Aim for two putts on every green. It’s one of the simplest ready golf goals you can set: two putts lowers your score, takes the pressure off your first putt and keeps your group moving. You’re not trying to make everything. You’re trying to never need a third putt.

Why Two Putts Is a Ready Golf Target

Every putt on a green comes with extra time: walking to the ball, reading the line, marking, waiting, then stepping up again. A three-putt doesn’t just add a stroke to your card. It adds another round of all that, while your partners and the group behind wait.

Two putts per hole also gives you a clear scoring picture. Eighteen greens at two putts each is 36 putts. Many everyday golfers take far more than that, and most of the extra strokes come from long first putts left well short or charged well past.

That’s the heart of ready golf: good preparation and simple decisions that cut the waiting, without rushing your stroke. A two-putt mindset does exactly that on the green.

The Two-Putt Plan

Putt one: speed to the circle.
Your first job is to leave the ball inside an imaginary 3-foot (1-meter) circle around the hole. From long range, speed matters far more than line. If it drops, great. If it doesn’t, you have an easy second putt. Our tip on how to lag it close, then hole out covers the technique.

Putt two: finish it.
If your second putt is short and you’re not standing on anyone’s line, finish your putt right away instead of marking and waiting.

Four Ready Golf Habits That Make Two Putts Easier

1. Read your first putt while others putt.
By the time it’s your turn, you should already know your line and how hard to hit it. Here’s how to do ready golf on the green without distracting anyone.

2. Watch other players’ putts.
A ball rolling near your line shows you the speed and break for free. That information makes your first putt much more likely to finish close.

3. Pick a smaller target from close range.
On your second putt, choose a spot on the back of the cup and hit it firmly enough to finish just past the hole if it misses.

4. Count your putts, but at the next tee.
Write your putts next to your score so you can see how many two-putts you made. Do it on the next tee, not on the green, so the group behind can play.

A Simple Two-Putt Practice Game

Before your round, spend five minutes on the practice green:

• Drop three balls at different long distances, about 20 to 40 feet (6 to 12 meters) from a hole.
• Putt each one, then hole out the second putt.
• Score one point for every two-putt or better. Lose a point for every three-putt.
• Try to finish with three points before moving on.

For more speed practice, try the ladder drill or our guide to two-putting every green.

Common Mistakes

• Trying to hole every long putt. Charging from 40 feet often leaves a nervy 6-footer coming back.
• Leaving lag putts well short. A putt that stops halfway leaves a second long putt, not an easy one.
• Reading a long putt from every angle. From long range, a quick look and good speed are enough.
• Dwelling on a three-putt. It happens to everyone. Hole out, walk off and focus on the next green.

FAQ

Is two putts per hole a good goal for beginners?
Yes. It’s realistic, easy to track and helps you think about speed rather than perfection.

What if I’m on the fringe, not the green?
Use the same plan. Putt or chip it close with your first stroke, then hole out with your second.

Should I still try to make short putts on the first try?
Of course. On short putts, go for it. The two-putt mindset is about long putts, where getting close matters most.

Does aiming for two putts really help pace of play?
Yes. Fewer putts means fewer reads, fewer marks and less waiting on every green, and those minutes add up over 18 holes.

Key Takeaways

• Aim for two putts on every green: one to get close, one to finish.
• On long putts, speed first, line second.
• Read your first putt while others putt, and tap in short ones when you’re not on anyone’s line.
• Count your putts at the next tee and practice the two-putt game before your round.

How many two-putts did you make on your last round? Count them next time and see how much smoother your greens feel. New to golf? Start here.

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