About the Pros

Dave Pelz: The Short Game Guru Who Revolutionized Putting

By puttmasterPublished 5 min read

Introduction

Dave Pelz is one of the most influential golf instructors in history, specializing in the short game and putting. While he never played professional golf at the highest level, his scientific approach to golf instruction has helped countless amateurs and PGA Tour professionals improve their scoring inside 100 yards.

Pelz is best known for his data-driven teaching methods, his best-selling books on the short game and putting, and his development of numerous training aids used by top golfers. His research-based approach focuses on wedge play, distance control, green reading, and putting stroke mechanics, making him one of the most sought-after coaches in the game.

This article will explore who Dave Pelz is, his key accomplishments, the books he has written, training aids he has developed, and some of his most important putting tips.

Who Is Dave Pelz?

Dave Pelz was born in 1940 and initially pursued a career as a NASA scientist, specializing in physics and aerodynamics. However, his passion for golf led him to shift his focus toward analyzing the short game using scientific principles.

Despite being a skilled player, Pelz realized early in his career that he would not make it on the PGA Tour. Instead, he turned his engineering mindset to golf instruction, using data, statistics, and biomechanics to create a revolutionary approach to short-game training.

Unlike many traditional instructors who relied on feel and experience, Pelz took a scientific approach, conducting thousands of hours of research on putting and short-game performance. His work challenged conventional wisdom, and his findings have been embraced by some of the greatest golfers of all time.

Key Accomplishments in Golf

Dave Pelz has had a profound impact on golf instruction, particularly in putting and the short game. Some of his biggest accomplishments include:

1. Pioneering Short-Game Analytics

  • Pelz’s research showed that 65-80% of shots in golf occur inside 100 yards, yet most golfers spend the majority of their practice time on full swings.
  • He proved that the short game and putting are the biggest factors in scoring, leading to a shift in how professionals and amateurs train.

2. Coaching Elite PGA Tour Players

Pelz has worked with some of the best golfers in history, including:

  • Phil Mickelson – Worked extensively with Pelz on wedge play and putting, leading to major wins.
  • Patrick Reed – One of the best short-game players on tour, Reed has credited Pelz’s methods.
  • Payne Stewart – Before his tragic passing, Stewart worked with Pelz to refine his putting.
  • Tom Kite – Pelz helped Kite develop one of the best wedge games on tour.

3. Developing Training Aids and Schools

  • Pelz has designed multiple short-game training aids that have been used worldwide.
  • He founded Dave Pelz Scoring Game Schools, helping thousands of golfers improve their short-game skills.

4. Writing Best-Selling Golf Books

Pelz’s books have become essential reading for golfers wanting to improve their putting and short game.

Books Written by Dave Pelz

Pelz has written several best-selling instructional books that have been widely regarded as some of the best resources for short-game and putting improvement.

1. Dave Pelz’s Putting Bible (2000)

  • One of the most comprehensive books on putting ever written.
  • Covers stroke mechanics, green reading, alignment, and practice drills.
  • Introduces Pelz’s “Pure Pendulum Stroke” method for consistent putting.

2. Dave Pelz’s Short Game Bible (1999)

  • Focuses on wedge play and shots inside 100 yards.
  • Provides data-backed strategies for bunker play, chipping, and pitching.
  • Helped Phil Mickelson refine his wedge game, leading to multiple major wins.

3. Dave Pelz’s Damage Control (2009)

  • Focuses on recovering from bad shots and limiting mistakes.
  • Covers bunker escapes, bad lies, and scrambling techniques.

4. Dave Pelz’s Golf Without Fear (2008)

  • Addresses common fears in golf, such as bunker shots and short putts.
  • Offers mental strategies to improve confidence under pressure.

These books are highly regarded by both amateurs and professionals and provide a scientific yet practical approach to scoring improvement.

Training Aids Developed by Dave Pelz

Pelz has designed several innovative training aids to help golfers develop a repeatable putting stroke and better short-game fundamentals.

1. Pelz Putting Tutor

  • Helps golfers square the putter face at impact and improve start-line accuracy.
  • Used by Phil Mickelson and other pros to refine putting alignment.

2. Truth Board Putting Trainer

  • Designed to teach pure roll and start-line accuracy.
  • Used in Pelz’s Scoring Game Schools.

3. O-Ball Putting Aid

  • A specially marked golf ball that helps golfers see putter face rotation and stroke alignment.

4. Dave Pelz’s Short Game Clips

  • Training clips that attach to clubs to help golfers understand correct face angle and impact position in wedge play.

These training aids have been used by PGA Tour players and amateur golfers to develop more consistent short-game performance.

Key Putting Tips from Dave Pelz

Pelz’s research led to several groundbreaking insights about putting, many of which challenge traditional golf instruction.

Here are some of his most important putting lessons:

1. Short Putts Break More Than You Think

  • Most golfers under-read short putts, failing to play enough break.
  • Pelz’s research found that most putts miss on the low side, meaning golfers should aim higher than they think.

2. The “17-Inch Past the Hole” Rule

  • Pelz found that the ideal speed for putts is 17 inches past the hole.
  • This ensures the ball has enough momentum to hold its line without rolling too far past.

3. The “Pure Pendulum Stroke”

  • Pelz advocates for a straight-back, straight-through stroke with minimal wrist action.
  • The putter should swing like a pendulum, eliminating excessive movement.

4. Find Your True Putting Aim

  • Many golfers think they are aiming correctly but are actually misaligned.
  • Pelz recommends using a laser alignment tool or a putting mirror to verify true aim.

5. Lag Putting Focus: Speed Over Line

  • Pelz emphasizes that speed control is more important than line on long putts.
  • Golfers should focus on hitting their putts within a 3-foot circle around the hole rather than obsessing over the perfect read.

6. Practice Breaking Putts More Than Straight Putts

  • Since most putts on the course have some degree of break, golfers should practice breaking putts rather than flat putts.
  • A 6-foot breaking putt requires more skill than a straight 6-footer.

Conclusion: Why Dave Pelz’s Methods Are Still Relevant Today

Dave Pelz’s scientific approach to putting and the short game has transformed how golfers train and play. His data-driven insights, best-selling books, training aids, and coaching methods continue to help golfers of all levels improve their scoring.

By focusing on alignment, speed control, and green reading, Pelz’s techniques provide practical solutions to common putting struggles.

Whether you are an amateur golfer looking to break 90 or a pro chasing major championships, Pelz’s methods offer a proven roadmap to better putting and short-game success.

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