Try Mickelson’s putting routine, and you’ll make more short ones
If you’ve watched Phil Mickelson on TV recently, you’ve probably noticed his pre-putt routine. Many times, Phil will stand to the left or right of his putting line and make practice strokes toward the hole.
It looks strange, for sure, but there’s a good reason for it. Golf great Jackie Burke taught Phil a practice drill that he now incorporates into his on-course routine for short to medium-length putts. It’s a psychological ploy that all but ensures Phil will make every short putt he stands over. How effective is it? Phil made 542 of the 544 putts he had from three feet and closer last year.
When Phil practices, he’ll line up 10 balls in a circle, each one about three feet from the cup. He then works his way around the circle, putting every one of them into the hole. When he’s accomplished that, he will line up the 10 balls again, sink them, and continue this drill until he’s made 100 in a row. If he misses, a lot of times he will start over.
The purpose of this drill is twofold. First, it ingrains a confident stroke on short putts. Many golfers try to steer putts into the cup, especially when they can see the hole peripherally. Consequently, their stroke is jabby or off-line.
The second benefit to this drill is that it relieves pressure when you play. After Phil stands left or right of his putting line and makes practice strokes at the hole, the real putt is just one more stroke in succession. He’s simply imagining he’s back on the practice putting green, working his way around the circle of balls.
This is the putting equivalent to pretending you’re on a wide driving range when you’re facing a full shot into a narrow landing area. It will help you relax and will give you confidence that the task at hand is simple.
