Putts from off the green can be in different forms depending upon your lie. Use your putter when you can, but putting with irons or hybrids may come in handy as well.
As the old saying goes, putt when you can, chip when you can’t putt and pitch when you can’t chip. Don’t let yourself get caught in the situation where you haven’t practiced difficult or odd lies.
There are several ways to use your putting stroke from the fringe to 20 yards off the green. Maybe further in some cases.
Choosing how and when to hit putts from off the green depends on several things. Consider how the ball is sitting, the distance to the green. where the pin is on the green and the grain you are facing.
Maybe even a little more on top
Works like a chip shot
Clubs to use
A good example of when to use your putter would be when you have really tight lies or when you are on the fringe.
On the course I belong to, the grass changes over time. In the Spring, I can putt from pretty far off the green. When things become more lush, it becomes more sticky and could require getting the ball in the air. When it dries out, I can try the putter again.
One shot I learned early on was hitting down on the back of the ball with the putter. Normally, you would never do that.
The situation arose when I hit the ball just over the green in two on a par 5. Half the ball was sitting down in the second cut and I was short sided.
My playing partner suggested that I tap down on the ball. This caused the ball to bounce up and roll.
I ended up with a birdie. There is an example of this shot in video form below.
When I need to elevate the shot slightly, I use the Runyan chipping technique. See our article on “putting with loft.”
I avoid using the Mickelson theory of using your lob wedge for everything. I do use the “hinge and hold” method, but only when I need to go over an obstacle like a bunker.
Even then, I only use lob shots when I need to stop the ball faster.
Using a hybrid or wood can be very handy. I frequently use my 3 or 4 hybrid. The issue I run into using a longer club is that I need to aim farther left. (I’m right handed.) I seem to not get the club square in time. This also takes practice.
Videos
Chip with your putter when you short sided