Best Putting Tips: Putt From The Fringe

For the average recreational golfer, putting from the fringe of a green will roll the ball nearer to the hole location than chipping or pitching a shot from such location. 

Yes, it takes practice.

However, once you learn how much length to add to your back stroke when putting from the fringe of a green in comparison with the length of your back stroke when just putting on the surface of the green, you will be able to save several strokes in a round of golf – in comparison to chipping or pitching your ball in such instance. 

Don’t take it from me. 

Some of the best golfers who ever played the game have suggested that golfers would have a better chance of getting their ball nearer a hole location by putting their ball from the fringe of a green rather than attempting to chip or pitch their ball in such circumstance.

For example, I recall reading an article in which Arnold Palmer commented to Jack Nicklaus (during Nicklaus’ early years on tour) that golfers would be better served by putting from the fringe of a green instead of trying to chip or pitch their ball from a fringe, if at all possible. 

Many professional instructors espouse the same.

I have heard Hank Haney state the same: that is, putt rather than chip or pitch from the fringe whenever possible.

Nevertheless, there are many instances when putting should not be your choice in such circumstance.

If your ball is lying within a couple of feet from the edge of a green, you probably should consider putting your ball rather than attempting to chip or pitch it to the hole location.

However, if you are confronted with your ball lying more than two-foot from the edge of a green, you may be better served by choosing to chip or pitch it onto the   green. 

The fringe will slow the roll of your ball significantly more outside the two-foot margin.

Too, you should take in consideration the thickness of the green surrounding a green. 

If the fringe has been allowed to grow more than normal or, for some reason, has not been mown recently, you probably should chip or pitch your ball from such location instead of attempting to putt it to the cup.  

Weather conditions also should be taken into consideration when deciding to putt from the fringe of a green.

If early in the day when the fringe is covered with dew, it will significantly slow the roll of a putt from a fringe surrounding a green. 

In such, circumstance, you may have a better chance of getting your ball nearer the hole location by chipping or pitching your shot instead of putting it. 

The same applies if it has rained prior to your round of golf. The rain moisture   likewise will slow down the roll of your ball significantly if you choose to putt from the fringe.

Why not test which would be best for you in normal conditions?

Simply go to different practice greens where chipping or pitching shots on to such greens are permitted and where there are normal fringe areas surrounding such practice greens.

Next, practice putting from different fringe areas until you become successful in rolling your ball within five feet of the cup.

Then putt your ball from the one-foot fringe mark five times and make note of the average distance of your putts from the hole location.

Next, chip your ball from the same location on the fringe onto the green five times and make note of the average distance of your chips from the hole location.

Then compare the two distances and see if you are not better served by putting from the one-foot fringe mark in comparison to chipping off the green from the same location.

Next, do the same test from the two-foot fringe mark and compare the two.

You can do the same test from the three-foot fringe mark if the fringe is wide enough. 

However, you probably will find that chipping from the three-foot mark (or more) to the hole location will be your better choice than putting from such location. 

Try putting instead of chipping or pitching from the fringe of a green anytime you can to improve your game and lower your golf score.

By Gordon Jackson

Author of the GOLF CODE® book and video set and many other golf instructional books and videos – available at locked-ingolf.com.

Visit http://locked-ingolf.com and download a complimentary copy of Ten Reasons Why Golfers Mishit Golf Shots.

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