"Scoring the Last Six Feet" — Make Your Putts Count

For most average golfers more thought is put into the full swing and less focus is given to the short game. It doesn't take much effort for the average golfer to advance the ball down the fairway, and usually a fair distance, but when it comes to a six foot putt things just seem to come unhinged. And at that distance it can take as many as three strokes to get the ball in the hole. I refer to the above as average golfers but in truth professional golfers have a difficulty making six foot putt putts at times too, and I am no exception.

Some years ago, when my older brother convinced me to join in the golf business as an apprentice golf professional, I had a tough time with the short putts and truth be known they frightened the heck out of me.  Never knowing when I stepped up to putt what was going to happen- five feet short or five feet long.  But, thank goodness for older brothers.  He showed me a drill that I still use today that helps me with those dreaded six foot and under putts.  I dubbed it the Star Drill because of the legs that are in the drill which will become apparent later on.

The drill begins with five of your favorite golf balls and two tees.  Place the first tee in the ground about one foot from the hole on the putting green and the next tee in the ground about two feet away. The goal of this drill is to build your confidence in making the short putts with greater frequency.  

Begin at the first tee with the five balls -putting each ball into the cup, once made, move back to the next tee and repeat the drill. When you have made all five without missing from the second tee move the tee out another foot, and continue doing so until you have reached six feet and can make all five balls at that distance.  Sounds easy enough but, the bigger "kicker" is if at any point on the first leg or any leg you miss a putt you must stop and go back to the start and begin again. That means the VERY beginning not just that leg of the star. Completion of this drill is done when you have made 150 consecutive putts in a row without missing any. That means you made everything on each leg of the five legs. This will boost your confidence and start to make you a better putter.  Good luck and stay with it!!!!