👑 Stop Fearing the Putt: Build Unshakeable Confidence with the PGA Tour’s Go-To Drill

The simple truth? Most golfers struggle because they're practicing confusion, not comfort. They lack a system. They don't trust their read, their pace, or themselves.

My main goal isn't just to teach you a stroke; it's to make you feel supremely comfortable and confident with the most important club in your bag. I want you to step up to a five-footer and know it’s going in.

That’s why I've distilled my years of experience into a systematic approach, a single, highly effective drill that I use in 95% of my putting lessons. And yes, it’s so effective that PGA Tour champion Justin Thomas uses a version of it weekly.

This isn't just about making putts; it's about building a Bulletproof Putting Mindset.

🎯 The "Confidence Circuit" Drill: Your Blueprint for Better Putting

The beauty of this drill is that it simultaneously addresses the two biggest killers of confidence: Pace and Break. It builds trust through achievable, measurable goals.

What You Need:

• 3 Tees
• 1 Alignment Rod (or a second club/string)
• A Hole with a slight break

The Setup (The Confidence Circuit):

1. Mark the Target: Find a hole with a gentle break (left-to-right or right-to-left).
2. The Short Game Confidence Zone: Walk off 3 feet from the hole and place a tee. (This is where confidence is forged.)
3. The Pressure Putt Zone: Walk off 7 feet from the hole and place a second tee.
4. The Lag Control Zone: Walk off 12 feet from the hole and place a third tee.
5. The Pace Police Barrier: Crucially, walk 3 to 4 feet directly behind the cup and lay your alignment rod down perpendicular to the hole.

This alignment rod is the Visual Cue for Pace—it's the guardrail that defines an acceptable speed.

The Execution (Focus on the 'Goldilocks' Pace):

Your primary mission, especially at the 3-foot station, is not just to make the putt, but to ensure your pace is Just Right.

• NEVER leave a putt short. If it misses, it must reach the hole.
• NEVER blast a putt past the cup. Your ball must stop before it hits the alignment rod.

This drill instantly forces you to control the distance your ball travels, creating a fantastic visual connection between the force of your stroke and the result.

Your Goal: Start at the 3-foot mark and focus on making 18 out of 25 putts. If you leave a single putt short, the count restarts. This high-percentage target demands focus and builds quick, tangible confidence.

Once you hit your 18/25 target at 3 feet, move to 7 feet, and then to 12 feet. Repeat this circuit from different angles (uphill, downhill, sliding) to ingrain the feel for different breaks and paces.

📈 The Business of Confidence: Why This Works

One of my colleagues, sums up the impact perfectly: Putting confidence is the single fastest way to lower your score and increase your enjoyment.

"Individuals see immediate, measurable improvement in their putting confidence, which translates to lower scores and greater enjoyment of the game. When golfers can track their progress through specific metrics like making 18 out of 25 putts from various distances, they develop trust in both the process and their instructor."

When you can track your progress—when you can prove to yourself that you can make 18/25 from 3 feet—you stop hoping and start expecting success. This systematic practice isn't just a drill; it's a confidence machine. It gives you the specific metrics you need to practice alone, extending the value of your training long after the lesson is over.

Ready to stop giving away strokes and start dropping putts? This drill is your key. Implement the Confidence Circuit today and watch your mental game transform from dread to dominance on the greens.

This is Golf as You've Always Imagined!

Daniel is a Top 100 Golf Coach, The #1 Golf Instructor in PA, a PXG Staff Pro, a World Long Drive Coach and the Head of Golf Instruction at IMAGEN Golf the area's leading golf instruction and advisory firm, host of the IMAGEN Golf podcast and Best-Selling Author of "Unleash The Golfer Within".

For more information visit www.ImagenGolf.com or call 215-595-6299 Reach out to Daniel directly at:Daniel@ImagenGolf.com

For free golf tips and more listen to The IMAGEN Golf Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcast or wherever you get your podcasts and follow us:
Youtube ImagenGolf
Instagram @ Imagengolf
Twitter @imagengolf
Facebook Imagengolf
TikTok @ ImagenGolf

Click the link above to book your first virtual or in person lesson today!
Check out our NEW state-of-the-art indoor facility, The Golf Place, in Newtown, PA