Playing Drill 1: Precision Marking the Ball Prior To Lifting
Objective
To ensure you never accidentally mismark the ball, avoiding disputes and/or penalty strokes.
Instructions
- Step 1: Slide the marker/trainer under the golf ball until the ball touches the center point and the legs form a cradle around the ball.
- Step 2: Lift the ball for cleaning (or for other purposes).
- Step 3: Replace the ball inside the cradle with the ball touching the center point.
- Step 4: Using the side legs, pick up the marker/trainer or complete playing drill 3.
Playing Drill 2: Accurately Replace the Ball After Moving at Request of Competitor (Marker/Trainer)
Objective:
To accurately reposition the ball when asked to move it by an opponent. When properly placed, it shows (reminds) you the specific direction where the ball was, avoiding disputes and/or penalty strokes.
Instructions
- Step 1: Using your putter head for measurement, move your ball in the direction requested by your competitor. Replace your ball with the Marker/Trainer.
- Step 2: Rotate the marker/trainer so that the legs point back in the direction the ball was moved.
- Step 3: After the competitor has completed their stroke, replace the ball back on the green the same distance from the marker/trainer as before and in the direction as indicated by the legs of the marker/trainer.
- Step 4: Pick up the marker/trainer or complete Playing Drill 3.
Playing Drill 3: Improve Putting Accuracy Using 3 Reference Points Alignment Method (Marker/Trainer)
Objective:
To allow you to get a better understanding of your putting path by gaining a wider view (compared to a single line) of the putting path utilizing the 3 reference points method.
Instructions
- Step 1: Determine your probable putting path by observing the ball from several different perspectives, noting slopes in the putting green.
- Step 2: Slide the marker/trainer under the ball with the legs pointed at the probable putting path until the ball touches the center point.
- Step 3: Pick up the ball.
- Step 4: Rotate the marker/trainer, in place, until the legs are pointing at the outside edges of the probable putting path and the center point is pointing down the putting path.
- Step 5: Replace the ball with the ball alignment line parallel to the marker/trainer legs. The ball alignment line is now pointing down the correct putting path.
- Step 6: Using the side legs, pick up the Marker/Trainer and putt.
Practicing Drill 1: Golf Swing With Any Club (Rugged ABS Polymer Marker Only)
Objective:
To improve and maintain (stay sharp) your golf swing year-round on grass of similar height to golf course grass or on an artificial grass mat indoors/outdoors at home/work.
Instructions
- Step 1: Place the marker with the rounded top facing the rear.
- Step 2: Visualize the rounded top as the back of an imaginary golf ball.
- Step 3: Take your normal golf swing.
Note: If the imaginary ball is hit “fat” or “thin,” it will not go anywhere. If the imaginary ball is hit correctly, it will fly 3-4 feet.
Practicing Drill 2: Hitting From a Greenside Bunker (Trainer Only)
Objective:
Hitting out of a greenside bunker by striking sand 1-3″ behind the ball.
Instructions
- Step 1: Place the trainer in the sand of a practice greenside bunker with legs pointing down the swing path.
- Step 2: Place the ball inside the trainer with the center point touching the ball.
- Step 3: Open the desired club head (recommend pitching, sand, or lob wedge) until the face of the club is facing the sky (upwards).
- Step 4: Take your normal grip and keep the club shaft at 90 degrees or slightly right of center.
- Step 5: Assume a slightly wide stance with the ball slightly forward of center.
- Step 6: Dig in feet slightly, flex knees, and put the weight of the bottom half (legs/hips) forward.
- Step 7: Visualize the top flat edge of the Trainer and aim slightly behind it.
- Step 8: Swing hard with complete follow-through. The ball should be propelled by sand onto the practice green.
Note: Beginning golfers tend to look at the back of the golf ball, resulting in “sculled” sand shots. Hitting behind the trainer will teach correct striking sand 1-3″ behind the ball.
Practicing Drill 3: Putting Alignment by Squaring the Putter Face to the Ball (Trainer Only)
Objective:
To improve putting accuracy by adjusting your putting grip to ensure that the putter face is square to the ball.
Instructions
- Step 1: Slide the trainer under the golf ball, on a practice putting green, until the ball touches the center point and the legs form a cradle around the ball.
- Step 2: Gently slide the putter face up to the flat top of the Trainer until the face of the putter is completely flush with the top of the Trainer.
