Showing posts with label golf putting drill. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Golf Putting Drill: Use the Surround the Cup Putting Drill to Master the Short Breaking Putt

Symptom: Missed short putts when there's a little bit of break, with the cup cut into a slight hill.  You often mutter things like, "I thought it would break more" or "where did all that break come from" or "maybe I pushed it" or "get there" or "slow down" or perhaps less printable things...

Overview: On the putting green, pick a cup on a slight hill, and surround it with several balls in a circle. Start just a foot or two away from the cup and gradually work to wider and wider circles. Read and sink each putt as you circle the cup.

Phil Mickelson shows us how it's done (thanks Phil):
 

Why it works: Even though we know logically that downhill putts are faster and have more break, and uphill putts are slower and have less break, it is something you must experience firsthand to really internalize.  This drill is a great way to prove it to yourself so you can execute better on the course.  By keeping the length of the putt constant but varying the amount of break you need to play, you will get a better feel for how to read and execute short breaking putts. Gradually your short putting and your confidence will improve.  You will find that your performance on this drill improves when your misses on are on the high side of the hole, and end up about 18 inches past the hole.

Jim Furyk knows the power of this drill too.  He has a slight variation on the drill -- his caddie puts the ball about two inches from a tee as he circles the hole, making the putts.  This placement combines some aspects of the starting gate tee drill with the surround the cup drill.  Have a look:


Another benefit of this drill is that you will improve your ability to read the putts of your playing partners, and apply this learning to your putt!  So, for example, if your buddy has a similar length putt from the other side of the hole, you will know how your putt is likely to roll based on his putt, because you've already hit both putts in the Surround the Cup Putting Drill on the practice green!

Did you like this drill?  Think you can emulate Phil Mickelson and Jim Furyk on the practice green next time out?  Bookmark, Tweet it, Like it, email it -- spread the word!  And don't miss the next one--sign up for free updates too! 

Copyright 2012-present, How to Putt, HowPutt.com, All Rights Reserved.

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Thursday, December 15, 2011

Golf Putting Drill -- Use the "Balls in a Line" Drill to Boost Your Confidence

Symptom: There's almost no distance of putt where you can confidently say, "I can easily make this one".  For you, every putt, no matter how short, is another knee-knocking adventure.  So you push some, pull some, leave some short, and so on.  Maybe you compulsively purchase putter after putter, thinking that the problem is your equipment...  

Overview: On the putting green, find a level, straight, slightly uphill putt.  Put several balls in a straight line, starting one foot from the cup, with each successive ball two feet further away. Putt the nearest ball in the hole, then the next nearest, and so on. Repeat until you are making the longest putt most of the time.  

Why it works: This drill is all about confidence, about walking before you run.  It's a great drill to do before every round of golf you play.  Indeed, if you have limited warm up time, and only two minutes on the putting green before your foursome has to tee off, I suggest you do this drill.  It's your best use of time.

By sinking the close putts, you gain confidence in your putting. Each successive putt is only a few feet further away than the previous putt, and on the same line, and straight, so you maximize your chances of sinking the putt.  You will find that you need to make ever-more purer putting strokes to sink the longer putts.  And in so doing your confidence in your short putting will grow, which will help reduce the number of dreaded three putts during your round.

You must not let the line on your golf ball wobble to have a consistent roll, especially at longer range.  And, of course, even straight putts need an aiming point.  Once your stroke is pure, you should combine this drill with the surround the cup putting drill, to get a feel for the break in the greens, in all your putting practice sessions (if there is time, of course!). Over time you will build confidence in your short and intermediate range putting through this drill.  And with confidence comes better scores, more fun, and a lower handicap!

Does this drill help you become the Boss of the Moss in your foursome?  The tell your friends -- Like, Share, Tweet, or Email below!  And don't miss the next drill -- sign up for free updates below!


Copyright 2011-present, How to Putt, HowPutt.com, All Rights Reserved.  
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Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Golf Putting Drill: Learn to Square Your Putter at Impact with the Starting Gate Tee Drill

Symptom:  Missing straight putts at intermediate length.  Frequently muttering "pushed it" or "pulled it" under your breath as you watch the ball burn the edge of the cup yet again.  Why is is so hard to get that ball started on your intended line?

Description:  Find a flat spot on the putting green, at a distance of about four feet from the hole.  Putt five balls from the same spot and see how many you make.  If you make them all, move back a few feet until you miss at least half your putts.  This is the distance where trouble starts for you on the green. Now, put down two golf tees, about five inches apart (or just far enough for your putter head to make it through), and perpendicular to the line of the putt.  Putt another five balls from between these "starting gate" tees.  You should find that you are making more putts in short order. Have a look at Tiger, he's graciously agreed to demonstrate this drill for us:

 

Why it Works:  By always putting from the "starting gate" formed by the two tees, you are training yourself to do several important things.
  • The ball is always in precisely the same place, so the break is exactly the same, and this will not be a variable you need to contend with. 
  • The "tee gate" forms a visual cue that encourages you to square your putter at impact.  This will result in putts that are more on your intended line, with less tendency to push or pull your putts.
  • The "tee gate" also makes a physical barrier that you have to reckon with as you putt.  In other words, in order to avoid hitting the tees with your putter, you will naturally swing your putter through the middle of the tees, the same way, every time.  This consistency will lead to a more consistent strike of the ball on the face of your putter, giving you a truer roll.  Which will help you make more putts.
    As you begin to make more putts, you will start to develop confidence and assurance in your ability to get the ball in the hole, which is incredibly important for any golfer, but especially the Occasional Golfer. Give the Starting Gate Tee Drill a try next time you are on the green, warming up for your round.  I'll bet you sink more putts during your round, and have more fun as a result!

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    Copyright 2011-present, How to Putt, HowPutt.com, All Rights Reserved.
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    Thank you for visiting How to Putt! Now that you've found us, stay up to date for free!
    You can grab the feed, or you can add How to Putt to your personal My Yahoo! or iGoogle homepage in one click!
    May all your putts roll true! -- GolfTipEditor
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