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I often see golfers getting too eager to see if their ball is going in the hole, especially on short putts. This can lead to players missing from a range they really should be holing putts from.

This can get to the point where players end up looking away from the ball, before they even strike it and that certainly is not what we want.

This can often lead to either problems striking the ball from the centre of the putter, or more often, alignment issues at impact. This all leads to a much smaller chance of hitting a good putt.

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Stats from Shot Scope show that as a golfer’s handicap index gets higher, so does their chance of three-putting. A scratch golfer will average one three-putt every 36 holes. Compare that to a ten handicap, and they’re going to average a three-putt every 14 holes.

These three-putts often come from missing the length of putt that we really should be holing most of the time.

How to hole more short putts

This can be very frustrating, but I have a simple drill that can help resolve this issue and it’s something we can do either on the putting green or at home.

Gavin Abson coin drill hole more putts
Doing this drill with a coin or a ball marker is going to help your strike on the greens. Many amateur golfers won’t hit the middle of the face, even on short putts. (Credit: bunkered/Eve Conroy)

All you need to do is place the ball on top of a coin. Then, when you hit the ball, keep looking at the coin until you hear the ball drop into the hole, or you know that the ball has stopped. This will prevent your eyes from beating the strike and will lead to you hitting better putts.

You’ll deliver the putter with a better alignment in relation to your starting line and you’ll hit the ball from the centre of the face more often. This is going to help you hole out much better on the greens.

Give it a try next time you’re on the putting green, or working on your putting at home.

Gavin Abson is the Head PGA Professional at The West Lancashire Golf Club. You can follow him on X.


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Lewis Fraser As bunkered’s Performance Editor, Lewis oversees the content that’s designed to make you a better player. From the latest gear to tuition, nutrition, strategy and more, he’s the man. A graduate of the University of Stirling, Lewis joined bunkered in 2021. Formerly a caddie at Castle Stuart Golf Links, he is a member of Bathgate Golf Club where he plays off four.

Performance Editor

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