Mastering Your Putting: Tips for Crackin’ Fast Greens

Ever been cruising through your home course, making putts like a pro, only to hit the greens at another course and feel completely lost? Fast greens can turn an easy three-footer into a nail-biter, exposing any flaws in your stroke. It’s all about knowing what these slick surfaces require from you!

When it comes to smooth sailing on fast greens, the secret sauce is understanding what makes them tick. Whereas normal putting might highlight your skills, putting on speedy greens reveals every little hiccup!

Less is Always More

Let’s break it down: the biggest hurdle you’ll face on fast greens isn’t just the slope or break; it’s your instinct to smack the ball. Those slick surfaces amplify every little movement, turning a simple putting stroke into a full-on cannon blast.

Your goal here is simple: control the speed, don’t create it. Think of it like whispering instead of shouting; you’re still saying the same thing with much less power. A tip my grandpa, Papa Runyon, passed down to me ages ago, and I carry it with me every time I step on those quick greens. Miss you, Papa!

Your Backstroke Tells the Story

Here’s where many golfers slip up: they shorten their follow-through while keeping their backstroke length the same. This creates a jerky, decelerating stroke that’s not gonna fly on fast greens.

Instead, shorten your backstroke while allowing for a natural follow-through. This smooth acceleration gives you the control you need on those slippery surfaces. You’re not aiming at the ball; you’re just gliding through it with just the right amount of energy.

Grip Pressure is Everything

Fast greens have zero tolerance for tension. When you’ve got a death grip on that putter, every slight movement gets amplified, causing your putts to whizz right past the hole. Treat your putter like a little bird: hold it firm enough that it won’t fly away but gentle enough that you won’t harm it.

This relaxed grip allows you to really feel the putter head during your stroke. You want that sweet balance that delicate fast greens need!

Read with Your Feet First

Before you even set your eyes on the line, get moving! Walk around the hole and sense the slope with your feet. On fast greens, those subtle breaks can become quite pronounced. What may look trivial to your eyes could be a significant factor!

Pay special attention as you near the cup; the ball tends to lose speed and become more affected by those subtle slopes. Your feet are your unsung heroes here!

Practice Your Lag Putting

The real score-killer on fast greens isn’t missing the short ones; it’s the dreaded long second putts after a poor lag. Spend some quality time honing your 30- to 50-foot putts, focusing just on speed control. It’s all about leaving yourself an easy follow-up—not necessarily sinking every one.

Think of lag putting as playing catch with the hole. You’re not aiming for a bullseye; you just want to get it close enough to make the next one a breeze.

Trust Your First Instinct

Fast greens have a way of making you second-guess everything, leading to over-analysis and hesitation. Once you’ve read that putt and picked your line, go for it! Being tentative on fast greens is like trying to drive smoothly with one foot on the brake—you’re just not going to get where you want to be.

Embrace the Challenge

Here’s something that might surprise you: fast greens can actually be more predictable than their slower counterparts. The ball rolls better, breaks are more consistent, and good strokes get rewarded. Yes, they’ll call you out on poor technique, but they also respond beautifully to solid fundamentals.

Fast greens aren’t your enemy; they just demand you to up your game. When you adapt your technique instead of struggling against the conditions, you’ll find that these challenging surfaces can actually help improve your putting by forcing you to refine your basics and build that all-important touch.

Wrapping It Up

So, there you have it. Fast greens can look intimidating, but with the right mindset and techniques, you can navigate them like a pro. Remember, less is more; trust in your instincts, and practice that lag putting to avoid those dreaded long second putts.

The next time you face those slick surfaces, just think about all the tips we talked about. You’ve got this! Whether you’re sipping a cold drink on the patio or talking stories with fellow golfers, you’ll be sharing your newfound wisdom on tackling those speedy greens. Embrace the challenge and make those fast greens your new playground!