Akshay Bhatia has fascinating thoughts on deflection when putting

We are all looking for ways to improve our game. You. Me. Akshay Bhatia. We are all the same.

Shaving strokes off of a round is the goal for any golfer and Bhatia may have a new method that requires a bit of precision and care. It has to do with deflection when on the greens.

You see, when manufacturers stamp golf balls, the stamp can wind up anywhere. Players, even professionals, mark their lines where they do, but the contact made from putters is hitting wherever those lines are. Again though… the lines are somewhat arbitrary from the perspective that they are generally being placed where make sense relative to the stamp on the ball.

Deflection can cost you strokes

Bhatia’s point, which he initially shared in a video with Good Good, is something that he says he learned from working with Joe Greiner who picked it up with Bryson DeChambeau. You see, deflection happens when the ball is met by the putter and if the contact is happening at a place that isn’t pure on the ball itself then the deflection can ripple out and cost you strokes. It is a fascinating idea.

Ensuring that putts wind up where we want them to, reading greens is an entirely different challenge, is of critical importance. That reality matters to you and I with our friends, but for Akshay the difference in those strokes can be massive given that he plays with the best in the world on the PGA Tour.

Akshay Bhatia Results, 2026

• The American Express: CUT
• Farmers Insurance Open: CUT
• WM Phoenix Open: T3
• AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am: T6
• The Genesis Invitational: T16

Akshay has been on a heater ever since the week of the Super Bowl, but his putting has been remarkable all season long. He did not share exactly when his game and approach changed relative to the idea of deflection, but his appearance with Good Good came before the season started for some context.

Consider that Akshay is a perfect 100% on putts from 5’ and 3’ this season. Those are obviously easy for PGA Tour players relatively speaking, but Akshay is one of only four who this is true of (Tommy Fleetwood, Webb Simpson, and Mathieu Pavon).

Bhatia joined SB Nation for this overall chat on behalf of his partnership with ZYRTEC. It was announced on Tuesday that ZYRTEC is now the first-ever Official Allergy Relief Sponsor of the PGA Tour as they have launched a multiyear strategic partnership to help golfers and fans manage allergy symptoms. Akshay noted in our conversation that there are many a time when he is on-course where he has to take some as golf can be a game where the elements are unforgiving in a number of ways.

“Throughout my career, it seems my intense allergy symptoms tend to hit during the hardest and most important weeks of my year,” said professional golfer & ZYRTEC® Ambassador Akshay Bhatia. “That’s why I’ve relied on ZYRTEC as a part of my routine for years, to ensure that even at the tournaments with the highest allergens, I’m not letting it affect how I show up on the course.”

ZYRTEC will have on-site experiences at five different tournaments this season that are located in high-allergen regions. The first of these is this week at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard and the next is at next week’s Players Championship. The RBC Heritage, Truist Championship, and finally the Tour Championship will round out the locations.

Our thanks to Akshay and to ZYRTEC for the time. Who is ready to prepare for deflection?