5 Must-Do Putting Drills
A common mistake among golfers of all skill levels is practicing too often without a purpose.
Whether your goal is to play at a professional level some day, win club tournaments, or even just keep up with your buddies and have a good time, it is always a good idea to practice with a purpose.
At the very least it will save you a lot of wasted time spent at the golf course without truly improving.
The quickest way to improve is to put pressure on yourself when practicing. That is why putting drills that involve goal setting and even sometimes positive and negative reinforcement can be helpful.
Here is a list of drills that you can try during your next practice session:
The Clock Drill
This is a drill that is commonly seen practiced by players on the PGA and LPGA tours. Many golfers make the mistake of repeatedly hitting the same putt on the practice green—a tactic that does not well simulate the randomized putts experienced throughout a round of golf.
Choose a length of putt 3 to 6 feet. The purpose of this drill is to go through your routine and work your way around the hole like a clock. Set yourself a goal and try to make a certain number of putts in a row!
Train Tracks
Place two alignment rods on either side of the golf ball, slightly wider than the width of your putter head. Hit putts through these “train tracks” to help keep the path of your stroke on line without wavering outside of the alignment rods.
100s
Pick a short putt of about 3 feet and try to make 100 in a row from that spot. This helps build confidence as you watch each ball go in the hole, one by one.
The Star Drill
This drill is certainly a challenge but can help you practice making crucial putts under pressure. Set up a 3-footer, a 4-footer, and a 5-footer on the same line.
Do this from 4 different spots around the hole. The setup should roughly resemble a “star.” Try to make all 12 putts in a row to complete the drill.
H-O-R-S-E
Just like the classic driveway basketball game, you can play HORSE on a putting green with a friend or group of friends. Not only will it help spark your competitive nature, but it is a great way to practice shorter, more makeable putts with a bit of added pressure.
This will help you increase the number of birdies or even par saves you make out on the course. Plus, it keeps practice interesting.