- Step 3: Assume your normal putting grip. Take note of any changes in hand location on the grip. The putter face is now square to the ball.
Note: When the putter face is not square to the ball, you will “push” the putt left or right, making putting inaccurate.
Practicing Drill 4: Avoid “Grass Lag” When Putting
Objective:
To avoid missed putts caused by “grass lag,” i.e., when the putter drags the putting surface on either your backswing or forward swing.
Instructions
- Step 1: Place the Marker/Trainer on the practice putting green.
- Step 2: Place the ball inside the Marker/Trainer legs with the center point touching the ball.
- Step 3: Place the putter face on top of the Marker/Trainer directly behind the ball.
- Step 4: Maintain your normal putting grip.
- Step 5: Make a putting stroke with the putter on top of the Marker/Trainer.
Note: Many golfers experience “grass lag” when the putter drags the putting surface on either their backswing or forward swing. By learning to raise the putter 1/8″ off the putting surface, golfers can avoid missed putts caused by “grass lag.”
Practicing Drill 5: Practice Putting, Aiming, and Distance Control (Marker/Trainer)
Objective:
To improve green reading skills and putting accuracy on more challenging medium- to long putts of 12 feet or more.
Instructions
- Step 1: Choose a challenging putting green with a slope(s) and hump(s).
- Step 2: Place the ball at least 12 feet from the hole in a selected spot.
- Step 3: Determine your projected/probable putting path by observing the ball from several different perspectives, noting green friction/slopes/humps in the putting green.
- Step 4: Using 6 or more (preferably) markers, place markers 1 feet to the left and right of your projected putting path with legs facing the direction of the path at that position on the projected path.
- Step 5: Slide the marker/trainer under the ball with the legs pointed at the probable putting path until the ball touches the center point.
- Step 6: Pick up the ball.
- Step 7: Rotate the marker/trainer, in place, until the legs are pointing at the outside edges of the probable putting path and the center point is pointing down the putting path.
- Step 8: Replace the ball with the ball alignment line parallel to the marker/trainer legs. The ball alignment line is now pointing down the projected putting path.
- Step 9: Using the side legs, pick up the Marker/Trainer.
- Step 10: Make the putt and carefully observe the actual putting path.
- Step 11: Place another golf ball in the same position the previous ball was before putting.
- Step 12: Observe where the ball stopped and only remove the ball if it obstructs the next putt.
- Step 13: Revisit the projected putting path and adjust marker positions based on:
- Actual observed putting path.
- Using the 3-reference point method to obtain a wider view of the probable putting path at the markers along the path.
- Step 14: Repeat steps 5 to 13 until you discover the correct putting path and make the putt. Practice the putt until you are satisfied that you have mastered aiming and distance control for this putt.
Practicing Drill 6: Practice Putting by Creating Imaginary Holes (Marker/Trainer)
Objective:
To improve putting skills by placing markers on golf course greens or at home to represent holes with different putting conditions.
Instructions
- Step 1: Choose and observe the putting conditions of a practice putting green.
- Step 2: Set markers/trainers in a circular fashion to represent holes that simulate different putting conditions. Note: Plan each “hole” to be the starting point of the next putt.
- Step 3: Place the golf ball at a marker/trainer with the imaginary hole at the next marker/trainer.
- Step 4: Determine your probable putting path by observing the ball from several different perspectives, noting slopes in the putting green.
- Step 5: Slide the marker/trainer under the ball with the legs pointed at the probable putting path until the ball touches the center point.
- Step 6: Pick up the ball.
- Step 7: Rotate the marker/trainer, in place, until the legs are pointing at the outside edges of the probable putting path and the center point is pointing down the putting path.
- Step 8: Replace the ball with the ball alignment line parallel to the marker/trainer legs. The ball alignment line is now pointing down the correct putting path.
- Step 9: Using the side legs, pick up the Marker/Trainer.
- Step 10: Make the putt and carefully observe the actual putting path. Do not remove the ball.
- Step 11: Practice the same putt 4 more times, pick up the balls, and move to the next marker/trainer.
- Step 12: Repeat steps 3 to 11 until you are back at the starting point.
- Step 13: Repeat steps 3 to 11 but in the opposite direction. If you started clockwise, then go anti-clockwise or vice versa.
Note: The goal is that the ball should stop around 12 inches past the marker/train to ensure that the putt will be successful.