Putting! Isn’t it the worst? You spend all that time banging balls on the range only to get to the green in regulation and three putt. Sound like a familiar story?
Historically, I’ve been an above average ball striker and a below average putter (at least when compared to the cohort of golfers that hit the ball as well as I do). So, about a year ago I decided that I needed to get my putting stroke in shape. I’ve done a good number of things to become better on the greens and will write a post about them all in due time. But for this post, I want to detail a lighthearted drill that I created which helps me focus when on the practice green.
I call this drill “Battle The Bear.” The drill is simple. You start with two golf balls and work your way around the putting green playing a 9-hole round of match play between the two balls. The reason I call the drill “Battle the Bear” is because I like to imagine that I am playing my first ball and Jack Nicklaus, The Golden Bear, is playing my second.
Make sense? Play two balls and keep score in a match play format. At the end of nine holes, see who wins.
Not so fast my friend! That drill as described above sounds boring and not really all that helpful. The twist here is that Jack Nicklaus was a great player and a great clutch putter. For the sake of this drill we need to make Jack great. For the drill to work we rig it to make it so Jack never 3-putts and always goes second so he can get a nice read on your first roll. Additionally, Jack’s second putt is always conceded meaning he never gets more than a two putt. So, if you intend to beat him you have to make your first putt and you better not three putt otherwise you immediately drop a hole. When you add those element to the drill, beating Jack starts to become quite the daunting task it should be.
The two primary reasons I practice this drill are as follows:
- I want to simulate actual on-course experience. In this drill, the first putt you roll really matters! So, you need to read the break, judge the speed and give it your best shot. As is on the course, there’s no do-overs with your first putt. You better make it count if you have any plans on beating The Bear.
- With Jack’s ball, I want to give myself a second attempt at making the exact same putt that I just hit. At this point, I am significantly more informed about the break on the putt, a general idea about speed, and given that the bear never three putts I should be 100% focused on making the putt. I like this element because it forces me to keenly lock in and do my best to make the putt. Lagging this putt is completely useless. This second attempt gives me a pretty full diagnostic of my stroke and mindset. Am I starting the putt on the right (known) line? Is my speed good (ideally misses should ALWAYS go past the hole)? Am I mentally focused on the task at hand?
The last part of this drill that I really like is the killer mentality that comes along with being The Bear. Nothing makes me happier than breaking my own heart with this drill. Whether its sinking a putt to win the hole or erasing a great one-putt, I get visibly excited when I get a chance to be The Bear and assert my dominance.
Let’s recap how this drill can really help you. The first putt causes you to really focus while on the practice putting green which is something that not many golfers do. How can you expect to be a great putter on the course if you don’t essentially practice the exact same thing you intend to do when on the course? Next, the ball that you play as Jack Nicklaus forces you to really think about making each putt. Since Jack’s second putt is always conceded you need to focus hard on giving each putt a chance to go into the hole. It’s absolutely useless to leave a putt short when you’re playing that ball that belongs to the Bear.
I hope this simple drill gives you a nice new addition to spice things on the putting green. And remember, when you get the chance to be The Bear, make the most out of it!
