Stop missing those little putts

During the 2023-’24 PGA Tour season, there were seven players who didn’t miss a single putt inside of three feet. Brendon Todd made all 808 of his attempts. What makes these guys so good from close range? For starters, they’re not afraid to hit the ball firmly. There’s nothing tentative about their strokes, whereas many amateurs tend to wave at the ball weakly or try to just push it into the hole.

Here’s a drill to put more energy into your stroke. Find a flat, three-foot putt and set the putter square behind the ball. Then place two tees on either side of the front edge of the ball, slightly wider than the width of the ball (below). Make your stroke with enough force that the putter shoots the ball through the gate and then collides with the tees.

To apply some energy to the hit, the face must be square when it contacts the ball and then the tees (below). If the putterface is even slightly open or closed, the ball will bump one of the tees and likely come up short.

Work on this drill for a few minutes two to three days a week and again before you play, and come your big weekend match, you’ll be much more confident on those money putts. Remember, a little more energy at impact will keep the ball on line and send it into the hole.

Todd Anderson is director of instruction at the PGA Tour Performance Center at TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.