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First steps to become known as "The Wand"
By Alex Nicolson PGA
Here are two common problems which prevent people being better putters, see if either apply to you:
Problem #1 - "Putting's not really as important as the long game" mentality
Many amateurs are emotionally more affected by a sliced drive than a missed putt. Likewise they often enjoy nailing a straight drive more than slotting a twenty footer. This is reflected in the main by where people spend most of their practise time - despite the fact that putting often represents over 40% of their score.
One of the first things I like to find out before working with a new golfer on their putting is, on average, how many putts do they take in a round. Not many have actually sat down and worked it out, and when they do it often comes as a bit of a surprise slash...shock. Pupils who have kept their stats (see the Score Service) for a few rounds begin to see the huge influence the putts per round total has on their score.
Problem #2 - Practising missing not holing
Very often golfers will ignore the 2 and 3 foot putts and practise from outside 6 feet. Holing the odd ten footer feels good, it seems more of an achievement than the short ones. However, if you mainly practise from outside 6 feet, you will see a larger proportion of putts missed, and that has consequences on your confidence.
Solution - manage your confidence: the three in a row exercise
I see confidence like your brain's assessent of probability. If you have missed the previous 20 putts, over the 21st, your brain will find it hard to believe it will be any different.
There's no substitute for actually seeing the ball go in the hole, so try this exercise and measure the affect it has on your putting score. Simply mark out 1 foot increments away from the hole (or coffee mug if indoors) with tees or coins. Start at one foot.
The aim is to hole three putts consecutively from each marker, if you hole all three from one foot, move back to two feet and so on. However the most frustrating feature of this game is also it's most useful. If you miss, no matter how far back you got, you have to start again from 1 foot.
Benefit #1
This exercise ensures that you hole the vast majority of putts you face. It will only let you go on to six foot putts if you have holed 15 consecutive putts previously. When was the last time you hold 15 consecutive putts? Imagine what that would do for your confidence.
Benefit #2
One of the problems myself and my fellow Premium Golf contributors will be trying to help you with is taking your practice to the course, helping it to withstand the pressure of competition. Putting pressure into your practice is a must, and believe me, if you ever get to 9 feet on this exercise, knowing that one miss and you go right back to the beginning, you feel pressure here. When you begin to exceed your previous best, it's a good sense of achievement and raises your beliefs of how many putts it is possible top hole. All good putters believe they are good putters, and this exercise helps give some foundation for that belief.