Jon Rahm: My secret to holing big-breaking putts

Jon Rahm seems to have a knack for holing those tricky mid-range putts. Who can forget his two astonishing putts to win his maiden major at the US Open in 2021?

Rahm, now also a Masters champion, is first on the PGA Tour in putts made from 15-20 feet. And if you watch him play, that will come as no surprise.

In particular, Rahm seems to thrive on those putts with lots of break – the kind of putt most of us would be happy get down in two and move on.

So, what’s the secret? Well, he might have revealed a part of it at the recent launch for the Odyssey Ai-One range of putters.

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In a video filmed by bunkered gear editor James Tait, the Spaniard stands over a mid-range, left-to-right breaking putt, and explains his process…

Jon Rahm explaining how he reads a putt 🔥 pic.twitter.com/19cX1tg0yk

— James Tait (@jamestait89) November 10, 2023

Rahm says that he reads the putt from both sides before picking his point at which he will aim, but there’s a small detail he mentions that might evade most people.

“What I’ve always done instinctively is look at the entry point,” he explains.

“I want to see where I feel that the ball will go into the hole and I track the line from there.”

After that, he says he tracks a straight line from a point on the green back to his ball, and attempts to match the speed to that line.

“Depending on the speed, I want to see the ball coming in from here,” he says, pointing to the left edge of the cup, rather than the front of hole.

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It might seem like a small detail, but it’s crucial to holing more putts that feature plenty of break.

Rather than focussing on the centre of the cup, the 29-year-old is looking at the edge of the hole, knowing that’s where he needs the ball to drop in.

How can this help your game?

It’s a small change in the way we view a putt, but if you want to make more of those big-breakers, it’s really useful. So try it out next time your working on your putting.

Of course, they won’t all go in, but if you’re aiming too high, it’s only going to get closer to the hole.

Lewis Fraser As bunkered’s Performance Editor, Lewis oversees the content that’s designed to make you a better player. From the latest gear to tuition, nutrition, strategy and more, he’s the man. A graduate of the University of Stirling, Lewis joined bunkered in 2021. Formerly a caddie at Castle Stuart Golf Links, he is a member of Bathgate Golf Club where he plays off four.

Performance Editor