Prepping for the 2024 U.S. Open with These 4 Essential Putting Drills

To prepare for the challenging conditions of the Pinehurst No. 2 greens, players are utilizing various drills and techniques to improve their game. 2023 U.S. Open Champion Wyndham Clark mentioned that the greens are already extremely fast, with the potential to get even faster. Players are focusing on distance control and adjusting to the sneaky undulations of the greens.
One common drill being used by players is the tee drill, where they select a putt of 15 to 20 feet, read the break, and place a tee parallel to the hole to visualize their intended line and focus point. This helps them develop their distance control and avoid having putts run away from the hole.
Another technique being employed is using levels on the practice green to calibrate feel for the degrees of slope they will encounter on the course. This is particularly useful for players like Max Homa who use Aimpoint, as it helps them accurately read and adjust to the slope of the greens.
Players are also utilizing the spiral drill, which allows them to practice from every angle around the hole and adjust to the slope of the green. By setting up a spiral of tees at increasing distances from the hole, players can work on making consecutive putts from different angles to improve their comfort standing over side-hill putts in competition.
Despite focusing on speed and break, players are not neglecting their fundamentals. Many players are incorporating gate drills into their putting practice to ensure they are delivering a square clubface and starting their putts on line. This drill helps players improve their accuracy and consistency, which is crucial on fast and sloping greens like those at Pinehurst No. 2.