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Start-Line Gate Protocol: Start-Line Calibration

Putting misses left and right are usually face-angle faults—not read errors. The Start-Line Gate Protocol turns start line into a constraint problem: roll the ball through a tee gate 12 inches ahead on the intended line.

Pairs with the Planar Pendulum—head and body quiet; the gate exposes face delivery only.

Trains​

Setup​

  1. Pick an intermediate target 6 inches ahead on the intended start line (Face Angle vs. Path).
  2. Place two tees 12 inches ahead of the ball, slightly wider than a ball (~2 inches apart), on that same line.
  3. Square the face to the gate; build stance with pendulum setup.

Tee Gate Setup

Protocol​

Run at constant tempo—Level 1 length for 3–6 foot putts during calibration.

Step 1: Gate Passes (No Hole)​

  • The Mechanic: Roll putts through the gate with external focus on the intermediate target or gate opening—not the hole.
  • The Output: 8 of 10 passes = face delivery stable enough to add break reads.

Step 2: Gate + Intermediate Target​

  • The Mechanic: Ball must roll over the 6-inch mark and through the gate.
  • The Output: Start line locked before speed or read work expands.
Epic Fail: Steering Through the Gate

If the stroke manipulates path mid-roll to "save" a miss, the gate is bypassed but face control is still broken. Reset with Forehead Post wall strokes—head still, shoulders rock only.

Putting vs. Wall Walk​

Wall Walk trains pelvic depth for full swing. Putting pendulum stillness uses forehead-on-wall only (Forehead Post & Tailbone Glide—Constraint 1). Do not run the full 3-step Wall Walk sequence for putting; use forehead post for chassis, then this gate for face.

Running the Drill​

The Start-Line Gate Protocol is a tool, not a full session plan. For the integrated 50-rep session, follow the Face Angle vs. Path Grooving This Pattern plan and The 50-Rep Daily Blueprint on a flat putting green. Use the progression below to dose the drill itself within those phases:

  • Practice Speed: Constant tempo · short putt length · no make goal — Gate passes only—no hole focus. Check: head still; Level 1 stroke length. — 10% Speed Protocol
  • Focus (internal): head still; Level 1 stroke length
  • Practice Speed: Same tempo · Levels 1–3 · ball on — 8/10 gate clears; intermediate target hit every rep. Support with Forehead Post if the head moves.
  • Focus (constraint): 8/10 gate clears
  • Practice Speed: Same tempo · game speed — Full pre-shot routine + gate; add the read loop only after gate stability holds.
  • Focus (external): game tempo, random lines and distances: Full pre-shot routine + gate—not a body-part checklist
Optimization: Face Before Read

If gate misses persist at Play It, the fault is pendulum or face angle—not green reading. Drop to Learn It; do not adjust aim visually mid-session.

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