Putting
The skill of rolling the ball along the green so it drops into the hole.
Overview
Putting is the stroke played on the smoothest, closest-mown part of the course, where the ball is rolled rather than lofted into the air. It is used for the final shots of most holes, and because every stroke counts the same on a scorecard, a two-foot putt is worth exactly as much as a long drive.
The action is short and unhurried compared with a full swing: the club stays low, the wrists stay quiet, and the aim is to start the ball on a chosen line at a pace that matches the slope and speed of the green.
Key points
- Every putt counts the same as any other stroke, which is why short-game practice pays back quickly.
- Reading the green — judging slope and speed — matters as much as the stroke itself.
- A steady head and a smooth, unhurried tempo keep the start line honest.
- Distance control is usually the bigger source of dropped shots than line for beginners.
- Most players practise on a putting green before a round rather than on the course.
Where it’s used
Sports that use putting:
Related skills
Chipping
The short lofted shot played from near the green to get the ball rolling toward the hole.
Driving
The skill of hitting a long tee shot that sets up the rest of the hole from a playable position.
Aiming and alignment
The skill of setting the body and the implement so the shot starts on the line you intend.
How it connects
The meaning-bearing relationships that place Putting in the wider knowledge graph — each one with the reason it exists.
Frequently learned together
Taught side by side in the same stage of a learning path.
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Techniques
Learning paths
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Everywhere else on the platform that covers Putting — assembled from what actually references it, so nothing here is a dead end.
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How this page is maintained
- Content type
- Skill
- Provenance
- Tier A — evergreen educational
- Verified external sources
- 0
- Content updated
- 2026-08-30
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