It's simple, you practice. Instead of spending hours at the driving range trying to hit the ball straight, spend as much time as you need to become a confident putter. Here's a simple drill that will help you build your confidence, and all you need is one ball, your putter, and a practice green.
- Start by selecting a hole that is in a relatively flat portion of the green.
- Place your ball 1 ft below the hole so you have an easy, straight 1 ft uphill putt. Aim for the back of the cup and make a solid stroke.
- Now imagine that the hole is the center of a clock and you just putted from the 1 o'clock position. Set up your next putt from the 2 o'clock position, but this time 2 ft from the hole. Continue to putt around the clock 18 times. You should end up at the 6 o'clock position 18ft from the hole for your final putt.
The goal is to putt out from every position. There are no gimmies and no mulligans. Once the drill is completed, you will have putted from 18 progressively difficult positions, putting aggressively at the back of the cup every time. With practice you should be able to complete this drill in 36 putts or less.
You have just simulated putting a complete 18 hole round of golf, using only 36 putts. That is a 2-putt on every hole. Also, it is critical that you utilize your entire pre-shot routine before every putt. Not only will this help you to standardize your routine, but it will also help to develop consistency in your stroke. Consistency builds confidence, and a confident putter means lower scores.
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