The ruler must be placed on a flat and straight putting surface so the ball has the change to roll the entire 48 inches along the top of the ruler. This drill can also be done at home or the office. Now, place the ball on the hole at the end ruler, take your putting set up, make sure you are square with your alignment and putter face to the hole and stroke the ball. What you are trying to accomplish is having the ball rolls long the entire 48 inches to the end of the rule or hole.If the ball rolls of the ruler before it reaches the end, you have mis-shot or stroked the ball improperly. There are things to look for when the ball falls off the ruler. Example: If the ball rolls off the ruler towards the left side, it's possible that the center of the putter face made contact on the outside of the ball at impact. Or if the ball rolls off the ruler towards the right side, it's possible that the center of the putter face made contact on the inside of the ball of impact.
There may be several causes that create improper roll on the ball, so it's best for you to continue to make adjustments at address and during your putting stroke to find the correct position and stroke that will roll the ball the entire 48" straight to the hole. Some common faults can be an improper set up, bad eye position over ball, bad putter face alignment to target and center of ball, head movement, body movements, or just a bad stroke.
So get yourself a ruler, do this drill a few minutes a day, make the ball roll along the entire ruler and become the RULER OF THE GREENS. This is a great drill to help you with your putting stroke. It works! Try it!
John Nelson is a South Florida PGA Hall of Fame Class A Teaching Professional and Director of Instruction at the Golf Academy located at The County Club of Coral Springs, Coral Springs, Fl. 954-752-4500 x 204, email: jnelson@ccofcs.com, Web page: www.ccofcs.com.
