We’ve all been there: Running late to a tee time.
Whether you had a little too much fun the night before or simply slept through an alarm, you show up to the course with no time to hit balls and just a few minutes to roll some putts before you tee off.
If you find yourself in this situation, Short Game Gains founder and pro golfer Hannah Gregg has the perfect drill in the video you can watch below.
Gregg sets up three balls at three different lengths, anywhere from 12 to 24 feet, from one of Short Game Gains’ ghost holes, a flat disc meant to simulate a golf hole, and then an alignment rod about 1-2 feet beyond the ghost hole.
The goal is to roll each ball over the ghost hole and stop the ball before the alignment rod.
Ghost Holes
They sound scarier than they are- trust us. The SGG Ghost Holes can be used to improve your performance both on and off the greens. Each of the ghost holes (sold in packs of 3) are the exact dimensions of an actual regulation golf hole.
There is one thing that differentiates these ghost holes from other practice cups. Made from sturdy, yet flexible PVC, they are thin enough for a golf ball to roll across seamlessly, but they won’t blow away. The edges are flat, allowing you to aim for them without affecting the roll of the ball. This makes them perfect options for distance control drills with the putter and as landing spot targets for shots around the greens.
A lot of players also like to use them during practice rounds and place them where they believe the holes will be placed during the event to allow them to practice the putts they will be faced with.
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Since the ghost hole is flat and has no cup, Gregg says the drill will expose how good or bad your speed control is.
“It’s just another visual to give you feedback of what exactly you’re doing,” Gregg said.
Gregg said she uses the drill every time before she goes out to play because it’s a great way to adjust to different green speeds.
So the next time you find yourself in need to find the speed of the greens quickly, try using the ghost hole and the alignment rod to quickly find out how well you have your speed control dialed in.
Jack Hirsh
Golf.com Editor
Jack Hirsh is the Associate Equipment Editor at GOLF. A Pennsylvania native, Jack is a 2020 graduate of Penn State University, earning degrees in broadcast journalism and political science. He was captain of his high school golf team and recently returned to the program to serve as head coach. Jack also still *tries* to remain competitive in local amateurs. Before joining GOLF, Jack spent two years working at a TV station in Bend, Oregon, primarily as a Multimedia Journalist/reporter, but also producing, anchoring and even presenting the weather. He can be reached at jack.hirsh@golf.com.
