Putting improvement does not have to require hours of technical practice.
In this episode of On the Mark, Mark Immelman is joined by Matt Davis, the creator of Putter Cup, to discuss how golfers can develop better speed control, stronger commitment and greater confidence under pressure.
Matt explains why putting deserves more attention from recreational golfers and challenges the belief that becoming a good putter requires a major investment of time. With focused, intentional practice—even for just a few minutes each day—golfers can begin closing the performance gap much faster than they might expect.
The conversation also explores an often-overlooked part of putting: The human response to pressure. Reading the green, choosing a line and controlling speed all matter, but golfers must still execute when the putt counts. Matt designed the three-part Putter Cup system to simulate that pressure and make practice slightly more demanding than the real thing.
Mark and Matt examine why not every five-foot putt should be played the same way, the relationship between speed and line, and how golfers can stop getting trapped by mechanical thoughts over short putts. They also discuss the importance of identifying “shot number three,” letting the putter become the hero and practicing in a way that makes the golf course feel easier.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
• Why everyday golfers can putt at an elite level
• How better putting can quickly lower your scores
• Why pressure should be treated as a fourth element of putting
• The relationship between read, speed, line and commitment
• Why not every five-foot putt requires the same pace
• How challenging practice can make real holes appear more forgiving
• The difference between practicing a stroke and preparing to play
• How the Speed Bump trains pace and commitment
• How the Center Cup sharpens start line and entry point
• How the portable To-Go Cup creates a target almost anywhere
• Why thinking about mechanics can undermine short-putt performance
• How better putting reduces pressure on lag putts and chip shots
• What “firm in the back of the cup” should really mean
• When “never up, never in” is—and is not—good advice
• Why a few minutes of deliberate practice can produce meaningful results
You can also watch this podcast and see the PutterCups if search and subcribe to Mark Immelman on YouTube. Do so and make more putts.
