Does break affect putting distance?

[Poolparty]

I'm a good putter, it's the strongest part of my game, but I feel like I leave a disproportional amount of putts short. It could just be power control or too light a head, but I've been thinking it may be the wrong strategy. I've been wondering if a putt that breaks needs to be hit harder than a straight one. Does it have to travel more distance similar to the way a nautical mile is longer that a flat land mile because of the curve?

[DFS PFD]

A straight line is always the shortest distance between two points, so yes the putts with lots of break will travel a longer distance. Though the way you are approaching this seems like it could be quite overwhelming. I would rather see you address putter head weight than analyzing total distance due to break relative to a straight putt. I'm sure others will have different feedback though

[Pepperturbo]

IMO - it's not harder or softer. It's about properly assessing green, grain direction, etc. Then the speed (feel) of the putt, has to be just enough to reach the spot where the break takes hold of the ball. If you pick the proper break spot, and measure putting conditions to the break SPOT, the distance to cup is secondary. It's about properly reading green speed, undulations, grain and other influences to reach the apex spot the ball runs towards the cup.

Before switching to my current heavier putter I used a lighter weight putter and was either too short or too long. I was hitting the ball instead of smoothly stroking the ball. Switching to heavier 360g head weight and D5 SW did the trick for me.

[GLF4EVR]

This can be a potential can of worms, but yes....the ball has more distance to travel so some more inertia is required. Now there are breaking putts were actually less speed is needed because the ball will pick up speed from the break. At the same time, there are breaking putts that require more speed just to get thru the break. Being that putting is your strong suit, I would think it would not take you very long to find how to adjust for these putts. However, if it seems to become difficult you might want to experiment with some lead tape on the putter. Where you even place the lead tape can be a big change.

This is from my home course perspective. A straight putt will occur 1 to 3 holes out of the 18, with many rounds not having a single straight putt (no including double breakers).

[SNIPERBBB]

Big breakers scare more people into leaving it short than anything, it's not because the putt is longer. You end up hitting a defensive putt or just wave at it and trickles in or stays short. Making a normal stroke and missing the putt kicks in the fear of three putting.

[Poolparty]

That's a simpler way of looking at it yeah, but I don't feel overwhelmed. It's an extra variable, but I can't ignore it.I came from a light weight putter so I'd assume makng a small weight increase would be better than a big one. My Scotty has room for lead under the weights, but even if it didn't I'm not interested in replacing it. It's too close to right to make a big change I think

[Scottbox]

As others have mentioned, break affects speed and vice versa. A great way to practice both of these is the ladder drill with 4-6 balls: you putt one 2-3 feet, then put the next one exactly 2-3 feet past that one, and so on. You can do this on a relatively level putting surface. Then, as you get better at the drill, try it with uphill putts, downhill putts, and sidehillers. You'll get a great sense of how break affects speed without having to overanalyze things. As you get to more varied terrain, you'll soon develop a feel for how much break you need, how that affects your speed, and vice versa.

[dlygrisse]

I think you are overthinking it, just visualize the putt, then focus on rolling the ball on your starting the to the hole. If you are coming up short say on a uphill putt, think of putting to a hole that is a couple of feet past the actual hole.

[Krt22]

While it may be a "longer" putt...say 12 feet with 2 ft of break...those extra 2 ft are technically down hill so it very well may need to be struck softer. Either way, agree with the above, you are over thinking it. I don't think it's that important, if you are consistently leaving them short, adjust and learn to hit it harder. Learn to pick a spot, think of the back of the cup not the front of it, etc

[Soloman1]

Yes. A curved path to a hole is longer than a straight path.

 

(The nautical mile reference is incorrect. There is no relationship between them. They are two different units measured differently.)

[Pepperturbo]

@Soloman1 is correct. Being a boat enthusiast, I've spent a lot of time navigating the pacific ocean. A nautical mile or one minute of latitude is slightly greater than a statute mile. Not an advisable way to measure a putt. Unless the green is covered in water....

[Poolparty]

Yes this is what I needed. Of course a straight line is the shortest but I knew there was something else I wasn't considering. The downhill part is perfect, thanks.

[Man_O_War]

so how much more are you adding when putting into the grain? the greens i play on are so mowed tight that i am not sure grain direction even matters.

[Barfolomew]

Yes

 

I hit a giant curved putt yesterday and I noticed it went further then the straight one.... ijs