Putting Speed Control: Ultimate Gate Drill (Bryson DeChambeau Method)

Key Points

• The Setup:

  • Two steel marbles (or gates) placed 1 foot in front of the ball to test face control.
  • A block behind the putter to limit stroke length and train controlled acceleration.
  • Goal: Hit the ball through the gate using a smooth, precise stroke — not a jab

• The Focus Areas:

  • Speed control: Learning to judge how far the ball will roll
  • Face control: Ensuring the putter face is square through the gate
  • Stroke discipline: No slamming into the block — it's about coasting through impact

• The Tool:

  • Practiced on the Ultimate Putting Tool (a smooth, fast surface)
  • Drill only targets 3-foot putts, but magnifies small errors in control

• Rehearsal and Feel:

  • Student takes multiple rehearsal backstrokes to internalize the distanceInstructor adjusts the block to allow room for feel without panic

• Bryson’s Routine:

  • Bryson DeChambeau used this drill up to 30 feet.
  • He’d do one ball, one chance, and if he missed the gate or speed, he restarted.
  • Would sometimes reach 28 in a row, miss, and start over — even nearly missing tee times.
  • The goal: build focus under pressure to simulate real tournament tension