Master Your Putting with the Gate Drill
One of the most common reasons golfers miss short putts isn’t reading the green wrong — it’s starting the ball off-line. That’s where the Gate Drill comes in.
This simple, effective drill helps you develop pinpoint start-line control, which is the foundation of great putting.
What Is the Gate Drill?
The Gate Drill is exactly what it sounds like: you create a narrow “gate” for your ball to roll through — just wide enough to allow the ball to pass if it’s hit on the correct line. Miss your line, and the ball hits the tee.
It’s one of the most trusted drills used by pros because it gives instant feedback with zero guesswork.
How to Set It Up
You only need:
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Your putter
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A golf ball
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2 tees (or coins if you’re on carpet)
Steps:
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Pick a straight 3–6 foot putt on the practice green.
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Place the tees about 12–18 inches in front of your ball.
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Space the tees slightly wider than a golf ball — about 1.5x the width of the ball.
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Hit putts and try to roll the ball cleanly between the tees without touching either.
What It Improves
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Start line control: Forces your stroke to send the ball on your intended path.
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Face angle awareness: Even slight face misalignment will cause a miss.
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Confidence on short putts: Seeing the ball pass through the gate repeatedly builds trust in your stroke.
Drill Variations
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Narrow the gate to make it harder as you improve.
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Move the gate closer or farther to change the challenge.
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Add a second gate closer to the hole to test roll and consistency.
Pro Tip
Combine this with a pre-shot routine. Approach every practice putt like it’s for birdie. The more realistic your practice, the better your results on the course.
Final Thoughts
The Gate Drill may be simple, but its results are powerful. With just a few minutes a day, you can transform your putting from uncertain to automatic. And when you own the start line, everything else falls into place.