Putting Session to Avoid 3-Putts: Jean-Baptiste Gonnet
Do you head straight to the range and neglect the green? Jean-Baptiste Gonnet breaks down the routine he follows in every putting session: twenty minutes of technique, a 16-foot speed drill to eliminate three-putts, then a pressure series of short putts with no misses.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
For Jean-Baptiste Gonnet, scoring depends largely on putting, and “putting isn’t just hitting balls any old way.” His practice session begins with 20 to 30 minutes of technique, near the hole or even without a hole, on a flat surface. Two sticks form a rail to control the putter’s movement: near the hole, it goes almost straight, while on long putts it follows an arc. He adds two tees placed just slightly wider than a ball, right in front of it, to practice the start line: His visual cue tells him to aim to the left of the hole, but the ball has to pass between the tees to go in. Since he tends to use his hands and open the clubface, he also attaches a device to the putter that rests under his armpits so he can putt with his shoulders.
Next comes speed control, because that’s where most three-putts come from. A stick goes about 2 feet behind the hole, and four balls 16 feet away: you have to roll all four in a row between the hole and the stick. A putt that comes up short or hits the stick is a miss, and you start over. Once you’ve mastered it, move on to 20, 23 and then 26 feet, uphill and downhill. If all your long putts finish within two feet, you’ll almost never three-putt. Last part, borrowed from the French national team: twenty consecutive putts from two feet, following the full pre-shot routine and starting over at the first miss. If that’s easy, move back to three feet, then four feet. To track progress, he suggests nine putts from 16 to 20 feet, counted every week.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- Find a flat spot and lay two sticks as rails near the hole.
- Place two tees just in front of the ball, slightly wider apart than the ball itself, and hit the ball between them.
- Place a stick about 2 feet behind the hole and stand 16 feet away with four balls.
- Keep trying until you get all four in a row between the hole and the stick.
- Then move back to 20, 23 and 26 feet, uphill and downhill.
- Finish with twenty consecutive two-foot putts, following your pre-shot routine—reset to zero on the first miss.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Skipping putting practice in favor of the range.
- Hitting balls on the green without any practice or specific goal.
- Leaving your long putts short.
- Cutting corners on your short-putt routine in practice.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- Twenty minutes of technique with rails and a tee gate
- 16-foot speed control: four balls between the hole and the stick, then 20 to 26 feet
- Twenty consecutive two-foot putts using the full pre-shot routine
Your Questions
Where do the three putts come from?
According to Jean-Baptiste Gonnet, it's mostly a matter of judgment. If all your long putts end up two feet from the hole, you'll almost never three-putt.
How do you work on your speed control?
Place a stick about 2 feet behind the hole and roll four balls in a row between the hole and the stick from 16 feet, then 20, 23 and 26 feet. A ball that comes up short or hits the stick counts as a miss.
What is the purpose of the tee gate?
Two tees placed just in front of the ball, barely wider apart than the ball itself, show whether the ball is heading down the right line—even when your perception tells you otherwise.
How much time should you spend on putting?
Easily an hour: twenty to thirty minutes on technique, the same amount of time on speed control, and then short putts.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Jean-Baptiste Gonnet). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons, without hosting them.