Want Less Putts? Play More Break
ERROR ON THE PRO SIDE IF YOU CAN
When it comes to putting, have you ever heard about the “pro side” and the “amateur side” of the hole? If not, the pro side is when you miss a putt on the high side of the hole and vice versa for the amateur side. Most understand this as amateurs under-read their putts, which is generally true as the average person only reads about a third of a putt’s true break, but there’s more to it. If I had a choice, I’d much rather miss a putt on the high side. I’ll explain why.
First of all, missing a putt on the high side means your first putt had a better chance of going in. If you hit a putt on the low side of the correct line it will almost never go in. Gravity won’t allow your ball to go back uphill on-line. On the flip side, if you hit a putt too high, it does have a chance to bounce downhill or break more as it slows down. Obviously, the right line is preferred, but missing it high means your putt had a better chance of going in.
Second of all, and more importantly, missing a putt on the high side will leave you a shorter 2nd putt. If you hit your first putt past the hole, you will always have a shorter second putt if you miss on the high side, assuming the first putt would travel the same total distance. Due to geometry this is a fact. When a putt is missed on the low side it is rolling away from the hole. Conversely, if you miss a putt on the high side it’s wrapping around the hole and will leave you a shorter 2nd putt.
Try playing more break for your putts. Not only will you give yourself a better opportunity to make a putt, you’ll also have a shorter 2nd putt helping you to avoid the dreaded 3-putt. I’m very confident this will help your putting. Good luck!
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About
KYLE VOSKA, PGA PROFESSIONAL
I grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio and graduated from St. Michael’s, St. Xavier, and Miami University. After graduating from Miami with a Finance degree, I moved to Florida to pursue my professional golf dreams. After a few successful years and a couple of difficult years, I stopped playing full-time. After a year of caddying on the LPGA Tour for Young Jo, Kim Williams, and Angela Stanford, I moved back home to Cincinnati. Currently, I live near Sharonville with my lovely wife, Lindsay, our kids, Maclin and Ellie, and our dog, Nora.
Teaching golf for over a year in Florida and having taken and watched many lessons from PGA Certified Master Teaching Professional Carl Rabito, becoming a golf instructor was something I really wanted to do. Fortunately, I was able to find a home at Sharon Woods Golf Course in Cincinnati, my old home from the 90′s, to further this new career path. As I enter my 6th season as a golf professional, I’m excited how my role is taking shape. I assist in managing and supervising a staff of nearly 40 while teaching golf lessons to over a 100 students. Hopefully, someday I’ll have the opportunity to mentor some future golf professionals like myself.
Email: kvoska@hotmail.com
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
- PGA Member – June, 2009
- 2008 PGA National Assistants Champion
- 43 Professional Tournament Victories
- 2010 Southern Ohio PGA Section Player-of-the-Year
- 2010 Southern Ohio PGA Southwest Chapter Player-of-the-Year
- 2009 Cincinnati Chapter Match Play Champion
- 2009 Southern Ohio PGA Assistant’s Champion
- 2001 and 2010 Southern Ohio PGA Open Champion
- 2000 PGA Buick Open Contestant
- 1998 Miami Athlete-of-the-Year
- 2-Time NCAA Division I All-American
- Mid-American Conference Sportsman and Player-of-the Year (1998)
- 2-Time Cincinnati Met Amateur Champion (1997, 1998)
- Cincinnati Met Amateur Medalist and Runner-Up (1996)
- NCAA low scoring average on Par 3′s (2.91) in 1998
- Low competitive round – 62 (3 times): Four Bridges CC (’01), Oasis CC (’09), and Juniper Hills GC (’02)
- Low non-competitive round – 61: Browns Run CC – White tees
- Won a 54-hole Developmental Players Tour event by 9 shots shooting 19 under par with no bogies (64,64,69)
- 4 career Holes-in-One and 3 career double eagles
MY PGA MENTORS:
Tom Bach – Head Professional at Sharon Woods Golf Course
George Long – Kenwood CC PGA Professional/Head Pro at The Mill Course (17 Years)
Carl Rabito – PGA Certified Master Teaching Professional (Top 100 Instructor)
Mike Bender – 2009 PGA National Teacher-of-the-Year (Top 100)
Craig Shankland – 2001 PGA National Teacher-of-the-Year (Top 100)
Jim Suttie, Ph.D - 2000 PGA National Teacher-of-the-Year (Top 100)
Bill Madonna – Bill Madonna Golf Academy (Top 100)
Andrew Park – The David Leadbetter Golf Academy
Chris Toulson – Jim McLean Golf School at Doral
As you can see, I’ve been very fortunate to have learned from some of the best PGA Professionals in the country. I feel privileged to pass on the wealth of knowledge I’ve gained from spending time with these great gentlemen.
