Closed Hole

In this series of articles I will be outlining assorted putting drills which you may use to improve your putting. This good putting drill teaches you to put with your eyes closed and fabricate your feel.

Have you ever watched the masters when they stand upright behind their line of putt looking at the hole? Notice how they mechanically swing the putter. The reason they do this is that they are attempting to get a “feel” for the putt.

Developing a feel for the speed of the putt and your swing tempo is a prerequisite for good putting. Regularly getting the ball close to the hole on those long putts requires an acute sense of touch and feel. Something the top pros have in abundance. Notice how often they get those actually long putts close to the hole.

Hopefully the following drill will instruct you this feel so that you may do it with your eyes close.

Here’s the drill.

• Ideally you will need 4 or 5 balls for this.
• Select a flat division of the green to get started with.
• Place the balls down in front of you and select a spot on the green that you want to putt to. You do not need a hole.
• Go through your pre shot procedure (you must have a pre shot procedure – in particular with your putts) and address the ball as you commonly would.
• Close your eyes. Yes close them and keep them closed – don’t peep.
• Now play the shot and with your eyes still closed wait until you know the ball has stopped. It ought to be stationery before you open your eyes. This is important.
• Before opening your eyes think back to the spot you were aiming at and then the stroke you played.
• In your minds eye guess where the ball landed up. Do you think it was short, long or just right?
• Open your eyes and check the result.
• Repeat, repeat and repeat a good deal of more.
• Change your target and direction of putt occasionally.
• Once you are happy with your level putts start out including a few slopes – uphill, downhill, left to right and right to left.

The gain of this drill is that it develops your feel only and removes the pressure of attempting to sink the ball.

Practice the drill outlined in this article “Good Putting Drill – Putt with Your Eyes Closed” often. The more you exercise the more outstanding your feel for distance will develop as your subconscious mind takes over. Eventually it will be as if you are putting with your eyes closed!

Closed Hole Picture

Closed Hole Pic

Closed Hole Picture

Closed Hole Picture