turning pars into bogeys and bogeys into 3 putts.
Let’s break down the seven biggest putting mistakes you’re probably making—and how to finally stop sabotaging your putting game.
⛳️ Putting Mistakes Cheat Sheet
Need a quick reference? Here’s what to focus on:
- Alignment Off? Get your eyes over the ball and shoulders parallel to the target line.
- Bad Grip? Light pressure—think “tube of toothpaste.”
- Tempo Issues? Use a metronome or think “1-2” stroke rhythm.
- Decelerating? Stroke through to a tee six inches past the ball.
- Wristy Stroke? Keep your lead wrist steady—use the coin trick.
- Poor Green Reading? Walk around the putt, use the plumb-bob method.
Save this, screenshot it, or memorize it—whatever works to take your putting to the next level.
1. Your Setup Is Sabotaging You
You ever line up a putt, hit the ball exactly how you wanted, and watch it slide left or right like it had other plans? That’s your setup betraying you.
Many golfers make the mistake of setting up with their feet, shoulders, and eyes completely out of sync. If your eyes aren’t directly over the ball, your brain gets tricked into seeing a break that isn’t there. If your shoulders are open or closed, your stroke naturally follows that path, sending putts in directions you never intended.
Fix it: Check your alignment. Get your eyes over the ball. Line the putter head up first, then build your stance around it. Use alignment sticks or a putting mirror to make sure your setup isn’t setting you up for failure.
2. Your Grip Is an Unstable Mess
If your grip is inconsistent, your putter head will be too. And if your putter head is inconsistent, well… you already know how that story ends.
Some golfers struggle because they grip the putter too tightly, strangling the life out of it. Others grip it so loosely that it wobbles through impact like a bad handshake. Neither approach leads to a good putter stroke.
Fix it: Maintain a consistent grip pressure. Hold the putter in your fingers, not your palms. Use light but firm pressure—think “holding a tube of toothpaste without squeezing anything out.” Keep it the same every time. No last-minute grip adjustments on the green.
3. Your Stroke Has No Rhythm
Some amateur golfers swing the putter too jerky. Others decelerate at impact like they’re afraid of making a mistake. Either way, it leads to bad rolls, poor contact, and putts that die short or shoot past the hole.
Fix it: Think of your putting stroke like a pendulum. The backswing and follow-through should have a smooth 2:1 tempo. One way to groove this? Use a metronome. Set it to 76 BPM, and let it guide your stroke like you’re rolling the rock to a beat.
4. You Have No Control Over Speed
Speed control is everything. Hit the ball too hard, and you’re left with a nasty comeback attempt. Leave it short, and you’re just donating strokes to the golf gods.
Most high-handicappers either take a tiny backswing and jab at the ball or swing too long and slow down at impact. Both approaches ruin distance control.
Fix it: Match your stroke length to the putt distance. Longer putts need a longer backswing, but the tempo should stay the same. Think pendulum, not panic.
5. You Decelerate Through Impact
You wouldn’t quit on a full swing at impact (hopefully), so why do it when putting? Deceleration is the fastest way to miss putts short and offline.
Fix it: Pick a spot six inches past the ball and focus on stroking toward the target. Accelerate slightly into impact. The putter should never slow down before hitting the ball.
6. Your Wrists Are Too Active
Too much wrist action turns a solid stroke into a flippy mess. The more your wrists hinge, the less stable your putter face is, and the more you’re relying on timing instead of consistency.
Fix it: Keep your wrists quiet. One trick? Put a coin on the back of the ball hand during practice. If it falls off, you’re using your wrists too much. Tour pros average less than 2° of wrist movement—try to get closer to that.
7. You Have No Clue How to Read Greens
Most amateur golfers under-read putts. If you keep missing on the low side, that’s you.
Green-reading isn’t about guesswork. It’s about understanding how slopes and speed interact. And if you’re just walking up and hitting the putt without checking from multiple angles, you’re missing key details.
Fix it: Take your putting routine to the next level. Walk around the putting green. Look at it from the low side. Use your feet to feel subtle slopes. Try the plumb-bob method if you want a visual aid. Whatever you do, stop just guessing.
Get Out of Three-Putt Territory
Putting is where strokes pile up. It’s where rounds get derailed. But it’s also where you can make the biggest improvements without needing to add 10 yards to your golf swing or spend hours at the range.
Fix your setup. Fix your grip. Nail your stroke tempo. Read greens with intent.
It won’t take long before you stop saying, “How did I miss that?” and start saying, “I knew I was making that.”
