PGA Tour Putting Coach's Tee-Gate Drill Fixes Start Line

A simple two-tee drill from PGA Tour putting consultant Stephen Sweeney is designed to fix a common cause of missed putts: a poor start line off the putter face.

What is the fault the drill fixes?

Sweeney, a GOLF Top 100 Teacher, says missed putts often trace to a putter face that never started on the intended line, not a bad green read.

How does the tee-gate drill work?

Start with a dead-straight putt so any miss points to the stroke rather than a misread. Push one tee into the green until it's almost fully submerged, leaving just enough showing to mark a consistent spot to putt from. Then place two more tees about a foot in front of it, spaced slightly wider than a golf ball, forming a gate. The goal on every rep is rolling the ball through that gate on line.

A target a foot in front of the ball is easier to aim at than the hole itself.

"I've given you a very clear target quite close to the golf ball," Sweeney said, "and that helps you line up the putter better and gives you a visual of where you want to start the ball."

How does the drill carry over to the course?

Rather than staring at the hole, players pick a line and focus on a spot roughly a foot in front of the ball, then try to roll the ball over that spot at the right speed. The tee gate makes that intermediate target physical in practice so it becomes automatic on the course.