Tour

Putting and Short-Game Trends on the PGA Tour: A Deep Dive

From belly putters to chipping yips, I'm breaking down what's working (and what isn't) on the greens this season.

Played & written by Marcus Santana

By Marcus Santana · Published August 6, 2026

The short version

The best putters are finding consistent speed control, while short-game excellence is about minimizing mistakes, not always hitting highlight-reel shots. Don't chase trends; focus on your personal strengths and consistency.

How it played

When you look at the stats, the top performers in 'Strokes Gained: Putting' aren't necessarily the guys draining the most 30-footers. Instead, it’s about their proficiency from 10 feet and in, and more crucially, their three-putt avoidance. The elite putters are consistently two-putting from outside 25 feet, which tells me their speed control is absolutely dialed in. For short game, the key metric isn't the number of spectacular up-and-downs, but rather the reduction in costly errors. The best around-the-green players are those who can consistently get the ball on the green and give themselves a look at par, even from awkward positions. It’s about not turning bogeys into doubles, which is a massive differentiator in these high-stakes tournaments.

How it looks

It's always fascinating to see the putting grips and strokes evolve throughout a season. This year, I'm noticing a slight uptick in arm-lock putters, though not to the degree some predicted. Standard grips, especially the pistol and reverse-overlap, still dominate, but the best putters are showcasing incredible consistency in their setup. They aren't constantly adjusting their eye line or ball position; it's a repeatable, almost robotic pre-shot routine that sets them up for success. On the short game side, I'm seeing more players opting for a 'safer' chip shot with less loft, focusing on getting the ball rolling early, particularly from fringe lies. The days of always trying to flop it high seem to be waning, replaced by a more pragmatic, lower-risk approach.

What won me over

Good to know before you buy

My verdict

What does this mean for us, the golfers at home? First, stop chasing the latest putter or grip trend if your current setup feels comfortable and produces decent results. Focus on speed control drills; those 3-5 footers become a lot easier when you're not leaving yourself 6-footers for the second putt. For your short game, emulate the pros who play it safe. Instead of always going for the hero shot, learn to chip it low and let it run when the lie allows. Practice those bump-and-runs and eliminate the skull or chunk from 30 yards. Consistency and minimizing mistakes around the greens will shave more strokes off your handicap than any miraculous flop shot ever will. Play smart, not flashy.

Marcus Santana

Founder & Lead Tester, Homie Golf

Every product on this site is played, walked or worn before it gets a score. No paid placements, no press-release numbers.