Here is an oldie but goodie drill for putting that is making a big comeback, thanks to a company called Momentus. They make many well-made teaching aids for golfers of all abilities and ages.
This one is called the gate drill. If you don’t want to pay the $50 fee for the device itself, you can make your own for with some supplies you most likely already have.
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| Image Credit : impresamia.com |
Pictured on the left is a simple practice putting station
with two golf tees and a string representing your line to the hole. On the right is the Momentus teaching aid that does the same thing.
You're playing with your regular foursome and hit a great iron shot up onto the green with your ball landing only two feet from the hole.
What do most weekend players do next? They walk up and knock the ball away, giving themselves the putt either before or after their partner said, "that's good."
Not only did you break a rule, but you'll never know if you actually would have made the putt.
You'll forever lose the satisfaction of making a real birdie since you didn't actually putt the ball in the hole.
Golfers do this everywhere, on every course, and they're breaking the rules every time they do it.
There is not much movement needed to make short putts, but we often leave the green with a sour taste because we miss one too many of them. The problem is we get so caught up in mechanics, that we forget how simple they really are.
The best way to start to make more short putts is to practice them and learn to free your mind. I'm going to give you a few drills and games that you can do to improve your putting.
Place six tees surrounding the hole, about 2 feet from the hole. Play a putt from each spot until you can make them all in a row a couple of times. Then try to make them with your eyes closed. Listen, too. Hearing the ball going in the hole will help to build your confidence.
It is definitely a great idea to get your kid or kids started out in this great game early and correctly.
It teaches them so many wonderful things like self control, honor, respect, teamwork, problem solving and the list goes on, and on.
Your child does not have to be the next great thing in the game, just get them started and just watch what happens.
You do not have to
go to the golf course to work on this game with kids. Keep it fun, I would suggest getting them to enjoy putting first. Any decent simulated putting green will be fine.
Once they learn some basic rules and etiquette start taking them to your nearest driving range or par-three golf course to learn the full swing and how to
play the game. If you are not sure of the basics yourself, get the “summary of the rules of golf” for juniors from the USGA or PGA. Your local pro can help you. Good luck and keep it simple.
