| The easiest way to build confidence in your | | | | of golf. Keep putting until your ball is in |
| abilities is to putt well. Every time you | | | | the cup. |
| save a stroke, your confidence increases. | | | | |
| Putting does take skill and practice, however | | | | Go back to the position you started from two |
| it is the simplest part of the game to | | | | feet below the hole. Stand at that position |
| master. Anyone can be a great putter, it | | | | and face the hole. Imagine you are looking |
| just takes practice. Unfortunately, most | | | | at a clock and the hole is the center that |
| players don't practice this part of their | | | | the minute and hour arms pivot. This is your |
| game. Here is a simple drill to help you | | | | one o'clock starting position. From here |
| improve your putting. | | | | move to the two o'clock position, the |
| | | | position directly to your left, and step back |
| For this practice drill you will need your | | | | a foot. |
| putter and one ball. This is a simple, fast | | | | |
| and fun exercise. In fact this drill is so | | | | Your second position is at two o'clock and |
| fast I do this almost every time I go to a | | | | two feet from the hole. From here putt your |
| course, whether I'm playing or practicing. | | | | ball into the hole. Again, read the green, |
| Go to a golf course or practice facility that | | | | perform your pre-putt routine and be |
| has a practice green. On your first few | | | | aggressive with your putt. Keep proceeding |
| trips try to find a hole location that is | | | | until you have circled the clock 1-1/2 times. |
| relatively flat. As your skills increase, | | | | So your third position will be at three |
| you can look for more challenging hole | | | | o'clock and three feet from the hole. Your |
| positions. Since you will be hogging a hole, | | | | fourth position will be at four o'clock and |
| you might need to vary the times you go until | | | | four feet from the hole. |
| you find a time that is not crowded. | | | | |
| | | | The drill is over when you are at six o'clock |
| Start by placing your ball one foot from the | | | | and eighteen feet from the hole. At |
| hole and at the low side of the hole, so that | | | | completion you have putted from eighteen |
| your first putt is uphill. Putt the ball | | | | different positions. Each position becoming |
| into the hole from this spot. Aim for the | | | | progressively more difficult. You have just |
| back of the cup. I want you to be | | | | simulated an eighteen hole round of putts. |
| aggressive, no fear of missing. This is not | | | | |
| one of those miss and start all over drills. | | | | To track your progress keep track of how many |
| | | | putts you make. The goal is to take 36 or |
| If you have a pre-putt routine, and I highly | | | | less strokes per practice drill. Remember, |
| recommend you do, use it on each and every | | | | putt out every ball, even from two inches. |
| shot. This is a good opportunity to refine | | | | Count every stroke. Be honest with yourself. |
| and define your pre-putt routine. Take time | | | | Keep this up and you will see improvement in |
| to read the green. If you miss a putt, | | | | your putting. This will translate into lower |
| finish putting from wherever your ball comes | | | | scores. Which translates into higher |
| to rest. In other words putt out every | | | | confidence. Which again translates into even |
| ball as if you were playing a regular round | | | | lower scores. |