Golf tips from
the Pro
Three things to help you save strokes on the putting green.
1. Alignment Putting Drill
Using four tee pegs, you can help your
putting accuracy hugely.
Find a flat area on the green. Use two tee
pegs and align with your putter leaving
around one centimetre either side, around
two to three feet in front of this, place the
other two tee pegs just wider than the
diameter of a golf ball (two inches).
• Makes the putter path correct
through impact;
• Helps to correctly align the putter face to
target through impact;
• You should try to roll the ball through
the ball gate five times in a row. The
distance marker is a rough guide for
the stroke length as this is an accuracy
exercise primarily. You should not be
putting to a hole as your focus needs
to be 100% on the line so you start the
putt on the correct line;
ball would have still gone in the hole as
you are practising to a smaller target.
This gives more confidence before play
as you have not ‘missed’ on the putting
green and the hole will seem larger on
the course.
2. Pace Control Putting Drill
Once again using four tee pegs – the
first one ten feet in front of the starting
point and three feet intervals thereafter.
(I have used cones in the photograph for
illustration purpose)
second and third putt. You don’t get this
chance on the course.
Putt three balls to three long-distance
holes and try to come as close as possible
to gauge the pace of the greens. Do not
try to put them in with your second putt,
just repeat to another three holes.
Don’t hole out – putt to a tee peg from
two feet. If you hit the peg, great, if you
don’t, on the course the hole is much
bigger and it may have gone in!
My Aim
• Use a distance ladder with three levels
so you can feel the progression in
stroke length going up and down and
then three levels at random (if time);
• Make your practice have a purpose.
Practice does not make perfect;
• Levels in the ladder should be three
feet apart with the start point ten feet
from the first.
• Learn and enjoy practising;
• GOOD practice makes perfect;
• To make golf a more social and
enjoyable sport to play for all;
3. Ten Minutes Before You Play
• Get more people playing;
• The outcome - The ability to roll the
ball with an on-centre strike where the
face aims at address.
This exercise not only helps you to
understand the importance of the
stroke path through the gate but also
the face angle square through the tee
pegs. Even if you do not complete the
five in a row and hit the tee pegs, the
Using the above exercises will help you
gain a feel for the pace of the green and
gets your stroke repeating (three minutes
on each).
Last four minutes – always putt from
different areas and different distances.
Most amateur golfers put three balls on
the ground and putt to the same hole –
you are not learning anything from your
• Most of all, have fun!
By Lee Andrews, PGA Professional and
General Manager at Mid Sussex Golf Club
www.midsussexgolfclub.co.uk
Special offer for Re: Magazine business readers
A Corporate Voucher Book gives you 20 vouchers to play 18 holes of golf at Mid
Sussex Golf Club. The rounds can be played anytime Monday to Friday or after 1pm at
weekends and bank holidays. The usual price is £600 + VAT but mention Re: Magazine
when you enquire and you can buy the voucher book for just £330 + VAT, which makes a
round of golf at this brilliant course just £16.50 + VAT.
To take advantage of this offer, contact Lee on [email protected] or call
01273 846567, Option 1.
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