6 Quick Putting Tips

You’ve laced the gap. You’re sitting just 20 feet from the target on a 400 foot, densely-wooded par 3. You walk up to your putt feeling a little nervous. You mark your lie, rush your routine, and “doink”, straight into the cage. Your cardmate who hit the first available tree sinks his 20 footer for par. You both walk to the next tee with the same score. No matter how amazing you are at throwing, if you can’t putt, you can’t score. 

Learn All Styles of Putting

In calm conditions and with no obstacles, we all have a preferred style of putt. While having a favorite style is fine, you should take the time to practice all styles of putting for different situations that can arise on the course. In high winds or with a low ceiling, you will need to know how to spin putt. Land in a bush or behind a tree, and you will need to putt with a straddle stance. If there is water 10 feet behind the basket, you will want to know how to push putt. If you only practice your strongest putting style, you will leave strokes on the course nearly every round. 

Aim Small, Miss Small

Instead of aiming at the basket generally, pick a specific chain link and try your hardest to hit it with the disc. If you miss your link, odds are you will still find enough chains that your putt sticks. For a right handed player, we recommend picking a link above center and just to the right of the pole. That’s the sweet spot! 

Follow Through with Your Eyes and Your Hand

Many players know to pick a specific chain link, but just as the disc leaves their hand, they look down to watch the disc on its way to the basket. That last second break of focus causes players to miss the target. Make sure you keep your eyes locked in on your link until the disc contacts the chains. Follow through with your hand as well. Think about shaking hands with your chain link as you follow through. 

Use Your Legs

Putting is not just about having the correct arm motion. Especially from farther out, much of the power in your putt should come from a shift in body weight that starts in the legs. Load up on your back leg and then transfer your weight forward as you swing your arm. For 15 footers, the shift in body weight can be more subtle. For 35 footers, load up on the back leg more. This allows you to keep the arm motion the same from varying distances to make for a more consistent putt no matter where you find yourself. 

Accelerate Through the Putt 

From the bottom of your arm swing to the top of your follow through, your hand should be constantly accelerating. It does not need to be a fast motion, just an accelerating motion. This helps your hand get out of the way of the disc as you release it. All too often players do everything right, but at the moment of release, their hand gets in the way of an otherwise perfect putt. 

Learn to Love 20 Footers

Convince yourself that 20 footers are fun. If you can make it from 20 feet consistently, you will have the confidence to run it from 35 without worrying about the comebacker. Every time your disc stands up and rolls an extra 10 feet, tell yourself it is an opportunity to make a great putt instead of having a boring tap in. Learn to love your 20 footers and you will become a great putter.