If you want a stat that explains Sam Burns’ 2025 season, here it is:
He ranked first in PGA Tour in Strokes Gained: Putting (.983).
He also concluded:
- Fourth in Shot Per Round (27.96)
- Eighth in field goal percentage (43.32%)
- Third in three-shot dodge (1.60%)
Burns separates himself from other Tour players because he is finding success in players week in and week out. And when you hear him talk about deployment, there’s nothing complicated about what he prioritizes.
1. He cares more about speed than you do
Burns describes himself as more of a “dead weight” player, especially on fast greens. He’s not trying to hit hard. His shots tend to spin at a controlled pace rather than slam into the back of the cup.
Most amateur players spend far more time worrying about rest than pace. They read it from three angles, guessing the slope, and then hit it six feet.
You don’t get the one shot rate he has and a first three in avoiding three shots without speed checking.
For amateurs, the bottom line is that your focus can shift to speed control (and away from green reading) and you can see more success on the greens.
2. It simplifies the stroke
If you look at Sam Burns’ shot putt, you will see that his motion is very consistent and simple. His head stays steady during the stroke and the rhythm is the same back and forth. You will notice very little wrist movement and no noticeable “snap” on the ball.
When he talked about practice in the video with the Bryan Brothers, he mentioned hitting 50 to 100 strokes on a chalk line. He practices on the line to make sure his starting line is consistent.
Amateurs miss short shots because the putt face is unstable at impact. This usually happens because their hands are involved at the wrong time. The next time you work on your putt, try to eliminate the “bump” at impact. Set a line for yourself and just focus on keeping the wrist action to a minimum and starting the ball on the line.
3. Exercises with structure but plays with feeling
This is the most important takeaway for me. Burns is an AimPoint guy. He is very aware of the slope and is obviously good at reading the green. He mentioned that he doesn’t blindly follow a number if his eyes and feelings say otherwise.
There is a point for every golfer, whether on the range or in competition, when mechanics can get in the way. Burns goes through his process and prepares, but when it’s time to make a putt, he focuses on a starting spot a few inches in front of the ball and rolls it over that spot.
This is a simple, repeatable tip and something most amateur players don’t do.
Final thoughts
When Sam Burns played against the Bryan Brothers, he shared some good facts. It takes time to be great at setting up, but if you start with the basics of speed control and starting line, you’ll be well on your way.
