How to Putt on Austin Greens
Putting Mastery: Technique, Speed Control, and Stroke Fundamentals Every Golfer Needs
Most golfers think putting is simple—small motion, short distance, just roll it.
But the truth is this: your technique, your speed control, and your stroke pattern determine your entire scoring ceiling.
At ATX Golf Performance in Austin, we break putting down into three core skills:
Technique — how you set up and organize your motion
Speed — the most important variable for distance control
Stroke — how the putter moves through space with consistency
Master these, and you’ll lower scores fast—even without changing anything else in your game.
Let’s break them down.
1. Technique: Build the Foundation for a Predictable Roll
Most putting problems come from poor organization at setup. Technique doesn’t need to be perfect—but it does need to be repeatable.
Here’s what we emphasize at ATX Golf Performance:
Grip: Quiet Hands, Stable Face
The goal is not to eliminate hand action—it’s to reduce face rotation.
Common cues we teach:
Light grip pressure
Thumbs down the shaft
Trail hand supports, lead hand stabilizes
Avoid tension in the wrists
A stable face = predictable start line.
Posture: Eyes, Shoulders, and Arm Hang
Posture creates the geometry of your stroke.
Key checkpoints:
Eyes roughly over or just inside the ball
Shoulders level or slightly tilted to match grip style
Arms hang naturally so the putter can swing freely
Good posture removes compensations.
Alignment: Aim the Face First
Most golfers align their body first—and the putter face ends up an afterthought.
Better sequence:
Aim the face at your start line
Then set your feet, hips, and shoulders parallel to the line
Face angle at impact is ~80% of start direction.
Get this right and putting instantly becomes easier.
2. Speed Control: The Skill That Separates Good Putters from Great Ones
If we had to choose ONE putting skill to train above all else, it would be speed control.
Speed influences:
Break
Entry point
Leave yourself makeable second putts
Overall scoring consistency
The “Window” Speed
We teach players to enter the hole with capture speed — firm enough to hold line, soft enough to use the full cup.
Ideal speed:
12–18 inches past the hole on a flat putt.
This creates:
More makeable putts
Smaller three-putt territory
Predictable break patterns
Controlling Speed with Length of Stroke
Good putters don’t hit the ball harder—they swing longer or shorter with consistent tempo.
Cue we use in the studio:
“Length controls distance. Tempo stays the same.”
This stabilizes strike quality, which stabilizes roll.
Feel the Speed Before You Stroke
Great putters rehearse speed before they set up.
We recommend:
Two natural practice swings while looking at the hole
One last feel behind the ball
Step in and commit
Most golfers try to calculate speed.
Elite putters feel it.
3. Stroke: Build a Motion You Can Trust Under Pressure
A putting stroke doesn’t need to be textbook—it just needs to be functional, consistent, and synced with your technique.
Here’s what matters most:
Path: Slight Arc or Straight—Either Works With the Right Setup
There is no perfect shape. What matters is that:
The putter returns to the ball square
The face angle is stable
The strike point stays centered
For most players, a slight arc (shoulder-driven) is most natural.
Face Control: Start It on Your Line
Face angle is everything.
Drills we use:
Gate drill for face stability
Start-line chalk line for visual confirmation
Impact tape or Dr. Scholl's spray to check strike point
If you can’t start the ball on your intended line, green reading won’t help.
Tempo: The Hidden Key
Almost every great putter has a 2:1 tempo ratio—backswing slightly slower than the downswing.
Why?
It creates:
Smooth acceleration
Predictable contact
Stable distance control
This is why we often use metronome work or rhythm drills with players
Bringing It All Together: Technique × Speed × Stroke
A great putting system connects these three elements:
Technique gives you structure
Speed gives you scoring control
Stroke gives you consistency
When one improves, the others get better.
When all three improve, players start putting like mid-handicaps who suddenly look like scratch golfers.
At ATX Golf Performance, we train all three in a repeatable process:
Set your technique
Match your speed to the slope
Execute with a stable, confident stroke
This is how you turn putting into a weapon instead of a liability.