Putting is often overlooked by weekend golfers… but always respected by low handicappers.
Why?
Because the the best golfers know what the hacks don’t.
Putting is one of the most important parts of golf.
If you’re serious about shooting lower scores, put down your driver and learn how to putt like the pros.
A 300-yard drive counts for the same amount of strokes as a 3-foot putt.
So take a break from learning how to increase your distance and get serious about improving your putting.
These putting drills will give you confidence with your putter and turn you into golfer you want to be. Stop wondering how to make more birdies while smashing drives on the range…
Start practicing your putting.
Read on to discover the best putting drills that will have you pouring in more birdies.
And a quick note: this is one of my absolute favorite putting mats that I’ve started using non-stop at home to practice some of the putting drills mentioned below:
I was also amazed at how flat it laid right out of the box. This helps to prevent your next ball from deflecting out. I thought this was really cool. This helps to prevent your next ball from deflecting out. I thought this was really cool. The Clock Putting Drill
If your goal is to lower your scores, you need to be able make short putts. This putting drill can help. It’s frustrating to miss a 3-foot putt, only to walk away with a bogey. The clock drill will help you improve your consistency with 3-8 foot putts. Phil Mickelson is said to complete this drill at least once every practice session (alongside similar chipping exercises). You’re guaranteed to have these putts throughout your round and seeing them drop can make all the difference.
How to do the Clock Putting Drill
Take 12 balls to the putting green and place them around the cup in 2-3 foot intervals. Start with four balls closest to the hole, and then work outward. This will help you improve your confidence and rhythm, as well as give you experience putting under pressure. By the time you get to the 11th and 12th ball it will feel like your on the 18th trying to make a 9-foot putt to win the club championship.
2. The 1-2-3 Drill
Rhythm. The 1-2-3 putting drill will help you develop a steady, consistent putting stroke. How to perform the 1-2-3 Drill
Place 3 balls in a line along the same distance. Start with 3, 6 and 9 feet. Roll the putts outwards, starting with the ball nearest the hole. You’ll find that 80% of your putts will be between 3-10 feet from the cup. The Meter Stick Drill
A great drill to ensure you are getting the putter-face square at impact and putting a good roll on the ball. The Meter Stick Drill
A drill that will help you to ensure the face of your putter is squared at impact, and to give the ball a good roll. Set the ball at the end of the meter stick and then hit your putt. If the ball remains on the meterstick the entire time, your putter was squared at impact. You also putted the ball with a good roll. You can also do this putting exercise at home.
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4. The Manilla Folder Putting Drill
This drill is great for controlling your putt speed. Putting speed drills will help you avoid the dreaded three-putt and lag putting.
How do I do the Manilla Folder Putting Drill
Place a manilla file on a practice green, 6-10 feet from you. Roll the putts to try and get them to stop on a folder. You have to concentrate on your speed because the fast surface is hard to hold. Tiger’s Gate Putting Drill
This drill, made famous by Tiger Woods, will help you develop confidence on your short putts. Tiger’s Gate Putting Drill
Made famous by Tiger Woods, this drill is guaranteed to help you develop confidence on your short putts.
How to do Tiger’s Gate Putting Drill
3-4 feet away from the hole place two tees just wider than the head of your putter, creating a gate for your putter to swing through.
Alternate hitting 12 putts with your right hand only (right handed golfers), then 6 putts with both hands. You can set a certain number of consecutive putts before you end the drill. For Tiger, it was either 50 or 100. This drill requires that you make sure your putter head goes straight back, and through the hole. You will gain confidence by seeing the short putts fall repeatedly. This will help you not to lose strokes while on the golf course. The Pull Back Putting Drill
The well-known Pull Back Putting Drill has a good reason. This drill will take the pressure off your knee-knockers, and you’ll be staring down at the bottom. This drill will make you feel the pain of missing a 6 foot birdie putt. You’ll be rolling in 6-8-footers in no time if you play this 9-hole pulling back putting exercise with friends. Start by placing one ball about 10 feet from the hole. Roll your best putt.
2. If you move the ball to the number 4, pull it out one length of the putter and then putt again. Continue this process until the putt is made. Keep track of your score (e.g. 1 putt = birdie; 2 putts equals par; 3 putts equals bogey). Repeat the drill at 20 feet. This drill should be done three times from 10, 20 and 30 feet. 100 Straight Putts Drill
“Repetition is the father of learning.” 100 Straight Putts Drill
“Repetition is the father of learning.”
This 100 straight putts drill will teach you how to make short putts consistently and take any lingering stress out of those 2 foot “tap-ins”. When the pressure is on those 2 footers may seem longer than on the practice putting green. Straighten out that short putt, and then knock it in. Do it again 99 times. This drill is a great way to improve your technique. Focus on alignment and form. This drill is best done with a putting mirror
so you don’t miss any short putts.
8. The guy gets into zones where 15 feet almost seems automatic. The guy gets in zones where 15 feet almost seems automatic.
To learn about 2 of Jordan’s favorite putting drills check out this segment from Jordan’s interview with Golf Digest about his favorite putting games.
Also if you’re interested in learning how you can get in the zone while you putt checkout NLP anchoring techniques that can be done with products like BoomBoom.
Use these putting drills and shoot lower scores…
There’s nothing stopping you from improving your golf game. These putting drills will make you sweat! You’ll see your scores drop in no time if you dedicate at least one hour per week for these drills. There’s no reason why you can’t be a great putter and improve your game drastically.
You control whether or not you improve your putting. No excuses.
Put in the effort and reap the benefits.
Pro Tip: Putt with only one ball for at least 10% your practice time and treat it as you would if you were on the course. Mark the ball and read the putt before rolling it. It will help you find the rhythm that you will use when you’re actually on the course.
August Noble
August Noble was first introduced to golf at 7 years old. In 2013, he began working seriously on his game. He was able reduce his handicap in less than 2 years from 19 to 3.4. Since then, he’s helped other golfers achieve the same results. Current handicap: 4