Golf tip: Putting drills among the most important during practice
In another amazing Masters tournament, Tiger Woods showed why he is still a force to be reckoned with on the PGA Tour. In spite of his tremendous ball striking, I think the most important thing he did well on the weekend was his putting.
Most golfers give little thought to practicing putting. For starters, it's boring. Secondly, the reward does not come close to a well struck full swing shot. Regrettably, if you are truly to improve at this game you need to be a good putter. Tour pros spend many hours "rolling the rock."
In an effort to make putting practice seem more interesting, try these drills on the green next time you practice:
• Clock drill - Probably the most famous drill right now and better known as "Phil's drill" after Mickelson popularized it. Take six golf tees and position them around a three-foot perimeter from the hole (imagine a clock face and the even numbers). Position one ball next to each tee and putt until you hole all six in a row. Back up the tees one foot so they are four feet from the hole. Repeat. You can go on as far as you want but success from six feet is very good.
• Ladder drill - Using the same six tees, position them at three-foot intervals along a straight line. You do not need a target hole for this drill either. Walk three or four steps from the first tee and drop five balls. Hit all five of the balls so that they finish between the first and second tees. Repeat, using the second and third tees, all the way up to the fifth and sixth tees. This drill focuses on distance control.
• Sand wedge drill - This can be more fun when competing with a friend. Using your sand wedge, putt around the putting green to various holes. You still use your putting stroke but you need to hit the ball on its equator and probably in the true center of the leading edge of the wedge. This will come in handy if you find your ball lodged against the collar of the green.
• Walk to the ball drill - Don't try this one alone! Set up to hit a putt and putt a ball toward another point on the green. Do not watch it roll. Close your eyes after contact. Now walk with your eyes still closed to where you hit the ball. This is where the helpful friend comes in to make sure you do not walk into a bunker, flag, etc. How well did you do?
• Tiger drill - Although someone else probably thought his up, Tiger has made it famous. Starting from three feet, try to make 10 consecutive putts from the same point. Then try for 20 and so on. Not only does this improve your focus, you will be amazed how much pressure is created by putts toward the end of each group of 10. Rumor has it that Tiger will not leave the practice green until he has made 100 consecutive putts from six feet.
• Ian Grant is at Oak Brook Golf Club in the summer and Mistwood Golf Dome in Bolingbrook in the winter. Contact him at (708) 917-8951 or iansgolf@aol.com.