The best drill of all time

The Tiger Woods Gate Drill

Two tees, one either side of the putter at the toe and the heel, and the head swings through the gate without touching either tee peg. Tiger set his barely wider than the putter. Below is a 3D mock of how this drill works and how to set the gate the way he did.

With a perfect zero zero stroke the putter swings in between the tees. With a three degree angle of attack on a plane tilted twenty degrees, a swing direction of +1.09° is required to offset the +3° AoA and 20° swing plane. Path zero, face zero — ZERO ZERO — and the head passes a 0.7 mm gate no problem.

Zero swing direction = minus one path

Same head, same gate, same rise. Swing direction now 0°: the +3° attack angle makes the path left at impact, clipping the tee on the heel side.

So did Tiger know?

Maybe. Do not underestimate the best player of all time. Even if he did not have the physics all figured out, this drill helped him feel the optimal combination of AoA, SD and plane to create a near perfect zero zero putting stroke and a centred strike. Tiger has often been quoted saying his putting stroke feels like a small draw, which gives a clue to the positive swing direction. Tiger’s favourite practice drill is probably the best drill of all time.