If you want to cut strokes without changing your swing, look no further than the green. The fastest way to lower your scores? Cut down three-putts. And I’ve got just the drill to help you do it.
“I call it the ‘Gate Drill’ and I make every one of my students do it—no matter their level,” says elite golf coach Mark Wood. “It’s simple, but brutal. And it works.”
The Problem With Most Putting Practice
Let’s be honest—most golfers treat the putting green like a warm-up zone. A few rolls toward the hole, maybe a lag putt or two, then off to the first tee.
That’s not practice. That’s just passing time.
“Practicing with no structure is just reinforcing bad habits,” Wood says. “The key to great putting is face control. That’s what the gate drill locks in.”
What Is the Gate Drill?
It’s a drill that trains your putter face to stay square at impact—your #1 job on short putts. Here’s how it works:
Setup:
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Place two tees just wider than your putter head, forming a gate.
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Set a ball in the middle.
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Your goal: make a stroke without the putter touching the tees.
Start with 3-foot putts, then back up as you improve.
“If your face angle is off by even a degree, the putter will hit a tee,” Wood explains. “That feedback is immediate—and it trains the most important part of the stroke: starting the ball on your intended line.”
Add Pressure to Make It Count
Here’s where the magic happens. Once you can get 10 in a row from 3 feet, challenge yourself.
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Move to 5 feet.
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Add a time limit.
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Do it at the end of every practice session.
“I tell my players: the last 10 minutes of practice should feel like a tournament,” says Wood. “That’s how you build putting toughness.”
Green Reading + Gate Drill = Deadly Combo
You can have the perfect stroke, but if you misread the green, the ball still misses. That’s why I pair the gate drill with green reading fundamentals.
Try This:
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Read the putt from behind the ball.
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Walk the line and feel the slope with your feet.
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Pick a spot to roll the ball over, not just “at” the hole.
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Use the gate drill to hit that exact start line.
“Putting is a combination of skill and perception. The gate drill gives you the skill; your pre-putt routine sharpens the perception.”
Bonus Drill: Triangle Routine
This is how I help players commit fully on every putt:
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Visualize the break and speed.
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Rehearse a confident practice stroke.
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Execute without hesitation.
“We don’t second-guess great putts. We second-guess doubtful putts. Eliminate doubt with a clear process.”
Final Thoughts
Putting isn’t complicated—it’s precise. You need to roll the ball on your line with the right speed. That’s it. But that takes practice with purpose.
“If you do the gate drill daily, even just for five minutes, you’ll become a better putter—no question,” Wood says. “It teaches discipline, face control, and trust.”
Commit to the drill. Trust the process. And watch those three-putts vanish.
Purchase Books by Mark Wood
52 Golf Challenges to shoot lower scores >> https://mybook.to/wJfl
Never Shank Again >> https://mybook.to/vJ58
How to Crush the Ball 20 Yards Further >> https://mybook.to/yBLlmSt
For More Great Swing Advice From Mark Wood visit his personal golf community at https://www.markwood.golf/share/I0JXd_NM3t1dnpk-?utm_source=manual
For Online Lessons with Mark visit https://skillest.com/@MarkWoodGolf
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