Day 10: Putting Feel + Impact Test

March 22, 2017

DRILL: HOW TO BECOME A FEEL PUTTER
For a drill, stick a tee in the ground two feet behind the ball and another two feet in front. First, set up and use your feet as reference for 30-foot putts—swinging the putterhead back to your back foot and through to your front foot. Then, use the tees to benchmark the back and through for a 50-footer. Finally, use a spot in between to represent 40-footers. —Renee Trudeau O'Higgins, a Golf Digest Best Young Teacher

DRILL: HOW TO FLUSH IT OFF THE FAIRWAY
Here's a fairway-wood drill for grooving the correct impact conditions, namely hitting the ball, then the ground with a descending strike. Lay two tees on the turf pointing toward you, one where you'd play the ball and another four inches ahead. Practice swinging and clipping both tees, then replace the back tee with a ball and practice hitting ball, then tee. —Renee Trudeau O'Higgins


BONUS TIP
SEAN FOLEY: GOLF-COURSE BULLIES
Foley thinks average golfers let water, bunkers, and other hazards bully them into hitting bad shots. If you can turn your focus away from trouble and commit to a positive mind-set and a positive target, you're playing with bravery—and thinking like a tour player.