Short of the shanks, the “yips” are the worst malady that can befall a golfer. They’re like an infection, starting with a single poor putting stroke, then quickly destroying the confidence and stroke of the afflicted golfer.

Deceleration of the putter is the most common cause of missed short putts. That’s especially true in golfers who take a long backstroke, which forces them to slow down to keep from crushing the ball.

Here’s a drill that can greatly improve your short putting:

1. Starting 2-3 feet from the hole on a flat part of the practice green, place a tee or another ball no more than eight inches behind the ball to be putted.
2. Take the putter back, making sure not to hit the obstacle.
3. Make an accelerating stroke, ideally popping the ball into the back of the hole.
4. Finish with the putter head at least eight inches beyond the address position. In other words, make the follow-through longer than the back-stroke.

Practice this drill often to instill the feeling of driving the ball into the hole, rather than weakly nudging it, hoping it goes in.

Thomas Golf Putters
Traditional, Mid-Length/Belly & Long Putters