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Practice Line, Path and Tempo to Avoid Pesky 3 Putts

By Brendon Elliott, PGA

Published on Wednesday, April 14, 2021

Most amateur golfers know the gaps that exist between their putting performance and that of Tour Professionals. Unlike other areas of the game, where gaps between Professionals and Amateurs are much, much wider (driving, iron play, etc.), putting is an area where most amateurs can get closer to Tour levels, simply through more dedicated practice.

The Numbers…

Putts Per Round

While it’s hard to get a true average number of putts per round for amateurs, an attempt to quantify this has been made. Research by MyGolfSpy shows the average number of putts per round by a scratch golfer is 31.5 while a 16-20 handicap is 35.8.

3 Putt Avoidance

The PGA Tour average is 3.13%. Obviously, for a 10 or 25 handicapper, that percentage is much higher. Besides a less reliable putting stroke, reasons for the higher average include statistics such as proximity to the hole on approach shots. Obviously, Tour Professionals hit it much closer. Regardless of that key fact, it really boils down to this…Tour Professionals are much more proficient putters than you. Why? Because they focus far more practice time on the putting green than you do.

What do the Professionals Practice on the Green?

Line, Path and Tempo.

Working on getting your Line correct and focusing your attention to the apex point of your line is key. Getting the ball started on your intended line is critical. Mark your golf ball with a line on it so you can set it to your intended line of the putt.

Path is another key factor to becoming a better putter. Making sure you are swinging the putter head back and through down your intended line is a must. Many golfers struggle with an out to in or in to out path with the putter much like they do with their full swing. By simply using alignment sticks as a guide, you can train your path back into health.

Tempo is critical. Did you know that most of the best putters in the world putt at a 2:1 ratio, regardless of the length of the putt? That is, the rate of their downswing is twice as fast as their backswing. What changes with the length of the putt is the length of the stroke. The tempo, or rate remains 2:1. A great training aid for this is the Blast Golf sensor and app.

Spending at least 40% of your practice time on the putting green is recommended by most experts. If you are having more significant issues with the short stick, spending closer to 50% of your time would not hurt. Doing this for a few weeks will undoubtedly start to show dividends with lower numbers on your scorecard.

Sorrento, FL

Brendon Elliott

Director of Instruction, Freelance Golf Writer

After 16 remarkable years of nurturing young talent and fostering a love for golf through The Little Linksters Golf Academy, Brendon Elliott is excited to announce the transition of leadership to esteemed Coach Ricky Collado in 2025. As the baton is passed, Coach Ricky will take charge of all operations and become the primary point of contact for any Linksters-related inquiries. As Brendon steps into a new chapter, the focus will shift to launching and growing BE A GOLFER, a new academy dedicated to competitive teenage golfers. This initiative will continue both in-person and remote coaching, harnessing years of expertise to nurture the next generation of golfing talent. Further expanding horizons, Brendon will also dedicate time to One More Roll Golf Media. This venture aims to collaborate with various golf media outlets and businesses, delivering high-quality written, video, and voice content. Despite these new ventures, Brendon will remain closely connected with Little Linksters. A commitment to collaboration with Coach Ricky will continue, particularly with projects like the PGA Junior League, ensuring a lasting impact and smooth transition. “I am thrilled about the future of Little Linksters under Coach Ricky Collado’s leadership. This transition marks a change and an exciting new direction for me and the academy. I look forward to contributing my efforts towards developing competitive young golfers and advancing in the golf media landscape.” ~ Brendon R. Elliott, PGA More About Coach Brendon... Brendon Elliott is a distinguished PGA Professional who has received over 25 prestigious industry awards recognizing his contributions and influence in youth golf, most notably, the 2017 PGA of America National Youth Player Development Award. With numerous appearances on the Golf Channel and local news outlets in Florida, Brendon has established himself as a respected educator and influencer in the golf industry. Renowned for his expertise in all aspects of golf, he is a sought-after speaker at golfing events and panels. In the past three years, Brendon has expanded into media, writing for esteemed outlets such as PGA.com, PGA Magazine, Golf.com, GolfWRX.com, RG.org, and many others. Elliott is also part of the “Quiet Please Golf Podcast” crew and hosts a livestream show on the Golf Live App called “Monday Evening Tee Time.” Brendon’s dedication to advancing the sport has made a significant impact on the golf community.

Meet Brendon