How often do you hit a long putt only to see it go about half the way there? Or perhaps you think "don't leave it short" and end up racing it 10ft past. Being able to control the distance of longer putts is crucial to avoiding three-putts and bogeys.
In this video, Scott Cranfield explains his simple drill designed to improve your feel and control on those longer putts.
Prediction Putting
Take 5 or 10 minutes on the practice green and putt three balls towards a hole that is 15 to 20 feet away, or further. The key to the drill is to not look up and watch the putt, but feel how the stroke felt and guess where you think the ball ended up.
Evaluating Your Prediction
After each putt, make a prediction about where you believe the ball has finished, then look up. Note where the ball actually finished compared to what you had predicted. Use that to help you feel how hard to hit the next putt and repeat the prediction process again.
When Perception Matches Reality
The goal of this drill is to match your putting perception with the reality of where the ball goes. The goal is not purely to hole putts. If you can learn the feel of these longer putts, you will be better able to judge them on the course and get the ball closer to the hole from distance.