Putt is a gentle golf stroke used on the green to roll the ball into the hole. When you putt, you tap the ball softly with a special club called a putter, trying to judge the exact speed and direction needed. Unlike the powerful swing used to launch the ball down the fairway, putting requires a delicate touch and careful aim.

The green is the smooth, closely mowed area surrounding each hole, where precision matters more than power. A golfer might need several putts to sink the ball, or might make it in just one stroke. The saying “drive for show, putt for dough” reminds players that while hitting the ball far looks impressive, putting skill often determines who actually wins.

You can also putt in miniature golf, navigating the ball around obstacles and through windmills. Whether on a real golf course or a mini-golf castle, putting teaches patience and control. Miss by an inch, and you might need another stroke. Judge it perfectly, and the satisfying sound of the ball dropping into the cup makes all that careful practice worthwhile.

As a noun, a putt is the stroke itself: “That last putt won the match.”