Gate Putting Drill

Pick a flat putt about three feet from the hole. Stick two tees in the green just wider than your putter head — roughly a club-grip's width apart — to form a 'gate' a few inches in front of the ball, square to your start line. Set a second, narrower gate of two tees right at the hole if you want to test the finish too.

1. Set the ball behind the first gate and pick a precise start line — usually the center of the cup on a flat putt.
2. Make your normal stroke and roll the ball cleanly through the gate without clipping either tee.
3. Keep your eyes still and your head down until you hear the ball drop — don't peek to watch it.
4. Clipping the inside (target-side) tee means the face was closed; clipping the outside tee means it was open. Adjust face awareness, not aim.
5. Make five in a row through the gate. If you miss the gate, restart the count at zero.

5 clean putts through the gate in a row, then widen to a real 4–6 foot putt for 10 balls. About 10 minutes.

Common mistake: steering the putter to 'guide' the ball through the gate, which adds tension and decelerates the stroke. Instead, let the stroke flow with equal length back and through and trust the gate to give you feedback. Tempo and face control beat hand-steering every time.