8 Ways To Improve Your Putting As A High-Handicap Golfer
Our personalised, data-driven guide to improving putting for high-handicap golfers using expert tips, drills and instructional videos
I've always had a love-hate relationship with putting. As a high-handicap golfer, it's often been the source of much frustration, but the feeling of holing a putt is incredibly addictive.
My putting improved dramatically over the course of a recent winter golf rebuild and I am now playing off my lowest every handicap (20).
I wanted to share some of the best lessons and resources that have helped me along the way, from Top 50 Coaches and PGA pros, in the hope that they can also help you to improve your putting and cut your handicap in 2026.
This is by no means a comprehensive plan for everything you could ever need to work on, but of these eight great examples that I have tried in my own game, there will certainly be something in here that can help any high-handicap player.
Whether you prefer step-by-step guides, instructional videos or simple drills - we have something for you in this one-stop shop for firing up the flat stick.
8 Ways To Improve Your Putting As A High-Handicap Golfer
High-Handicapper Putting Data Analysis
Driving improvement in any area of the game is difficult if you don't assess your starting point. The latest Shot Scope data for 2026 is a great place to start, as it highlights the average performance indicators for 20- and 25-handicap golfers.
Comparing yourself against this baseline, and the ambitious target set by 10 and 15-handicappers, will help you to understand exactly what you need to work on, informing your journey through this guide to ensure you find the most suitable advice and guidance for your game personally.
The graphics below break down average putts per round, number of 3-putts per round, distance to the hole after your first putt and make percentages from different distances.
Baz used this data to determine his own pathway to progress, including a focus on putts from inside 6ft, but you can also use the stats to personalise your own journey.
Putting Fundamentals Lesson
James has been coaching golf for more than 10 years and specialising in putting for well over half of that time. In the past few years James has worked with more than 3000 golfers, including more than 200 professionals. If he was to single out a success it would be seeing Jamie Rutherford win the EuroPro Tour order of merit this year after working together for the past three years. His philosophy is simple – 'We do whatever it takes to make each individual better on the greens.’
Let's start with the essentials. If you can nail your fundamentals, you are well on your way to better performances with the putter.
Utilising the expertise of putting expert James Jankowski, as part of our article on the 7 things every golfer can do to putt better, this step-by-step guide is a great starting point for a better setup when putting:
Mastering the address position with putter is the first battle a high-handicapper must overcome
- Isolate your lower body: Position yourself to disassociate your legs, core, and head, allowing only your shoulders, arms, and torso to control the putting motion.
- Adopt a relaxed, rounded posture: Fall slightly forward and round your upper body into the posture rather than rigidly bending at the hips. Keep your spine and shoulders soft, avoiding traditional "good posture" which creates too much muscular tension.
- Let your arms hang naturally: Keep your arms free of tension and let them hang down naturally. Without a putter in your hands, your fingers should comfortably brush somewhere around your knees.
- Keep your weight slightly toe-side: Avoid placing too much weight on your heels, as this will activate your legs. Instead, position your weight slightly toe-side on the balls of your feet to encourage your legs to stay quiet during the stroke.
- Focus on soft muscles: Ensure your shoulders, lats, and upper back stay completely soft and relaxed, giving them the freedom to move smoothly without restrictions.
8 Things Great Putters Do (That We Don't)
Jamie Donaldson has used AimPoint coaching to help golfers of all abilities to improve their putting, from amateurs all the way to Major Champions like Adam Scott and Stacy Lewis. As Europe's Senior AimPoint instructor, Jamie regularly runs clinics at Woburn Golf Club and travels to work with clients around the world.
If you want to be a great putter, it makes sense to learn from the best... right?
Well, Jamie Donaldson certainly knows his stuff when it comes to navigating the greens, and his advice in this instructional video on the 8 things great putters do will inspire you, as it did me, to work on key aspects of your putting.
Putting Grip Case Study
As a high-handicap golfer myself, I decided to try out the claw grip. The reason I have suggested it as part of this ultimate guide to putting for high-handicappers is that the results were very interesting - despite early concerns about it's effectiveness.
Below is a case study of my investigation, but you can also watch the full procedure on the video below.
Background After a barren spell on the greens and feeling like I hadn’t holed anything of note for ages, I decided to switch things up and try something new. Flitting between multiple grips, I couldn’t settle on a contender, so I headed to Sand Moor Golf Club to put the final decision in the hands of the data.
Methodology Armed with my putter and five golf balls, I conducted a simple experiment to gather data. I hit 60 putts from six feet, broken down into 20 putts per grip. All putts were hit from the same spot on a sloping left-to-right six-footer to carefully consider the variables.
Results
The Conventional Grip: Starting with this old faithful, I was surprised by how it performed admirably. The grip felt confident, helping me hole 14 of 20 putts.
Left Hand Low Grip: Proceeding in a positive fashion, I found the bottom of the cup 13 out of 20 times. This style efficiently squared my shoulders along the target line and left me feeling pleased, meaning I didn't totally discount it.
The Claw Grip: Despite an encouraging start, a dry spell during the third set of five balls meant the fashionable claw grip only converted 9 of 20 putts. Shelved for now.
