Putting Gate Drill

Set two tees just outside the putter head to train centred strike and eliminate off-centre hits.

Set-up: Two tees (or balls) pushed into the green either side of the ball, just wider than the putter head; the putter swings through the gap without touching either.

1. 0:00 The question
2. 0:02 Set up
3. 0:07 The miss
4. 0:12 The good one
5. 0:16 What it trains
6. 0:20 Who teaches it

Fixes: Wild swings.

The protocol

How to practise it

This setup uses two tees or balls pushed into the green on either side of the putter head to form a narrow gate.

1. Set up the gate Push two tees into the turf or carpet on either side of your putter head, creating a gap just wider than the blade.
2. Position the ball Place the ball in the centre of the gate and align your putter face square to your target line.
3. Swing through the gap cleanly Make your stroke and pass the clubhead through the tees without striking either side.
4. Test different stroke variations Try swinging through the gate with your right hand only, left hand only, or while experimenting with new grips.

Common mistakes

What goes wrong

• Hitting the tees during impact Striking the gate indicates an in-to-out or out-to-in swing path across the ball.
• Focusing on the hole instead of strike Ignore the target cup initially and concentrate purely on passing the putter cleanly through the tees.
• Setting the gate too narrow Ensure the tees are placed slightly wider than the putter blade so a square stroke can clear them.

6 coaches

The coaches who teach this version

Each linked at the second they start.

1. Warren Bennett Golf Academy: PUTTING FUNDAMENTALS - How to get your putting back on track (from 1:46). Place two tees slightly wider than the putter head or ball to create a narrow gate. Practice putting through the gate to ensure the ball starts on the intended line.
2. Cameron O'Neal Golf: Try these putting drills at home! #golf #shorts (from 0:24). Position a golf ball on either side of the putter head to create a gate, ensuring solid center-face contact on every stroke.
3. Swing Quest Golf: The Perfect Grip for Stable, Consistent Putting (from 6:28). Place two tees slightly wider than the putter head to ensure the face is square and the strike is centered through impact.
4. Georgia Ball Golf: Master Your Putting With This EASY Lesson (from 2:17). Place two tees slightly wider than your putter head to create a gate, ensuring a centered strike and square face at impact.
5. Effortless Senior Golf : What you should understand about putting (from 13:25). Placing two tees (or balls) just wider than the putter head to ensure the ball is struck in the center of the face.
6. Georgia Ball Golf: Hole 10x More Putts With This Simple Routine (from 10:39). Place two tees on either side of the ball just wider than the putter head to ensure a square putter path back and through.
7. That's One!: It’s WAY colder than it looks! Day 148 of 24 handicap to scratch golfer in 365 days! #golf (from 0:35). Placing tees or objects on either side of the putter head to ensure a centered strike and a square path through impact.

How wide should I set the tees for the gate drill?

Warren Bennett, Georgia Ball, and Effortless Senior Golf state the tees should be positioned just wider than the putter head or blade. Warren Bennett notes placing them about a ball width outside each side of the clubhead.

Can I practise the putting gate drill indoors?

Yes, Georgia Ball notes that you can push two tees into carpet at home to create a gate for an imaginary hole. Cameron O'Neal and Effortless Senior Golf also suggest using golf balls on a putting mat for this exercise.

Should I use one hand or two hands during this drill?

Effortless Senior Golf recommends practising the stroke through the gate first with your right hand only, then with your left hand only, before making swings using both hands.