When you’re standing over a 3-foot putt — especially with something on the line — it’s amazing how quickly tension can creep in. Suddenly, what should be a “gimme” feels anything but guaranteed, and you can’t shake the sense that the putt is yours to miss rather than make.
Fortunately, GOLF Top 100 Teacher David Armitage says it’s easy to take the pressure out of these putts. You just need to remember to dial in your setup and remember a simple phrase — if it’s long, it’s wrong.
“My theory here is that you’ve holed this putt before you’ve holed it,” Armitage says. “It’s all about setup, and if you set up correctly, you cannot miss this putt.”
Let’s break down Armitage’s five steps for draining 3-footers and help you turn these short, must-makes into automatic putts.
Take time to line it up — never give the hole away
Armitage emphasizes that taking a few extra seconds to properly line up your ball is essential if you want to make these putts on the course.
“Ninety-five percent of this putt is already done once the ball’s on the ground and it’s lined up,” he says.
While he prefers using the line on the ball, the key is consistency. Whether that means utilizing a line you’ve drawn, the ball’s logo, or a built-in alignment aid, there’s no one right way to line up your putts. Just make sure whatever you use helps you aim it correctly every time.
As you finish lining it up, keep in mind that putts this length usually don’t turn much.
“There’s not much break in these putts,” Armitage says. “It’s normally inside the hole.”
So, when you pick your line, don’t give away the hole.
Focus on speed, not the line
After lining up your putt, go through your normal routine and settle into your setup. From there, Armitage says to take one final look at the hole before you pull the trigger. This last glance should help you hold a clear picture of your putt in your mind, which helps increase your confidence. As you take your last look, Armitage says to focus on one thing: speed.
“I would never think about anything other than pace or commitment [during the stroke],” he says. “What a lot of people are doing is they’re thinking about direction whilst they’re hitting the putt. So they’re thinking about don’t miss it left, don’t miss it right. There’s a lot of don’ts that go on.”
Instead of filling your mind with ways you might miss, Armitage suggests zeroing in on pace. After all, you’ve already picked your line — now it’s time to trust it.
By focusing on speed, you shift your attention to something you can control and reinforce your stroke with confidence knowing you’ve read the putt correctly and chosen the right line.
Think: toe-to-toe for your stroke
Armitage stresses the importance of keeping your stroke short and efficient.
“If your stroke gets long, it’s wrong,” Armitage says. “Because then you have to manipulate the face too much or you slow down.”
In the video above and below, he says you can use your toes as a guide on 3-footers. Simply take the putter back, stopping at your trail toe. Then, on the follow-through, finish at your front toe.
“Now that putter is moving efficiently,” Armitage says. “You don’t need a long stroke for a 3-footer, unless you’re playing on greens that are very, very slow.”
This simple guide will help you produce a short, efficient stroke that keeps the face stable and prevents any decelerating through the ball.
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Listen for the ball to go in
One of the most common mistakes amateurs make on short putts is picking up their head to watch their putt drop. However, Armitage offers a simple alternative that, when mastered, will improve your performance on these short, pressure-packed putts: listen for it to go in.
“That sound, for me, is something that I want to hear,” he says. “And the key is if I don’t hear that sound, I missed it. So, I don’t need to look up to know if I missed it or holed it.”
This approach can look different for every player. Armitage notes tour pros who have won tournaments by keeping their eyes closed over putts. To practice listening for your putts, you can find a spot on the green just in front of the ball to focus on, or even keep your eyes closed. Whatever you decide, the key takeaway is the same — keep your head still and trust your stroke.
Expect to make these putts
The final key to making pressure-packed putts, is to expect to have to make them.
“Always expect to have to hole this putt,” he says. “Always look forward to holing it. Want to hole it.”
It doesn’t matter whether you’re playing alone or in a tight match with a friend. By expecting to have to execute these putts, you face the pressure head-on and become more comfortable under it. No matter the outcome, this will help you build confidence that carries over to every round.
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