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From Sue,
golfer: |
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What is a good drill for getting long
putts to within three feet? What is the best way to build confidence in
making short putts? |
|
PGA/LPGA
TEACHING
PROFESSIONAL
RESPONSES: |
California
"Sue: The key here is to hit your approach shot closer to
the flag. Absent that, only good practice makes perfect. I've seen
it so often where people go to the practice putting green with the
intention of practicing short putts, but low and behold after a
short period of time they end up trying to make those long ones.
Putting requires discipline at practice. Nevertheless, I suggest
that you, after you are satisfied with your alignment, pick a spot
on the back of the ball (where you intend to make contact), I
suggest that you mark it so and this will be your focal point. I
also suggest that you shorten your back swing. For a three-footer
you generally only need 1-3 inches of back swing. The shorter the
better, and frame your finish. My putting class lasts nearly
two hours, because I believe that every swing evolves from the
putting stroke. Tournaments are won or lost with the putter. If
you have any further questions, ask of and show this to your local
PGA Professional." - A.J.
Molitor, Teaching Professional |
Florida
"Try the lag drill
50ft
" 0
and practice by calling your shots: "I'm going to stroke this
ball within three feet of the hole." For short putts do the
ladder drill. 2 4 6 8 ft, lay two clubs parallel to the hole:
--------------------------------------------------------------------/
hole
0
2
4
6
8ft
_______________________________________\
KNOCK THEM ALL IN. You can even line up the logo to the center of
the hole.
- Sean
Gorgone, Teaching Professional |
Florida
"To Sue: To get putts within three feet spend more time
looking at the target, and less at the ball (and yes, putt while
looking at the hole if necessary). As to building confidence on
short putts there is only one way. Start with three balls at three
feet from the hole at different spots. You must make three in a
row to go to four feet, where you must also make three in a row.
If you miss making three in a row at four feet you must go back to
making three in a row at three feet. Whenever you accomplish this
drill
successfully your practice drill is over (first time or hundredth
time). This works for two reasons: You get used to seeing balls go
in the hole (eventually as you succeed doing the drill), and
second because you are under the pressure of having to make six in
a row or start over. Practice any other way without consequences
is not how it is when you play golf so any other drill will not
succeed. (PS: Please use a tape measure - three and four feet are
not what lengths you think they are.)"
- Joe
Sciortino, Teaching Professional |
Kansas
"For long putts, practice putting with your eyes closed
to "feel" the distance. Confidence is choice and a
process. The more short putts you make, the more confident you
will become. Remember to focus on the process NOT the
outcome." - Jim
Kane, Teaching Professional |
Minnesota
"Stick some tees in the ground in a semi-circle 17"
around the back of the hole. Take ten balls and walk back ten
paces from the hole. Putt the balls to go in or end up in the
semi-circle. Don't use up your lick by being short! The goal is
nine out of ten either in the hole or in the semi-circle. Pick a
hole with a moderate slope and place 25 balls around the hole
about 8" apart three feet from the hole. Ball 25 should end
up about 2 feet from ball 1. Start at ball 1 and stroke it
into the hole. Now comes the most important part:
STAND UP. Repeat the process with each ball in order,
standing up each time to release your back. GOAL: 23/25 or 92%.
If you are feeling really cocky, start over each time that you
miss until you make all 25. GOOD LUCK!" - Jim
Manthis, Teaching Professional |
Michigan
"Sue: The best drill I know of
for "lagging" putts is to either close your eyes and
make your stroke, or look at the hole while you are making your
putt. It is all about confidence. You have hit enough putts to
know how to do it, you just have to let your brain let your body
do it. As far as three footers, if you are missing them chances
are you are decelerating or letting your head turn with your
putter "looking up". The best drill I can think
of, other than the two mentioned earlier. Would be to set 6 or
more balls in a three foot circle and putt them all in. if you
happen to miss one, pull all the balls out and start over. After
you have made all of them, go to another hole and do the same
drill."
