Golf Putting Tip: Miss Your Putts on the High Side of the Hole

Symptom:  Chronically missing putts on the low side of the hole.  Seldom is there a need to watch your ball all the way to the hole because, well, it falls below the hole halfway to the cup and so cannot possibly go in.  So you look away in disgust, and start walking towards the hole while your ball is still rolling...

Description:  Play a bit more break on your putts, so that if you miss, your golf ball misses on the high side of the hole, not the low side.  

Why it works:  Putts that miss on the low side cannot go in the hole.  Obviously.  Putts that are tracking to the hole on the high side might go in the hole.  This is why the "high side" is often called the "pro side".  You will seldom see a pro miss a putt on the low side.  If they do, it is usually because they did not have enough pace on the putt for the ball to end up past the hole. This is illustrated by the figure below.  The worst putt (biggest "X") is the one that misses low and doesn't make it to the hole.  The next best is the putt that misses on the high side, but doesn't make it all the way to the hole.   Better still (smallest "x") is the putt that makes it to the hole, but misses low.   The miss that you want is the miss that ends up past the hole, on the high side ("OK").

The best missed putt is the one that misses past the hole on the high side.

Of course, the putt that goes in the hole is the best of all! Have a look at this video.  Nothing but putts going in the hole.  Except for Phil Mickelson's Eagle putt (0:46).  Where does he miss it?  You guessed it -- on the high side.  Way to go Phil!  Check it out:



If you should miss your putt past the hole, you have a lot of advantages over your buddies who leave it short.  For one, you know what the comeback putt is going to do, which gives you more confidence for your next putt.  And you know that downhill putts have more break, so you can hit your next putt at the right pace. All-in-all, you are much better off with your misses on the high side, past the hole. Please let us know if this tip works for you! Like, Share, Tweet, or Email below!  

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May all your putts roll true -- GolfTipEditor

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