Drill to improve short putts

[clonewars222]

I'm trying to stop pulling/pushing putts, especially ones that are only 3-4 feet away. Also, aligning up correctly to the ball as I'm about to putt...

It's really frustrating when you miss a birdie putt within 3-4 feet, or more when going for a par =/

[normdamarine]

This really has helped me with short putts inside 6 feet. I take a very short back stroke, only a couple of inches and make a long finish to the hole. I was once told that most people miss shorts putts because their back stroke is to long and boy that has helped me a lot. Every now and then I get really quick with it and jab at the putt but for the most part it is a short rytmic backstroke and a long follow thru... hope this helps...

[brgolf]

I use the same length stroke back and through. Practicing on a flat surface such as the carpet at home, really helped me hone my technique and it was easy to tell if I was pushing/pulling.

On the course I then line the text on my ball along the putting line or on a straight putt, right towards the hole. I line up the alignment aids on my putter with the ball and reproduce the stroke I've perfected back home.

This is tremendously advantageous in terms of my mental game as I know that the only way I can miss is to have misread a break or to get speed dreadfully wrong. And once you know the greens at your local course, it basically comes down to speed.

[ks8829]

When I pull or push putts I check the following:

1) grip and pressure
2) eye over ball position
3) hand and arm position
4) hands forward pressure
5) shoulder rotation vs arms or wrist
6) focus on my take away using a natural arc upward and not to the side
7) lock in my wrist to prevent any movement
8) practice for an hour each day
9) when you practice you will discover something that works for you that help keep putts straight
10) pre-putt routine even on short tap in putts

[kfowler]

Mickelson discusses this in his DVD. He makes a circle of 10 balls three feet out. He goes around hitting each one. He tries to make a 100 in a row before he stops. He also suggests a 25% back stroke length to 75% forward stroke length.

[ks8829]

all putts are straight putts, once you learn to hit a straight putt without pulling or pushing then you can focus on speed.

sometimes dropping a club on the ground using the shaft for an alignment tool can be helpful

[lumpuckeroo]

This really has helped me with short putts inside 6 feet. I take a very short back stroke, only a couple of inches and make a long finish to the hole. I was once told that most people miss shorts putts because their back stroke is to long and boy that has helped me a lot. Every now and then I get really quick with it and jab at the putt but for the most part it is a short rytmic backstroke and a long follow thru... hope this helps...

I do the same thing and I believe it is a big help. Also, if you noticed in the PGA Championship, Vijay put a metal ruler on the putting green and worked on putting the ball down the ruler. I think that drill might help.