Few putts intimidate golfers more than the slick, downhill breaker. The combination of speed and slope makes these putts difficult to judge, causing many players to misread the line or instinctively steer their putter toward the hole—resulting in a putt that misses on the low-side or races past the cup.
Luckily, the solution is simpler than most golfers realize. According to GOLF Top 100 Teacher David Armitage, the mistake most amateurs make on these tricky breaking putts isn’t with their stroke or technique — it’s focusing on the wrong target.
Stop focusing on the hole
To master slippery, sidehill putts, Armitage says golfers need to rethink their approach.
“They [amateurs] are trying to almost make the putt turn a corner,” Armitage says. “The hole is the distraction.”
Instead of trying to guide the ball, Armitage says to think of breaking putts as straight putts to a specific point: the apex, or the highest point on the intended line before breaking toward the hole.
Concentrating on the apex allows you to start your putts on line and let the green do the work. And to find the apex, you just need a reliable green-reading routine. Whether you prefer to walk around the putt to study the slope from multiple angles, use AimPoint or another method, the key is developing a consistent process that you trust.
“Reading greens is a skill set that you’ve got to practice,” Armitage says. “You’ve got to have a process — something that you believe in.”
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Mark the apex with a tee
While many amateurs can correctly identify the apex by reading the green, they usually forget about it once they stand over the ball.
“They’re [amateurs] reading the green to the apex correctly, but then they’re looking at the hole,” Armitage says.
To keep yourself locked in on the apex, Armitage recommends practicing with a tee. When you address each putt, zero-in on that point — not the hole.
“Forget the hole,” he continues, “let the hole be the end spot, but don’t let it be the end-all-be-all.”
Once you’ve chosen your line and set up to the putt, your job is simple: roll the ball to the apex, trust your read and let the green do the rest.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: golf.com
