Unlock the Secret to Never Missing Those Dreaded Short Putts Again

Ah, the three-foot putt. It’s the bane of many a golfer's existence, isn't it? That little tap-in that feels like a gimme, yet somehow, time and time again, it lips out, shies away, or worse, rolls right past, leaving you feeling utterly deflated. We’ve all been there, standing over what should be a routine stroke, feeling the pressure mount, and suddenly, that tiny distance feels like an insurmountable chasm.

But what if I told you there’s a surprisingly simple, almost counter-intuitive trick that could dramatically improve your success rate on those short putts, making you far more confident and consistent? It comes from Jason Guss, a genuinely brilliant GOLF Top 100 Teacher, and his philosophy is a breath of fresh air in the often overcomplicated world of putting instruction: "Speed first, line second."

Now, I know what you’re thinking. "Speed first? Isn't the line everything on a short putt?" And for years, that's what we've been taught, right? Obsess over the break, visualize the path, try to guide it perfectly. But Guss argues, quite convincingly, that focusing too much on the line first often leads to tentative strokes. You become so worried about the subtle break that you don't commit to the pace, and a putt that doesn't have enough speed to hold its line is almost certainly a miss.

Think about it. If you’re truly confident that your ball has the right pace to reach the hole and even get a few inches past it, the hole suddenly seems a whole lot bigger. Your mind isn't cluttered with doubts about whether it will stop short. This mental shift alone can be incredibly liberating. It simplifies the task at hand, allowing your instincts to take over a bit more naturally.

So, how do we put this "speed first" philosophy into practice? Guss suggests a fantastic drill that’s both easy to understand and incredibly effective. Here’s how it works:

First, grab a ball and place it about three feet from the hole. Instead of immediately lining it up, step back a little, and then take a few practice strokes. The crucial part here? Don't look at the ball during these practice strokes. Keep your eyes fixed on the hole, or even slightly beyond it. Feel the length of your stroke, the rhythm, the pace. Your goal with these practice swings is to internalize the feeling of a stroke that would send the ball past the hole by a comfortable 6 to 12 inches. You're building a sense of positive aggression, ensuring the ball actually reaches its target.

Once you’ve got that feeling ingrained, step up to your ball. Now, with the confidence that you know exactly how hard to hit it, you can allow yourself to make a quick read for the line. The pressure to get the speed just right is gone, or at least significantly reduced. You're no longer battling two demons at once. You're just focusing on the path, knowing the power is already dialed in. Then, just execute the putt with that positive, committed stroke you just practiced.

The beauty of this method is its simplicity. It’s about building confidence through commitment. By prioritizing speed, you take away the most common reason short putts miss: lack of pace. And when you’re not worried about leaving it short, the line suddenly becomes much clearer, much easier to trust. Give Jason Guss's "speed first, line second" approach a try. You might just find yourself finally making those three-footers with a newfound consistency and, more importantly, a whole lot less anxiety.