The short game is arguably the most difficult aspect of golf to master on the course.
But with enough practice and the right golf putter at your disposal, you’re giving yourself the best shot at sinking your putts on the first try.
Yet countless golfers struggle constantly with putts that veer to the left; a common issue with right-handed players.
While it’s often an issue with poor technique, direction, or approach, it may be that the putter and player simply aren’t suited to each other.
If you’re worried this is the case, Clarkes Golf is home to a huge selection of new golf putters for you to explore, with price points to meet all budgets, all from the sport’s biggest brands - including Scotty Cameron, Bettinardi, Ping, Mizuno, and many more. We'll help you make the right choice for your next big putter purchase.
Check out our stock at the links above or keep reading to see how you can improve your putting with simple adjustments.
Why your putts are veering left - and what you can do about it
Body positioning
This is one of the most common causes of putts veering left.
Many golfers struggle to line up their putts accurately, with a tendency for right-handed players to shift their putting line too far left.
This is often due to two reasons: They haven’t taken the time to examine the putt before stepping up to the ball or because the eye line naturally tilts left when looking from right to left.
Before approaching the ball, it’s always wise to observe the ball from the back, creating a mental picture of where it must travel to sink the putt.
Using the shaft of your putter to do this is a clever trick, especially for putts that don’t break left or right due to the green incline.
When it comes to standing over the ball, do your best not to follow your neck’s natural motion when turning your head towards the hole; it’ll always try to straighten upwards, possibly forcing your shoulder position leftward.
Grip tightness
Again, this is an issue for the righties amongst you, though the lefties could send the ball the opposite way just as easily!
We always want to ensure we’re gripping the putter tightly enough. Otherwise, the club could alter its own path on the follow-through, ruining our stroke.
But it’s also important not to hold the club too tightly, as this could have the same result.
For right-handed players, grasping the putter too intently with the right hand can force that hand to take dominance over the other, with the swing motion naturally veering from right to left, closing the clubface before impact.
A relaxed yet firm grip is always the best way to go to keep your putter on the correct path. Speaking of which…
Poor putting stroke
Most of the time, any ill-fated puts can simply be put down to poor technique.
Specifically, rather than following a pendulum-like pathway, your shoulders and arms tend to follow a slightly diagonal path or you’re unknowingly creating a slight semi-circle motion around your legs.
Either way, chances are this will result in the clubface facing left of your intended target - disaster.
To fix this, it’s best to get on the practice green for a few hours. Place another club horizontal to your intended putting path and try to follow it with your backswing and follow through for a smooth, straight putt every time.
Eventually, you won’t even need the club!
An ill-suited putter
As we mentioned earlier, it can simply be the case that you and your putter are not suited for each other.
Every golfer is different and, with different styles of putter to choose from, you may need to switch between several variants before finding your perfect putting partner.
Don’t feel comfortable with a blade putter? Try a mallet putter for a heavier, more controlled strike. Or vice-versa. Or you could have a go with some of the wilder, more modern styles of putter that are out there!
Worried your current putter is part of the problem? Explore the best golf putters for sale at Clarkes Golf
If you’d like to ditch your current short game tool and try something completely new to solve your putting predicaments, Clarkes Golf is here to help.
With a massive selection of golf putters from the sport’s top brands, we’ve got everything you need to perfect your short game and start sinking the best putts of your life. These include Odyssey putters, Cobra putters, and many more.
Not only that, but with various options for putter length, head shape, neck options, and more, you'll be completely spoilt for choice. So we'll always have the right putter for your needs.
Take a look at our best putters at the links above or get in touch with Clarkes Golf if you’d like some personalised product recommendations - we’re always happy to help.