How to improve your putting under pressure
Nicola Stroud, Head Teaching Professional at Burnham & Berrow Golf Club, gives you a drill to improve your putting under pressure.
I regularly hear students say to me: ‘I putt really well on the practice green but can’t seem to do it on the course!’ We all know this is because there’s no pressure on the practice green, therefore our inner golf demon is quiet and calm, and it’s not making us question our alignment, feel or rhythm.
So, how do we ensure we calm the inner golf demon?
The best way to beat the demon is by building a wall around our processes so that we are so engrossed in our actions we don’t have any space for ‘self-chatter’ or unnecessary, unhelpful or self-sabotaging thoughts.
This is a tried and tested practical drill that I encourage all my students to do, and the results are excellent. I recommend you do this drill only on your training day or after you have played.
Firstly, mark out 2-ft to 6ft from the hole distances using tees every one foot - a flat lie is best (see photo).
Then with five balls, set your goals for each distance, your goal is how many of the five balls would you expect to sink from that distance/stage, for example:
2-foot stage = all five balls
3-foot stage = all five balls
4-foot stage = four of five balls
5-foot stage = three of five balls
6-foot stage = two of five balls
Like all goals, make sure they are realistic and achievable. You can always increase your level but to decrease, if you consistently don’t achieve your goal, will only further highlight your insecurities and pressures that you place on yourself and lead to more self-sabotaging.
Start at the 2-foot stage and when you achieve your goal, move onto the next stage. However, if you do not achieve the next stage, then you must return to the beginning and start all over again. Don’t leave until you reach the final stage at 6-foot.
Nicola Stroud is an Advanced PGA Professional based at Burnham & Berrow Golf Club in Somerset.
Email: nicola@nicolastroudgolf.com
Instagram: @nicolastroudgolf
Twitter: @nicstroudgolf
Website: http://www.nicolastroudgolf.com/
Article courtesy of Women & Golf.
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