Putting: Speed vs. Line

There is much debate in the world of golf about what is more important in putting. Is it line, or is it speed? There have been many credible sources that have argued both sides very well. One of the best putters of all time, Bob Charles, feels that the line is most crucial. Says Bob, "Give me the right line, and I'll knock it in the hole." Ben Hogan, on the other hand, felt that speed was the key.

Best Golf Tips believes that speed is much more important than line. Here's why...

Putting is done with a flat-faced club and a very short swing (as compared to a full shot). This makes it just about impossible to put any side spin on the ball. It also makes it very hard to hit the ball off line in terms of pulling and pushing. You almost have to pinch a nerve or something at impact to pull or push a putt more than two-feet wide of the target, if you have the correct speed.

Because it is difficult to hit the ball off line with a flat-faced club and a short swing, the only other thing that could cause one to hit the ball off line is if he were improperly aimed. But really, how hard is it to line a putt up? It's easy if you don't overanalyze things. Just pick out a target and line the blade up perpendicular to that.

So if the entire line of the putt is taken care of by essentially lining up one object perpendicular to another, that leaves us with one thing to think about: Speed. Speed controls everything. Speed is the determining factor with every putt. It controls the line. It controls the break. It determines whether your putt will lip in or lip out. It ultimately determines how many three putts occur.

If speed controls everything, then that begs the question of how someone goes about controlling speed. It's a question that, on the whole, has no answer. The fact remains that you can hit a putt 30 feet with a short stroke, and you can hit a putt 30 feet with a long stroke. You can "decel" through impact, or you can "accel".

The point is that the way you control your speed is the way that is right for you. Maybe you are long and fluid; maybe you are short and jabby. It's all about what makes you feel comfortable and confident.

This is also why practicing the speed of your putts is so important. You need to find the optimum distance you stroke the club, and what degree of force you hit the ball with. This will allow for you to gauge the situation a lot easier when presented with different length putts.