Lee Trevino is a golfing legend. He understands the challenges of the short game and offers some advice on how to make more short putts. His sage offerings on ball position strike and interesting mental exercise as I try to envision how his advice will help. I talk about envisioning his teachings because we have a foot of snow on the ground and putting, except in my basement, is not going to happen anytime soon. Regardless, Trevino suggests something that might help chase the yips away.
In Trevino’s manner of using humor to help get his point across, I can see how changing the ball position to a central location in our stance will help most of us make solid contact on the ball. If you are curious, his joke about gimmies are all too true and I will tell you why in a bit.
My Dad was an avid golfer. Like Bryson DeChambeau laying his putter down after making a putt to show Viktor Hovland and Tommy Fleetwood he was ‘inside the leather’ in the 2021 Ryder Cup (SI), my Dad would make comments about having me having a sore throat or was something caught in my throat because I would not give him a 2 or 3 foot putt. In truth, I was not really aware of this type of golf etiquette in my early years and now I would recognize that I should have spoke up at the time.
My Dad was a 10 handicap player and made most short putts. He taught me many great things about golf and when we played he would often point out the possibilities of each golf shot. I realize this aspect of the article does not help you sink more short putts, but I felt like reminiscing for a bit. Consider this bonus information. 😉
Sinking short putts is a challenge for many players. Lee Trevino offers a solution that might work for your game. I suggest you give it a try if you are struggling with 3 foot putts. You never know, it might be what you are looking for to lower your golf scores.
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
The Grateful Golfer 
It’s really mental as well as physical. You tell yourself “you always miss these” and bingo you miss it.
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That sounds about right, Linley!
Cheers Jim
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One thing you learn when playing skins is a 3 footer is a lot harder when it’s a must make to avoid someone else winning a skin. At least for the guys I play against. For me, not so much anymore. I’ve found that being positive to the point of being aggressive is the way to make sure those short ones fall. Take any break out of the equation by giving the ball enough speed to slam the pin.
And yes, I generally leave the pin in even for my short putts. I find that I miss less with the pin in than with the pin out. I’ve had a couple hit the pin and not fall. And I’ve had a couple hit the edge of the cup on the way down and pop back out over the years. I find one is about as likely to happen as the other and having the pin in gives me a sense that I have a backstop. It’s a bit of a security blanket maybe, but whatever works to bring confidence over the ball is a good thing.
We miss way more often when we aren’t committed. When we vacillate, we tend not to execute well. We push or pull more. We leave them short or hit way too hard because we tried to speed up a stroke our minds recognize as way too wimpy to get to the hole.
My misses are generally a good 4 feet past, but I make a whole lot more today that when I always tried to die them in.
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Kevin,
Being committed is definitely the key sinking short putts!
Cheers Jim
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