why do you aim to roll the golf ball past the hole upto 17 inches?

Answer 1

to make sure the ball holds a line going to the hole, a lot of weak putts will break while losing speed approaching the hole, you will notice how the best professionals putt firmly near the hole and take the break out of the putt...just think of how many times you see people miss putts that just curl out or stop in front of the cup...putting them past the hole will always give you a chance for a make...good luck and putt well!

Answer 2

That gives the ball the best chance to go in. If the ball is putted to 'die at the hole', not only can it come up short, but small imperfections can knock the ball off course as it rolls to a stop. If you aim 17 (I always heard 18) inches past and you are a foot short of your aim you can still make the putt in one. If you aim 17 inches past and go a foot too far you can still make the two and a half foot comeback. I seem to recall that this 17 or 18 inch number was arrived at through careful experimentation using mechanically putted balls.

Answer 3

It's not about aim. It's about hitting the ball hard enough, on the intended line, so as to insure that you don't leave the ball short of the hole. If you do miss at least the ball got to the hole, had a chance to go in, and is still close enough so that you can tap it in. 17 inches, however, may be a little aggressive. I would practice hitting it hard to be in the 8 to 12 inch range.

Answer 4

The real reason is because, if you miss the putt ( and always keep a close eye on the putt all of the way) is because you are suppose to see the roll of the green if you miss the hole, so the putt on the way back will be dead simple.
On the other hand if you hit the putt short, you wont be able to see the roll of the green so well to the remainder of the hole, this is a big pro tip they will always tell you hit your putts harder so you can judge it to perfection, if you watch the guys on TV and if you look back most small putts within 3 feet that are missed is because they hit the first putt short, but on the other hand if they hit it too far and they putt back 9 times out of 10 there is no problem because they keep there eye on the ball if it rolls past the cup hence they know the roll on the way back , you understand

Answer 5

You really only want to aim about 6- 12 inches past a hole if it is on a level to up hill surface. On a down hill putt you want to aim just short of the hole just so the ball falls in to the hole.

Answer 6

17 inches would leave a testy putt coming back if you miss. I try to aim for about 12 inches past the hole on uphill putts and 6 inches past the hole on downhill putts. You have to reach the hole in order for the ball to drop in, and you have to have enough speed so that the ball holds the line as it reaches the hole.

Answer 7

In theory if you try to hit it hard enough to go past the hole, you have a chance to make it, where a putt that comes up short never has a chance. You should also watch how the ball curves as it goes by the hole, so you have an idea how your next putt will break.

Answer 8

Most instructors will teach you to roll the ball within a putter length from the hole. The idea behind this thinking is to get you to hit the ball enough to get it to the hole. Most short putts will not go in. Hit it with enough speed and they have a good chance of going in.

Answer 9

I think another reason you may want to aim a foot to a foot-and-a-half past the hole is to be sure you make a confident stroke, especially on short putts (about 5-7 feet). A lot of times, you see players try to help the ball in on short putts instead of making their regular stroke. This deceleration of the clubhead is a short putt killer.

Answer 10

i never heard 17", they usually say try to roll it past 6"-12". it has to have enough speed to reach the hole to go in. but if you do miss a margin of only 6-12" gives you an easy tap-in. so you don't three putt. 17" 12" 6" whatever, as long as you don't fly it 10 yds past will leave you an easier 2nd putt should you miss your first.