Putting · Drill
Make a Trough With Two Sticks
Part of our putting programs for start line, reading greens. Build a program with it
Two sticks can fix your aim and path in seconds. Lay them parallel on the green, aimed at your target. That makes a trough. For a breaking putt, aim them left or right of the hole. Set your putter between them, square to the sticks. That squares the face. Then keep the putter inside the trough as you stroke. Hole a few from five to eight feet before your round. It builds a clear picture and confidence.
The drill
- Lay two sticks parallel at your target.
- Aim them off the hole for breaking putts.
- Set the putter square between them.
- Stroke without touching them.
- Use it right before you play.
Why it works
A putt starts mostly in the direction the face points at impact, and the path affects how the ball rolls and how well you strike it. Two parallel sticks give you a fixed line to set the face against, so you can see square instead of guessing. Keeping the putter between them gives instant feedback on whether the stroke travels along your start line.
Common mistakes
- You set the sticks parallel to each other but not aimed at your intended start line.Stand behind the ball, pick a spot on your start line, and lay the sticks so both point at that spot.
- You aim the sticks at the hole on a breaking putt.Aim the sticks at the point where you want the ball to start, left or right of the hole, and let the slope bring it back.
- You set the trough too tight and tap the sticks, which makes you steer the putter.Leave a little room on each side of the putter head and make a smooth stroke without touching either stick.
How you'll know it's working
- The putter travels between the sticks without touching them on most strokes.
- The ball starts on your chosen line and rolls end over end.
- Your strike lands near the center of the face, and the sound and feel are the same each time.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Use a short putt of about three feet on a flat green and set the sticks a little wider than the putter head.
Harder: Move back to eight feet on a breaking putt and narrow the trough so you have less room for error.
Common questions
How far apart should the two alignment sticks be?
Set them slightly wider than your putter head so it can pass through without touching. Start wider if you keep hitting them, then narrow the gap as your stroke improves.
Can I do the two-stick putting drill without alignment sticks?
Yes. You can use two clubs, two shafts, or any two straight objects laid parallel on the green. They only need to be straight and stay still while you stroke.
