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Every golfer, amateur or professional, will find themselves faced with 3-7 foot putts on almost every hole.
It’s one of the most common putts you will have out on the course, which is why it’s so important to have a solid and consistent technique for knocking them in.
If you feel that you’re missing too many of these putts and leaving shots out there, here are some short putt drills and tips that will hopefully help you.
1. The “No Backswing” Drill (Practiced By Annika Sörenstam)
This drill is for golfers who struggle with hitting their putts square to their putting line.
The Procedure
Take a few balls and drop them about a putter’s length (or a bit farther) from the hole.
Rest your putter right up against a ball and push it towards the hole (or along your line) instead of swinging at it.
The Goal
A square putter face at impact is essential, and this is exactly what this drill helps you to do: keep the putter face low and square to your putting line.
Do this drill enough and you will start to ingrain a tendency to hit square.
See this drill in action below:
2. Phil Mickelson’s Short Putt Drill
This drill is for golfers who regularly miss short putts from around 3-5 feet.
The Procedure
Put 10 balls around the hole at about 3-5 feet out (or longer if that’s what you want) and try to sink all 10 putts.
If you miss one or more, repeat the drill until you make all 10 putts.
The Goal
This drill will help you develop your touch for short putts. You will improve your ability to keep the clubface square and hit the ball the correct distance.
A Few More Tips For Short Putts
Commit to the stroke.
When you’re preparing to hit a putt, decide on a line, trust it and commit to it without any doubt. Try focusing on staying committed rather than on your technique.
Keep your eye on the ball and don’t look up until well after you’ve hit it.
Payne Stewart, a 3-time major winner, once had this problem, and it crept up during the 1999 U.S. Open.
Before the final round, he practiced keeping his head steady during the stroke — he went on to win the tournament.
Accelerate through impact.
Most golfers who don’t do well with short putts tend to decelerate the putter head through impact.
To help you accelerate, make your through swing at least twice as long as your backswing.
Looking At The Hole
If you’re still having a hard time with short putts, try this: look at the hole instead of the ball when making your stroke.
This method is employed by Jordan Spieth and he says that it helps free up his stroke. It may work for you!
Conclusion
Try the drills and consider putting some of the tips into practice. They might help you more than you think!
If you want more than just drills and tips, listen up. This is going to get you the ideal body for golf, putting you in position to not just putt well, but also increase your driving distance, increase your energy levels, and maintain an edge over the competition:
Thanks for reading. Are you having difficulties with short putts? Feel free to ask questions and leave your thoughts in the comments below.
Hello there just watched you video on short putting techniques very simplistic but effective style great advice as always. Just like anything practice makes perfect but only if your technique is right. Alot of the short putts I’m faced with I do get nervous as there is always a possibility that I would miss.
Yes, Sonny, good practice is essential for improvement. I do hope this helps beginners, but I also hope even seasoned golfers might take a nugget or two out of the information here.