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5 Dead-Simple Steps to Master Your Putting Routine
šNever Miss Inside 5 Feet Again

This week, missed short putts arenāt about mechanics but pressure. This weekās tip gives you a dead-simple fix to own every 5-footer when it matters most.
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Pressure kills. This fixes it.
Weāve all been there: birdie look turns into bogey because you missed the comeback putt. The 5-footer. Itās not long. Itās not complicated. But it mattersāespecially when your cardās already wobbling.
Hereās the truth: Most golfers donāt miss short putts because of bad mechanics. They miss because of bad habits under pressure.
This weekās tip? Simple. Do this, and youāll own every putt inside 5 feetāthe kind you expect to make. Not pray for.
Aim 1 Inch Ahead of the Ball
Your head moves. Even if you think it doesnāt.
The fix? Stop staring at the back of the ball. Instead, focus on a blade of grass one inch ahead.
Thatās it.
Why it works:
Keeps your head quiet through impact
Promotes better forward roll
Improves center-face contact
šÆ Try this today:
Place a tee or leaf one inch before the ball on the putting green. Stroke five putts with that as your ātarget.ā Youāll instantly feel the difference.
Pro Insight: Tour pros like Tiger and Cam Smith have discussed āforward focusā during strokeāthis is your version.
Matchstick Tempo Beats Hulk Strength
Most yipped putts donāt come from nerves ā they come from tension.
Fix it with tempo.
The golden rule: Back⦠through. 1⦠2. Smooth.
No wrist jab. No freeze-up. Just rhythm.
Put it on loop like your favorite playlist.
ā± Quick Drill:
Say ātickā going back and ātockā going through. Does that sound silly? So it is missing 4 feet. Do this 10 times before every round.
š Bonus: Tempo Drill
Reps Beat Routine. Always.
You donāt need a complicated pre-shot routine. You need confidence.
Hereās the play:
Take one eyes-closed practice stroke to feel the tempo and length.
Step in, set your eyes 1 inch ahead of the ball.
Trust it. Go.
No three practice strokes. No paralysis by analysis.
āThe body doesnāt forget what itās rehearsed. But it will forget if you keep second-guessing it.ā
The Circle Drill
Old-school, reliable, and still one of the best drills ever invented.
š Hereās how:
Drop 12 balls in a 3-foot circle around the cup.
Make all 12 ā in a row ā before you leave.
Miss one? Start over.
š¬ Why does it work?
Builds muscle memory under pressure
Teaches how to handle repetition fatigue
Turns āI hope I make thisā into āI always make thisā
Do it after every round for a week. Watch what happens.
Scratch Is a Mindset
Letās cut the fluff - you can become a killer from five feet away. Not next year. Not in theory. Right now. But youāve got to treat short putts like a skill, not a gamble.
This isnāt about talent. Itās about preparation.
So hereās the mission this week:
ā Forward focus
ā Matchstick tempo
ā Eyes-closed feel
ā Circle Drill daily
Do it. Log it. Own it.
Want more no-BS tips like this every week?
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