Putting essentials
5. Useful drills |
Having built a solid set-up and honed a sharp stroke, trying a few drills is a great way of backing up the work you’ve already done and building skills like feel and pace control. Here are four really effective ones I get my students to use all the time. If you go to the practice green at a tournament you’ll see the world’s best players doing the same things. Try them next time you’re on the practice green.
Open hands |
Mirror |
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Hitting putts this way helps you feel the correct release of the putter head as you have to work harder to deliver it square. This shows the correct face movement required and how quiet the hands need to be. |
This is an essential bit of kit for me. They are really easy to use and get you set up perfectly in no time. They have a multitude of uses and like the string line, a must have piece of kit (they’re about £35 from the big golf retailers). |
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Face angle |
Eyes closed |
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This drill tells you what an open and closed face feels like. Set-up to hole the putt and try to hit the right (open face) and left (closed face) pegs by manipulating the face. This comes from the same path each time. You will then find understanding how to square the face at impact much easier. |
Trying to hole putts with your eyes closed or a cap over your face is a great way of building feel for pace as well as eliminating that ‘hit’ at the ball. You will very quickly feel that the ball is simply ‘in the way’ of a very smooth stroke and if you do hit at the ball it will become evident immediately |