At the time, I moved away from using the claw grip as it actually produced the worst results out of the three methods tried. However, over the first ten balls the success rate was huge, so I decided to give it some time on the course to flesh out the data.
The results showed that, with some practice, this method removed much of the unwanted manipulation from my trail hand and yielded better results. My handicap has since dropped by five shots, albeit not exclusively because of the claw grip, but it has certainly been a positive factor in that improvement.
As with any putting grip, the decision is pretty personal and unique to the individual. Exploring options in practice could provide the solution to your putting woes, and like me you could soon be adopting the claw on the greens.
Step-By-Step Guide: The Claw Grip
Alex spent three years caddying on the European Tour before taking his PGA qualifications. Since then he has created a thriving social media platform on Instagram and YouTube, where he offers a whole host of tips and advice to help viewers shoot lower scores.
Step 1 - The Left Hand Placement
Take your normal putting stance and using your left hand (for a right-handed golfer) grip the putter in the lifelines on the palm of your hand.
When using the claw grip for putting, the left hand is towards the top of the grip, as opposed to the lower position seen in a left-hand low putting grip. The back of your left hand should point towards the target.
The claw grip for putting requires the left hand to be at the top of the grip and in the palm of the hand
Step 2 - The Right Hand Placement
Using your right hand, make a 'claw' shape using the space between your thumb and your index finger. For comfort and stability, you can press your four fingers together to form one pincer of the claw (think of a crab's claw), with the thumb forming the other.
Place your newly formed claw onto the grip of the putter underneath your left hand, with your fingers pointing towards the target side and the grip cradled in the crease.
Place the right hand on the lower half of the grip with a claw shape position, allowing the club to sit in the crease between the thumb and index finger
Step 3 - The Stroke
I like to feel as though my left elbow is more tucked into my side and the stroke is really instigated from my left wrist.
The claw grip for putting is designed to take the right hand out of play, so while it's in contact with the club it shouldn't really be influencing the stroke too much.
The grip pressure is stronger in the left hand, with the right sitting more as a guide than anything else.
When certain golfers suffer are searching for how to cure the putting yips, this technique is popular antidote to administer as it limits the role of an over-dominant right hand when putting.
While the claw grip won't solve all of your putting woes, especially if you are struggling with how to read greens, it will help you to create a reliable stroke that you feel comfortable with - and that's huge!
The left elbow should be tucked in and the grip pressure more weighted to the left hand instead of the right
Best Putters 2026
Having the right equipment is just as important as finding the right putting grip or improving your technique on the greens. Finding the right putter for you again comes down to personal preference, with many styles to choose from.
I switched a few years ago from a blade to a mallet putter and I've never looked back.
You only have to look at the success of the TaylorMade Spider X on the PGA Tour this season to see why the model is so popular.
I love it and couldn't imagine rolling the ball with anything else. Confidence on the greens is so important, which is why it has stayed in my bag for so long.
The video below breaks down the best putters on the market in 2026, reviewed by our expert testers under rigorous conditions, to help point you in the right direction when looking to find your next flat stick...
Line and Pace Putting Drill
This drill is super simple to set up. Grab your putter, a golf ball and three tees - then head to the practice green. The instructions are explained clearly in a step-by-step format within the video, so try it for yourself.
The idea is to increase comfort with holing putts at different speeds for different breaks. If you find this too easy or you want an additional challenge, increase the length of putt or find one with a little more slope!
Green Reading Practice
Ben Emerson is a Golf Monthly Top 50 Coach with a modern approach to the game. His methods have seen him become one of the most revered coaches in the country, and even has a few celebrity clients on his books. In his coaching career of more than 20 years, Ben has helped golfers of all ages and abilities to improve their performances and enjoy the game. He is also the author of the brilliant golf instruction book, Strike It Pure.
For this drill, I want you to completely take the hole out of your mind and focus instead on the start line.
So many amateurs will aim straight at the hole every time and then wonder why they are missing the putt by six feet or more. If we can read the high point of the putt correctly, and identify the start line, a challenging putt will become a lot easier.
Identifying the high point of the putt is essentially understanding where the putt will reach it's highest point and start to break most. You can do this with your feet by walking along the line with your feet straddled and feeling where the slope is most severe.
Set up a gate around three foot from your ball, measured at around one putter head's width, which is aiming directly at that high point. This is a great putting drill using tees - something every golfer has in their bag.
In the image below, I have used white markers to visualise the break of the putt. If you don't have access to these, you could use a tee or a ball marker to highlight the high point of the putt.
The aim is to practice hitting the start line effectively, allowing the ball to travel on your intended line and complete it's journey by cosying up to the hole (or going in - of course).
Pick different breaking putts, with varying severity, and you will be able to master slopes in no time at all.
Focus on your start line, as well as the high point, to ensure the ball has the best chance of reaching your target
Testing Yourself On The Green
As part of my winter golf rebuild, I took part in some baseline testing with PGA Pro Alex James to determine my skillset and starting point.
This gate drill was frustratingly difficult at first, but by the end I wanted to carry on setting gates up across the practice green to test my start line in different (and increasingly more difficult) circumstances.
Anyone can do this with a putter, a golf ball and a few tees, but working on your start line and marrying up the pace with that read is a great investment for any high-handicap golfer.
