Distance control is the No. 1 key to great putting, and this ladder drill is great for developing this part of the short game. I like to use Tee Claws and lanyards to create the rungs for my ladder, but tees and string will also work.
Create three rungs about 2 feet apart so you have starting positions from 10, 15 and 20 feet away. Then get four golf balls.
The goal is to get a ball to stop in each rung of the ladder and one just past the last rung in succession from each starting spot.
Once you’ve mastered that, increase the pressure by rolling each ball in each rung in a row. If you miss at any time, go back and start again. Going in the opposite order is another good test and a way to break up the pattern.
Jordan King Thomas, PGA, is an instructor at the Henry Brunton Golf Academy at Strawberry Farms in Irvine. He can be reached at (949) 556-7857 or Jordan@henrybrunton.com.
