Most golfers spend their practice time on the range, but the fastest way to lower your score is on the green. These three drills take fifteen minutes in total and need nothing more than a handful of balls and a few tees.
Drill one: the gate
Set two tees just wider than your putter head, about a metre in front of the ball. Roll ten putts through the gap without touching either tee. This trains a square face at impact, which matters more than any other part of the stroke.
Drill two: the ladder
Place tees at three, six and nine feet. Putt to each in turn and try to stop the ball within a putter length. It teaches you to judge distance, which is where most three-putts begin.
Drill three: the closer
Finish with five balls from three feet. You must hole all five to stop. The pressure of needing every one is the closest you will get to a real round, and it builds the calm you need on the 18th.
Our head pro runs short putting sessions on the practice green most mornings. Ask at the pro shop to join one.
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