Fringe Putting

Putt to the fringe of the green from a variety of distances, getting the ball to rest gently against the cut of the fringe.  Stand in the middle of the putting surface or putt from side to side.  Instant feedback, it is either too hard or too soft.  We are not concerned about holing the putt just more concerned about training good speed.

Good contact

It is vital to hit the ball on the same spot on the  putter every time so you know how the ball will react of the putter.  A good way to test your contact is to place blue tac on the putter face so the ball can fit between the tac or wrap 2 rubber bands around the putter head either side of the sweet spot.  Hit the middle of the putter face and you will have no troubles if you hit outside of the sweet spot the ball will go sideways.

Back foot off the ground

Once in your set up position lift your heel of back foot so that only the toe of you shoe is lightly touching the ground. With the same leg, turn your knee so that the knee cap is pointing more towards the target.  You should now be set up almost in your finish position with your lower body.  Swing normally.  Try to keep during the whole swing the heel of your back foot from touching the ground at any point during the swing but especially in the finish position.  This will help create the sensation of the weight staying in the front leg and you should be able to rotate forward without thinking too much as you are already half way there.

Angle of Attack

Set up to the ball,  now place another ball approximately 1 foot directly behind the first ball.  If you are not comfortable in using another ball, use a tee in the ground in the same position, use a wood cover etc.  Once set up to the front ball  make a normal swing trying not to hit the ball/tee/woodcover in the backswing or more importantly on the downswing.  Do not try and avoid the second ball by going around it or inside of it, allow the club head to travel over it without hitting it.

If you find you are hitting 2 balls at once you most likely are losing your angle of attack or need to create a steeper angle of attack.  Falling back and away is also a sign your angle of attack is not steep enough.  Keep swinging without thinking of anything other than missing that 2^nd ball.  Time for a lesson!

Ladder Drill – Distance Control

On the range somewhere use some shafts or markers, create a ladder.  Start the first rung of the ladder as close or as far away as you wish.  Put the next rung about 1 club length from the first one and continue until you have 5 to 6 rungs.  It should start to look a little like a ladder without the sides.

Using one ball only, your aim is to land your ball in each space between the rungs.  At first you can nominate which space you are aiming for, then challenge yourself and try to land each shot in each space.   Start at the first space and move up and down the ladder without missing a rung.

Create all sorts of ladders and use a variety of clubs.  Have the rungs start close to you or far away, also change your position, incorporate good lies, bad lies, up slopes, down slope etc.