JD Cuban
In 2025, the average putt from 5 feet on the PGA Tour was nearly 81%. This is essentially cheating, as the average 15 handicapper makes close to 50% of his putts from 3 to 5 feet, according to Arccos Golf statistics.
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Why is short putt difficult for amateur golfers? One factor is nerves. There is a lot of pressure on shortstop players, who must make par, bogey, or better. This is also due to poor technology. Overuse of flying elbows and shoulders is often seen. In the backstroke, the trail elbow moves away from the body, making contact and speed unstable. On short putts, the more stable you keep your trail elbow, the more freely you will be able to swing the putter head (On top of that) You are more likely to find the bottom of the cup.
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JD Cuban
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JD Cuban
So how can you prevent trail elbows from escaping? First, at address, keep your elbows fixed and resting on top of your hip joints. Then, as you swing back, swing the putter head behind the grip, feeling your elbows tightly against your body. This should be accomplished as long as the butt end of the grip (represented by the tee in the photo above) points directly in front of the zipper throughout the stroke. During the pass, it’s important to keep your lead shoulder down and swing the putter head forward using your hands and arms, not your shoulders.
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Practice these simple keys and you’ll be gimming those 3-foot, 4-foot, 5-footers like a pro in no time.
Todd Anderson, one of Golf Digest’s Golf Teaching Legends, is the Director of Instruction at the PGA Tour Performance Center at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
