If you're struggling with your putting, you're not alone. Many golfers find their putting game goes south sometimes, and the worst thing you can do is start overthinking your stroke. The key to becoming a great putter is to focus on the target, and this simple drill will help you do just that. It's a method I developed years ago, and it's helped countless golfers get back to making putts.
Key Takeaways
- Focus on the target, not your stroke.
- The "wiggle drill" helps you become target-oriented.
- Practice the drill with putts of varying distances.
Stop Thinking About Your Stroke
When you're on the green, it's easy to get caught up thinking about the mechanics of your swing. Should your backswing be straight? Should the follow-through be perfect? Should it be on an arc? Honestly, forget all of that. Thinking about your stroke is the absolute worst thing you can do for your putting. Instead, you need to be thinking about the target. That's it – target, target, target.
The "Wiggle Drill"
This drill is designed to force you to think about the target. When I was younger, people would come into the pro shop asking for putting tips. I'd show them this little drill, and they'd come back amazed at how well they putted. It sounds crazy, but it works. I call it the "wiggle drill."
Here's how it works: You're going to purposely wiggle your putter before you hit the putt. It doesn't matter if you wiggle it inside or outside, or a combination of both. The key is to wiggle it, and then hit the putt. You might think this would make it impossible to putt straight, but you'll be surprised.
Why does this work? When you wiggle the putter, you have to then focus on moving the putter towards the target to actually hit the ball. This naturally makes you target-oriented. Trying to force a perfect stroke or arc is counterproductive. The club will naturally arc on its own when you're not overthinking it.
Practice Makes Perfect (with a Twist)
To get the most out of this drill, I recommend heading to the green and taking 25 putts from different distances. Don't just stick to short putts; try some longer ones too. The goal is to get comfortable with the wiggle-and-hit motion and to keep your focus on the hole.
After you've practiced, go play a round. You'll likely find that your putting has improved significantly. Once you've tried it, leave a comment below. I'm confident this drill will prove itself as the best putting tip out there.
Top-Down View
To give you a clearer picture, here's how it looks from a top-down perspective. Remember, there's no exact way to wiggle. Just move the putter around a bit before you stroke it. The important part is the focus on the target as you bring the putter forward to hit the ball. This drill isn't about perfecting your stroke; it's about getting you to think about where the ball needs to go.
