Usually, when we 3-putt, it’s because we have left the first putt either
too long or too short; rarely do we leave our first putt too wide left or
right of the hole. The reason for this is…
Lack of feel
What is this thing called “feel”? Is it something that exists in our hands?
No – feel exists in your subconscious! Take a ball and throw it to a
target; you’ll find that not only do you not think of your target distance
in feet and inches, you don’t consider how far back to take your hand to
achieve this distance. This is because we grew up as kids throwing a ball
and our subconscious knows exactly how hard to throw the ball to reach the
target. So if you want to develop good feel as a golfer, you have to train
your subconscious to know exactly how hard to hit your long putts.
The Method
As in picture #1, set up about 20 balls and aim for a target about 35 feet
away Once you have lined up, I want you to putt the ball at the target
looking at the hole and not at the ball. (See picture #2.)
Now this may feel a little weird at first, but you’ll soon get used to it.
Remember, do not look at the ball when you putt – look at the hole.
If you hit your first putt too hard, then hit your next putt a little
softer, still looking at the hole. If you hit that putt too soft, then hit
the next one a little harder. Continue this with each ball until you get
the feel for exactly how hard to hit the putt.
Once you have hit all the balls to your target, pick a new target and start
all over again. Remember, though, this is a practice drill for the putting
green only. When you are on the course. take your practice swings looking
target, but once you line up look at the ball to make sure contact with the
center of face.
This practice drill will all but eliminate 3-putting from your golf game.
About Mel Sole
After a playing career on the South African PGA Tour, Mel turned his focus
to teaching under the tutelage of Phil Ritson back in the 70′s. Phil had
been coach to Mel and several other Pros, including the renown Gary Player,
who were playing the SA PGA Tour.
Mel found the teaching side of golf to be hugely rewarding, and his
coaching of Junior Golf Teams in South Africa produced 2 National Champions
and several Junior Champions.
In 1984, Mel moved to Toronto, Canada, where he opened the Canadian Golf
Academy, an indoor/outdoor teaching facility.
In 1988 his long-time friend and mentor, Phil Ritson–now based in
Florida–invited Mel to head up the Phil Ritson Golf Studio in Myrtle Beach,
SC. The golf school relocated to Pawleys Island, SC in 1991 as the Phil
Ritson – Mel Sole Golf School, and has had great success at beautiful
Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country Club for 15 years.
