You reach the green, leave the ball a hand’s width from the hole and, even so, it slips by. Short putts count too, and a lot: on the scorecard they’re worth the same as the best shot of your round. At Meaztegi Golf we boil it down to three moves you can try in your next round: read the green well, move from the shoulders and follow through all the way.
Read the green well, especially the last metre
Before you set up, look at the break from two spots: from behind the ball and from behind the hole. Each viewpoint shows you part of the line, and together they give you the full picture.
Pay special attention to the last metre. That’s where the ball loses speed and where it breaks most, so it’s the stretch that decides whether the putt drops or lips out. Even if it looks like a simple stroke, on short putts that final stretch is almost the whole journey.
The stroke comes from the shoulders, not the wrists
Think of a pendulum. The movement comes from the shoulders and the arms go along with it, without the hands taking control. Keep your wrists firm throughout the stroke.
The reason is simple: with quiet wrists, the putter face arrives square to the ball. If the wrists bend, the face opens or closes at the last moment, and on short putts there’s no distance for the ball to correct that error.
Follow through all the way
Make the backswing and the follow-through the same length. Keeping the back and through the same helps you repeat the stroke with the same rhythm.
And keep your head still until the ball is on its way. Looking up early to see if it’s going in is a very natural move, but it pushes the stroke off line. Trust the read you’ve already made.
Practise short putts before heading out on the course
These moves settle in with repetition. The putting green before your round is the place to loosen up and build confidence ball by ball. Keep these tips in mind and put them to the test on your next round at Meaztegi: your short putts will show it on the scorecard.
Frequently asked questions about short putts
Is a short putt worth the same as a drive?
Yes. On the scorecard every stroke counts as one, whether it’s a tee shot or a putt a hand’s width from the hole. That’s why missing from close range hurts so much.
Where can I practise short putts at Meaztegi?
On the club’s putting green, before heading out on the course. It’s the best place to repeat the shoulder pendulum and the follow-through without the pressure of the round.
Where can I learn to read breaks in more detail?
We have a step-by-step guide to reading the green, with the break, the slope and a routine for each hole.