Putting Practice: Club Behind the Hole

Putting Practice: Club Behind the Hole

The "Club Behind the Hole" putting drill is a practice routine designed to improve your distance control. This drill focuses on developing a consistent putting stroke and building mental resilience to not leave your putts short. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to perform the Club Behind the Hole putting drill:

Steps to Perform the Club Behind the Hole Putting Drill:

Select a Flat Surface: Begin by choosing a flat and straight section on the putting green, preferably close to the hole.

Place the Club Behind the Hole: Position an alignment stick, golf club, or any straight object about 3 feet behind the hole, perpendicular to the target line.

Take Your Stance: Stand behind the ball and align yourself with the target line, ensuring that your putter face is square to the intended path.

Focus on the Hole: Pick a spot on the back edge of the hole as your target. This could be a specific point on the lip or a discoloration in the grass.

Aim to Hit the Target: Your objective is to hit the ball with the right pace to either make the putt or have the golf ball roll just past the hole without hitting the club behind the hole. The ball should not come up short of the hole. The accuracy of the putt left or right of the hole is not a point of emphasis in this drill.

Execute the Putting Stroke: Make your putting stroke while keeping your focus on the chosen target. Strive for a smooth, controlled stroke to ensure consistent pace and distance control.

Observe the Result: After the putt, observe whether the ball successfully goes in the hole or just past it without hitting the club behind the hole. This provides immediate feedback on your stroke quality and distance control.

Repeat the Drill: Continue putting from the same distance, focusing on hitting the target consistently. After several putts, you can vary the distance to challenge yourself further.

Benefits of the Club Behind the Hole Putting Drill:

Pace Control: The drill encourages maintaining an appropriate pace to ensure the ball reaches the target without going too far past the hole

Consistency in Stroke: By focusing on leaving the putt between the hole and the club behind the hole, you work on developing a repeatable and reliable putting stroke.

Mental Resilience: The drill simulates pressure situations by requiring precision. Successfully hitting the targeted distance builds mental resilience for crucial putts during a round.

Visualization: Targeting a specific point behind the hole enhances your visualization skills, helping you picture the ideal path for your putts.

Tips for Putting Practice Success:

Start Close: Begin the drill with short putts to focus on the fundamentals before gradually increasing the distance.

Maintain Consistency: Keep the club behind the hole consistently for each putt to create a reliable practice routine.

Stay Relaxed: Avoid tension in your grip and body. A relaxed stroke is crucial for maintaining control.

Combine with Reading Greens: Integrate the drill with reading the contours of the green to simulate real-game scenarios.

Final Thoughts:

The Club Behind the Hole putting drill is a valuable exercise for golfers looking to improve their distance control skills. Incorporating this routine into your practice sessions can lead to better control, improved confidence, and better performance on the greens during your rounds.