- Andrew
Braley, Teaching Professional
|
New
Mexico
"Sue, that's a pretty big question. There
are innumerable drills, but ultimately they are all a variation of
hitting putts to targets of varying distances in order to learn
feel. It's hard to beat taking 3 balls out to
the putting clock and putting them from hole to hole, always
choosing different lengths (don't keep putting 10-15 footers which
is how the holes are often spaced). You learn a feel for distance
because of the immediate feedback and adjustment you make. For
example, you hit the first one short, so you hit the next one
harder and it goes too far, so you back off and hopefully hit the
third one just right. Then choose a hole to putt to that is a
different distance. I promise you'll learn feel this way. As
you're
putting, focus more on distance than direction and you'll be
surprised at how good your aim will be. The best putting
tip, and maybe golf tip, of all time is this, "ALWAYS have a
feel for the distance before you pull the trigger on a putt".
As for short putts, putt a lot of them. Have an appropriate goal
for each practice session. For example, "I won't quit
until I've made 25 in a row from 3 feet" or 10 in row from 4
or 5 feet, whatever is appropriate for your skill level. Practice,
practice, practice."
- Warren
Lehr, Teaching Professional |
North Carolina
"Take a put a circle of tees around the cup, three feet
out. Try to roll the ball into the circle. In working on short
putts try the ladder drill. Place balls 1 foot, 2 feet, three
feet, four feet, five feet and six feet from the hole. You have to
make each putt to advance to the next ball. If you miss, you
start over. When you get to the last ball, knowing you have
to make it, you get a different feeling, just like you do when you
know that you have to make a putt on the golf course."
- Ben
Hynson, Teaching Professional |
Ohio
"A
good drill for lagging putts. Two, really. The first, pace off a
20 foot putt from opposite sides of a hole. You putt three
consecutive putts from one side and then the other, alternating
until you have 10 total putts. Your object is to have each putt
finish at the hole or within 3 feet past. Any putts short or
outside of the 3-foot arc and you must start over. I'll tell
you, the pressure builds on the 8th, 9th and 10th putt. The
second drill - mark off a 40, 50, and 60 foot putt. Putt 3
balls from each spot. Again total of 10. Each putt
must finish within a 6-foot DIAMETER circle around the hole.
If not, start over. Start from 40 feet, move to 60 and then
back to 50...Your last putt (#10) should be from the 60 or 40 foot
mark. The key is to get a good pre-shot routine and visualize
during your practice strokes. Then trust it. These drills are in
Dave Pelz's Putting Bible. (A great book.) Good luck."
- Grayson
FitzHugh, Teaching Professional
|
Oregon
"My favorite long putt drill is
to get back a foot from the ball and take practice swings
LOOKING AT THE HOLE. Why we look at blank grass for our practice
swings I do not know. If we were shooting a gun or arrow we
would look at the target, so it should be with a golf putt of
long length. Take 5-10 swings in quick order just to remind
yourself of the distance. Short putts, make up your mind to be a
foot and a half long IF you miss, and make up your mind that 90%
of short putts should be hit dead center to the hole!" - Tom
Blair, Teaching Professional
|
Pennsylvania
"The main problem I see with pupils who try to get within
3 feet is their target. It should not be within 3 feet, it
should be the hole. Let's take the archer for example, they shoot
for a target that has concentric circles. Where they may be
awesome from 20 yards, they are not as awesome from 60 yards, but,
they always aim for the bull's-eye. The archer would not aim for
the outside ring of the bull's-eye from 60 yards, they'd aim for
the center, and accept the outside ring. Get it? A good drill I do
for my better players is to stand in the middle of the green and
aim for the middle of the fringe, usually a 3 foot wide path
around the edge of the green. This incorporates playing for
distance vs. aiming and allows for a positive reinforcement of accomplishment.
Now, try this, once set up, simply look at the middle of the
fringe, and feel the stroke and do it, while looking at the
fringe. You'll be amazed at how much feel you actually have, once
you get away from trying to hit it the right speed, and just trust
your eyes to tell you how much pace to use." - Mike
Dynda, Teaching Professional |
South
Carolina
"See http://www.ritson-sole.com/golftips/1998/jan1998.htm
for the long putts and http://www.ritson-sole.com/golftips/1997/dec1997.htm
for developing confidence."
- Mel
Sole, Teaching Professional |
Texas
"On every putt for the rest of your life,
read greens in the following manner: First, look at the overall
slope of the entire green. Then look at the slope of the putt
itself. Make a game plan based on whether the putt and green are
uphill, downhill, flat, break left to right, right to left, or not
at all. Read the green thinking of perfect distance. Perfect speed
means having your putt stop between the front edge of the hole and
no further than 18 inches from there...go here for details on 'Practice
Putting in 3-D'."
- Dave
Baron, Teaching Professional
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