The easiest way to give up some easy strokes is having poor speed with your putter. There have been lots of tricks to work on putts of all lengths with thoughts like; ‘leave it within a 3 foot circle’, ‘only take the putter back to your right toe’. These can create sloppiness and/or quick rhythm, both of which will lead to poor speed and 3 putts.
To get to the root of the problem, we must look at the easiest shot in golf… the 18″ tap in putt. We have all made this putt a thousand times with one hand while standing on one foot! We do this by not running script with any instructions…it’s a physical reaction! Your eyes look at the hole, then the ball & your body reacts by sending the ball to it’s home. NO THINKING!
Here’s a great drill to help you develop your Body/Eye Connection to your putting. This works for all lengths of putts. It’s called the Fringe Hand Roll:
Take 2 balls out of your bag and head to the putting green. Find a large, relatively flat area and aim for the fringe on the other side. (DO NOT AIM FOR HOLES! This is a drill for speed, not a drill for making putts. Yes, they are very different and we can’t have you practicing missing putts!) Put one ball on the ground and hold the second ball in your throwing hand. While starring at the edge of the fringe, swing your hand back and forth, like you’re bowling, as you visualize the ball tumbling across the grass. Let it go.
You will find that with relative ease, this ball will have really good speed to it. Now step up to the first ball with your putter and…. Let it go! Do this for 10-15 minutes with putts of different lengths, uphill & downhill.
When you go out to the course and are reading your putts, spend some time swinging your arm while you visualize the ball rolling across the green and your speed control will improve drastically!
To get to the root of the problem, we must look at the easiest shot in golf… the 18″ tap in putt. We have all made this putt a thousand times with one hand while standing on one foot! We do this by not running script with any instructions…it’s a physical reaction! Your eyes look at the hole, then the ball & your body reacts by sending the ball to it’s home. NO THINKING!
Here’s a great drill to help you develop your Body/Eye Connection to your putting. This works for all lengths of putts. It’s called the Fringe Hand Roll:
Take 2 balls out of your bag and head to the putting green. Find a large, relatively flat area and aim for the fringe on the other side. (DO NOT AIM FOR HOLES! This is a drill for speed, not a drill for making putts. Yes, they are very different and we can’t have you practicing missing putts!) Put one ball on the ground and hold the second ball in your throwing hand. While starring at the edge of the fringe, swing your hand back and forth, like you’re bowling, as you visualize the ball tumbling across the grass. Let it go.
You will find that with relative ease, this ball will have really good speed to it. Now step up to the first ball with your putter and…. Let it go! Do this for 10-15 minutes with putts of different lengths, uphill & downhill.
When you go out to the course and are reading your putts, spend some time swinging your arm while you visualize the ball rolling across the green and your speed control will improve drastically!