How should you define a ‘good’ shot? The head short game coach explains

Golf instruction is always evolving, but the best tips stand the test of time. In GOLF.com’s new series, Lifetime Tips, we’re highlighting some of the greatest advice that teachers and players have shared in the pages of GOLF Magazine. Today, we have a thought-provoking article from our August 1987 issue about how to define a “good” putt.

When it comes to learning the short game, Dave Pelz is the king. On it the course of his lifePelz has worked with numerous tour pros and major champions, and (quite literally) the Bible wrote in the short game.

GOLF Magazine was fortunate enough to work with the legendary short game coach as well, and in the late 80’s he wrote an article outlining what constitutes a “good” putt. Take a look below if you want to improve your position – and to see if you agree with the original principles of the king of the short game himself.

What is a ‘good’ putt?

“Never up, never in.” An old saying, but still a word to use. After years of working with pros and amateurs, I’ve decided that the key to sinking more putts is to charge the cup like Arnold Palmer did in his prime. In fact, my studies show that the speed that gives a putt the greatest chance to drop would send the ball roughly 17 inches behind the cup if it misses.

Therefore, a good putter shot must be hit hard enough to have a chance of landing. But just hitting the ball hard enough to get it up to the hole doesn’t always qualify it as a good shot. In other words, you may not have stroked the ball hard enough to give it the best chance of landing due to the effect of variables such as break, grain, spike marks, footprints, and even wind on the spin.

The impact of external variables became apparent in a series of tests with Tour professionals Ben CrenshawPeter Jacobsen, Tom Kite and Tom Purtzer.

In perfect conditions (what I call the “pool table”), where the ground is flat and the surface smooth, these pros hit an average of 99 percent of 3-ends, 85 percent of 6-ends, and 70 percent of 10-ends. Under real conditions (an “average” shot subject to slope variability and surface irregularities), these tour pros averaged 85 to 95 percent of 3-putts, 45 to 55 percent of 6-putts, and 15 to 30 percent of 10-putts. (The chart on the opposite page lists a more complete summary of the probabilities of “producing” professionals under “real-world” conditions.)

Players’ success rates show large differences between perfect and real conditions, due to the unpredictability of external variables. Again, the best way to defeat them is by hitting a shot hard enough to minimize their impact.

When was the last time you put the ball in, and it took too much rest or fell out of line from a strong point? Or, faced with a three, have you ever ignored potential breaks and just slammed the ball into the back of the cup? You’ve probably thought, “Even if I miss, the ball won’t end up far from the hole.” This is the stance you should have on every putt.

Looking at the chart, you’ll notice that the percentage of pros hitting shots over 10 feet is nothing short of spectacular. But their ability to jump 10 feet or less; this is the range that separates the professionals from the amateurs. Tournament players typically put manicured greens in top condition, where any outside variables are less likely to come into play. If the pros place the greens best almost without these variables, it makes sense to pretend those variables don’t exist, even if they do. And my studies prove that the way to do that is to hit the ball hard into the cup.

Try to worry less about the direction of your shots and more about the pace. Trust your senses to align your body and head to the target line and focus on stroking the goal at the right speed. Remember, the best way to overcome those variables on the green that are beyond your control is to roll the ball toward them. Hit a “good putt” by loading it into the cup and you’ll sink more of them.

Player Pelz putting Checkmate

Pelz Player Putting Mat INSIDE PRINTS – Developed exclusively by Catalyst Golf in collaboration with Dave Pelz! The world-renowned short game expert brings you a putting mat based on the drills and games Dave uses with top tour players to help win major championships IMPROVE YOUR GOLF SCORE – Master Hits to within 9 feet to help lower your score and become a better golfer. The same theory was used with Masters champions Phil Mickelson and Patrick Reed PUTTING GREEN – The putting gauge comes with instructions, drills and tips to help you improve your aim, speed and distance MULTIPLE HOLE LENGTHS – Designed to work with PELZ players’ putting cups to help you putt your indoor studio putting green. Putting Cups Sold Separately – 1 x 26″ x 126″ (10.5 ft.) mat with rubber backing to provide a smooth putting surface and 1 foam wedge used to return the ball to the bottom of the mat and create breaks. Note: PELZ Player Placement Cups sold separately Technical Details Plot Dimensions ‎68.83 x 17.02 x 16.51 cm; 3.72 kilograms Manufacturer Reference ‎CGPELZMAT Style Color Green ‎Catalyst Golf Brand Item Weight ‎3.72 kg Mat Size 26″ wide x 126″ long (10.5 feet)

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