Top 10 Putting Drills to Improve Your Game
Improving your putting is crucial for lowering your golf scores. The following ten drills target key aspects of your putting technique, enhancing your accuracy, control, and confidence on the greens.
1. The Gate Drill
Objective: Improve your alignment and stroke path.
Setup: Use two alignment sticks or clubs to create a “gate” that your putter must pass through.
Execution:
- Place the sticks about a putter width apart, about a foot in front of your ball.
- Practice making strokes without hitting the sticks.
- Start with smaller strokes, gradually increasing the length as you build confidence.
Benefits: The Gate Drill ensures your putter follows a straight path, reducing the chances of pulling or pushing your putts.
2. Ladder Drill
Objective: Enhance distance control.
Setup: Place a series of balls at different distances, starting from one foot to ten feet, in one-foot increments.
Execution:
- Begin by putting the ball at the closest distance.
- If you successfully hole the putt, move back to the next distance.
- Continue until you miss a putt, then start over from the beginning.
Benefits: This drill sharpens your feel for varying distances, improving your ability to gauge the required touch for longer putts.
3. Clock Drill
Objective: Develop consistency and pressure handling.
Setup: Place balls at strategically chosen points around the hole, similar to numbers on a clock face (4-6 feet away).
Execution:
- Start at the 12 o’clock position. Make the putt.
- Move to the next position clockwise and repeat until you’ve putted from all positions.
- Aim to make all putts without missing; if you miss, restart the drill.
Benefits: The Clock Drill simulates real-game pressure experiences, helping to build mental toughness and consistency in shorter putts.
4. One-Handed Putting Drill
Objective: Improve your feel and touch.
Setup: Stand over a short putt, ideally around three to five feet.
Execution:
- Begin by gripping the putter with only your dominant hand.
- Practice making putts using just this hand.
- After achieving success, switch to your non-dominant hand and repeat.
Benefits: This drill strengthens your hands’ sensitivity and helps establish a proper putting stroke without reliance on the body for movement.
5. Target Practice Drill
Objective: Enhance focus and accuracy.
Setup: Use a target, such as a coin or small tee, to aim for within a designated distance.
Execution:
- Set your target at varying distances, starting from three feet and working your way up.
- Take deliberate practice strokes aimed only at the target, not focusing on making the putt.
- Adjust your aim as needed based on performance and feedback.
Benefits: This expands your comfort with aiming and builds the ability to putt to a specific target, resulting in better accuracy.
6. Putter Path Drill
Objective: Ensure a proper putting stroke.
Setup: Use a chalk line or tape to create a straight line on the ground.
Execution:
- Place the ball on the line.
- Practice putting along the line, focusing on keeping the putter head moving straight through impact.
Benefits: This drill fosters awareness of your putter’s path through impact, helping prevent common issues like an open or closed clubface.
7. Distance Control Drill with the 2-Ball Method
Objective: Master distance control by eliminating the second ball.
Setup: Place two balls in the same spot for your initial practice.
Execution:
- Putt one ball towards the hole, using it as a reference for the second ball.
- With the second ball, try to hit the ball closely behind the first.
- Continue practicing until you gain a better understanding of weight transfer and touch.
Benefits: This method fosters enhanced feel for distance by encouraging you to adjust based on previous putts.
8. Break and Read Drill
Objective: Improve reading greens and handling breaks.
Setup: Choose a putt with a known break on a practice green.
Execution:
- Stand behind the ball and assess the green’s slope.
- Make your best guess for the line and distance.
- Putt the ball; observe where it breaks, and assess how your reading matched reality.
- Adjust and repeat until accuracy improves.
Benefits: This drill enhances your ability to read greens and helps improve your decision-making, leading to more successful putts.
9. Short to Long Drill
Objective: Build confidence in longer putts.
Setup: Create a progression from shorter, manageable putts to longer ones.
Execution:
- Start with a series of short putts (2-3 feet).
- Once you consistently make these, gradually increase your distance by 1-2 feet each time until you reach 10-15 feet.
- Take at least three successive successful putts at each distance before moving back.
Benefits: This drill allows you to build confidence in your stroke mechanics and mental approach to longer putts.
10. Speed Control Drill with the 3-3-3 Rule
Objective: Master putting speed for varied lengths.
Setup: Choose a flat area on the green and mark three separate target holes spaced approximately 3, 6, and 9 feet away.
Execution:
- Start putting to the first target at 3 feet three times.
- Move to the second target (6 feet) and putt three times.
- Finally, repeat at the 9-foot target.
- Focus on achieving a specific distance with each putt.
Benefits: This controlled setting provides robust feedback on the lengths of your putts, enhancing touch and speed perception.
By incorporating these top 10 putting drills into your practice routine, you’ll develop improved technique, consistency, and confidence on the greens. Regular training with these drills can potentially elevate your game and lead you to lower scores.
