Golf Tips: Putt Into a 3 Foot Circle

The quickest way any amateur golfer can reduce strokes on the golf course is by reducing 3-putting, 4-putting and "other"-putting.   Amateurs give up so many shots on the putting surface.   Just think about it.  If an amateur 3-putts every green rather than 2-putting, that is 18 strokes.  EIGHTEEN strokes!   Imagine for a second if you could take 18 strokes off your game!  That 100 would turn into an 82.  That 90 would turn into an EVEN PAR 72! 3-Foot Circle 3 and 4-putting is mostly a result of bad distance control.  Most golfers know the general break of a putt when they look at it.  They can get the ball started in roughly the right direction.  But putts which end up 15 feet long or 15 feet short are a one-way ticket to bogey-land. One great practice drill, and great on the course as well, is to imagine a three foot circle around the hole, like the photo to the right.  The goal with all lag putts is to get the ball in that circle.  This drill makes distance control much easier.  If you think about it, there's a six foot margin the putt can finish within: 3-feet short to 3-feet long.  Once inside the three foot circle, the 2nd putt is much easier. The 2nd part of the practice drill of course, would be to practice all kinds of 3-footers!