The Gate Drill
Place two tees just wider than the putter head behind the ball on your intended start line. Stroke putts without the putter touching either tee. This forces a square path through the gate and eliminates the twisting, cutting, or pulling strokes that miss short putts. 100 gate reps produces measurable improvement in almost every golfer who tries it.
Circle Drill
Place 8 balls in a circle around the hole at 3-foot distance. Make every putt in the circle before moving on. If you miss one, start over. This creates pressure and forces you to hole putts from multiple angles. Mastering the circle at 3 feet, then 4 feet, then 5 feet, builds the variety of directional reads that come up in actual rounds.
One Ball, One Putt Standard
Put down one ball. Make the putt. If you make it, move to the next drill. If you miss, accept the miss, reset your routine, and try again. This drill enforces the single-ball standard of actual golf — no mulligans. Practicing with one ball rather than multiple balls eliminates the casual attitude that lets you accept a miss and hit another.
Metronome Putting
Use a metronome app (or phone) at 72 beats per minute. Stroke the putter so the backswing takes one beat and the follow-through takes one beat. This rhythmic tempo creates the consistent putter acceleration pattern that produces reliable contact. Many golfers who jabbed at short putts discover their stroke smooths out immediately with a metronome cue.
Eyes Closed Short Putt
Set up to a 3-foot putt. Close your eyes before you start the stroke. Make the stroke without looking. Listen for the ball to drop. This drill removes visual anxiety (watching the putter head, worrying about the line) and builds the kinesthetic feel for a smooth, consistent stroke. Most golfers make their first few eyes-closed putts and are surprised.
How GOATY AI Measures This
While putting is not directly measured in GOATY's full swing scoring, the same stability principles apply: head position, spine angle, and minimal lateral movement through impact. Golfers who work on ANCHOR score improvements often find their putting consistency improves as a byproduct — the same anti-sway training transfers to both.
See These Drills Working in Your Swing
GOATY AI analyzes your real swing and shows you exactly which of these drills will have the highest impact for your specific faults. Personalized coaching, no guesswork.
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