Become automatic from 3 feet with this calibration putting drill

If there’s one place every golfer needs to make putts from, it’s inside three feet. There’s a reason why pros make more than 99 percent of them; these should be nearly gimmes.

But ask most amateur golfers where they face the most anxiety on the putting surface and there’s a good chance they’d (hesitantly) admit that it’s within this short distance. So what gives?

Whether it’s lack of focus, poor green-reading, rushing, or just mis-hitting, 3-foot putts give average Joes like you and I fits. But in order to shave strokes off the scorecard, it’s imperative to dial it in from this distance.

Here’s a sad admission: I’m very much a chronic three-putter. It hurts me the most at the end of a round when I kick myself after seeing so many unnecessary strokes pile up. But when you can’t make 3-foot putts to save strokes, it’ll be the difference between shooting low-80s compared to high-80s.

During a recent visit with GOLF Top 100 Teacher Jamie Mulligan, I mentioned my putting woes. As he worked with former LPGA player Veronica Felibert, Mulligan walked me through a calibration drill that can help — and the video above can show you how it works.

“The first thing we do is take [three] tees that are squared off against the front of the hole, which should be on a parallel line that’s bisecting the target line perfectly,” Mulligan explains. The video below shows how the drill is organized.

In addition to the tees in the ground, Mulligan has Felibert use a putting mirror — a top training aid for plenty of Tour players — to help line up the putt. He also creates a tee gate coming off the mirror for the ball to roll through, as well as a Sharpie line to further highlight the start line.

The key to this drill is aligning everything in unison on three-foot putts, making sure you build a consistent setup and stroke. By doing so — and by practicing this setup over and over — it’ll feel natural during your next round.

“We’re trying to get our players to perpendicularly bisect the target line, having their eye-line, shoulders, arms, hands, and feet perfectly square over the ball,” Mulligan says. “When players calibrate like this everyday, [you can have more success] when you get out on the golf course and have breaks or different putt lengths.”

As Felibert sets up to a three-foot putt, Mulligan kneels behind her to make sure all of her key positions are lined up the way they should be.

“The line of her putter is right on the line of the [putting plates where the ball sits], the Sharpie line is pointing right at the hole, all of her [body] lines are perfectly square, and her eye-line is looking right down at the ball,” he says.

For those golfers who don’t have a putting mirror, Mulligan suggests getting rid of the tees and just using a club or alignment stick to calibrate your body and ball over. This allows you to develop the same feels.

So when you need more consistency on three-foot putts, start by using this calibration drill during practice. It’ll help ensure your body, eyes, putter, and ball are all aligned perfectly, giving you the best chance at sinking these crucial putts.

Perfect Roll Putting Mirror

$29.99

Perfect Roll Mirror
The Perfect Roll Mirror is a compact, low-profile putting mirror that helps you improve your putting stroke. It is just 1/8″ thick, so your putter head and stroke are not elevated as with some other mirrors. The mirror measures 6″ wide x 12″ long, so it is easy to store in your golf bag and take with you to the practice green.
The Perfect Roll Mirror has a beveled entry port that makes it easy to roll a ball to the same fixed location every time. This helps you develop consistent setup and stroke mechanics that will lead to more made putts.
The mirror also includes tee holes that can be used to secure it to the putting green if desired. These holes can also be used as stroke guides for putters with a 5 ½” head or smaller.
White and green lines on the mirror provide additional feedback on your stroke path and the squareness of your putter face. These lines complement the TrueSquare™ slots through the impact zone, which help you ensure that you are making square contact with the ball.
The Perfect Roll Mirror is a portable and functional training mirror that is perfect for improving your putting stroke. Order yours today and start making more putts!
Here are some additional benefits of using the Perfect Roll Mirror:

Helps you develop a consistent putting stroke
Improves your stroke path
Ensures that you are making square contact with the ball
Reduces common putting mistakes
Makes you more confident on the green

If you are serious about improving your putting stroke, the Perfect Roll Mirror is the perfect training aid for you. Order yours today and start seeing results!

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Nick Dimengo

Golf.com Editor