Pro Tips
Start the Season at Even Par
3 by Courtney Mahon, LPGA
Great Drills to Drop Strokes Fast!
There are some basic drills to help you feel confident going into the 2026 golf season. Here are my top three drills to build confidence at the beginning of the year.
One-Footers
Make 25 one-foot putts before you do anything else. In fact, do it every time you go to the course. Next, you might choose to advance to two-foot putts, but don’ t go longer than a three-footer for the first two weeks! Seeing and hearing the ball go in the hole from any distance is a confidence builder. I personally know several tour players that commit to practice the one-foot putt at every event. They want to see and hear the ball go in the hole at the beginning of each week.
Face Contact
Before you pull out the big dog, take time to practice some greenside short shots. The goal is to feel the ball on the clubface, preferably a solid strike in the middle of the face. Bump and runs( see photo top-right) are the perfect shot to practice to accomplish this goal. In your practice, be picky with where the club contacts the ball on the clubface. Work to make contact on the sweet-spot of the clubface( center), then repeat the motion. Your confidence will be in place before hitting full shots.
Tip: Try using face impact marking tape or spray-on foot powder on the face of your club to see your impact spots. It’ s a simple way to see if you are hitting clubs in the center and both are easy to clean off.
Spray-on foot powder.
Bump-and-Runs
▲ Face impact marking tape.
◄ Spray-on Foot Powder also works.
Wedge Shots
Your very next step after the bump-and-run practice is wedge shots. The goal is to continue to feel good sweet-spot contact. While you work on solid strikes, pick three different yardages on which to focus. I recommend picking new yardages every day.
These drills are fundamental but will set the tone for a successful year. Good luck preparing to drop strokes during the 2026 season!
Coach Courtney
Courtney Mahon is a LPGA Class A professional and Director of Instruction at Tour Striker Golf Academy Midwest at Falcon Ridge Golf Club. Awarded 2020 LPGA Teacher of the Year, a Top 50 U. S. Kids Tour teacher for 2017, and a current LPGA Top 50 Instructor. For questions or help, contact her at Courtney @ TourStriker. com or call 913.393.4653. Scan the QR Code for a direct link to lesson videos and even review them while you’ re practicing on the range. Lesson videos at www. youtube. com / courtneymahongolf. Visit, www. courtneymahongolf. com.
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