Effective Putting Drills for Golf: Improve Your Putting Game

Are you looking to take your putting game to the next level? At Legends Golf NH, we understand that mastering the art of putting can be the difference between a good round of golf and an exceptional one. 

This article introduces effective putting drills for golf that will elevate your short game and help you sink more putts on the green. Ready to improve? Let’s dive into the drills that will change your game.

Why Putting Drills For Golf is Important?

Putting drills are a vital part of mastering your golf game. They help build muscle memory, refine technique, and improve consistency.

The Impact of Putting on Your Score

Putting is crucial to lowering your scores in golf. It’s often said that “you drive for show and putt for dough,” and that’s because the strokes you save on the green are the ones that make the most difference on your scorecard. Focusing on your putting can drastically improve your overall performance​

Key Areas to Focus on When Practicing Putting

When practicing putting, you need to focus on three main areas: accuracy, distance control, and confidence under pressure​. By targeting these areas, you will become a more consistent putter and avoid costly mistakes on the green.

The Best Putting Drills for Accuracy

These drills are designed to build muscle memory and enhance your control on the greens, leading to lower scores and more confidence when standing over those crucial putts.

The Gate Drill for Precision

The Gate Drill is a simple yet highly effective exercise for improving accuracy. Set two tees just wider than your putter head and place them a few inches in front of the ball. The goal is to make sure the ball passes cleanly through the “gate” without hitting the tees. This drill sharpens your ability to hit the ball on the intended line, which is critical for sinking putts​

Putting Through Tees for Alignment

Similar to the Gate Drill, placing tees on either side of your putterhead helps you ensure your stroke stays on a straight path. Practicing this drill helps you develop a consistent alignment, which is key to making more putts​.

The Train Track Drill for Consistent Stroke

Using two alignment rods, you can set up a “train track” to guide your putter along a straight path. This drill makes it easy to identify whether your stroke is straight or arched and helps correct any deviations​.

Drills to Improve Distance Control

By practicing drills that focus on touch and feel, you’ll develop a better sense of how hard to hit the ball based on the length of the putt. These drills help you dial in the right speed, leading to fewer strokes on the green and more confidence from any distance.

Improving your golf game requires a blend of practice and strategy. The putting drills enhance your accuracy, while the 6-6-6 strategy provides a clear game plan. Together, they help you boost performance and lower your overall score.

The Ladder Drill

Distance control is essential to avoid three-putts. The Ladder Drill involves setting up multiple markers at increasing distances from the hole. The goal is to putt each ball to stop between the markers, which trains you to better gauge your putting distance​(

The Barrier Behind the Cup Drill

Place a club or alignment stick two feet behind the hole and practice putting with the goal of getting the ball to stop between the hole and the barrier. This drill teaches you to roll the ball with the perfect speed—just past the hole without overshooting it​

Leapfrog Drill for Long Putts

The Leapfrog Drill is designed to improve your long putts. You start by putting the first ball just beyond the nearest target, and each subsequent ball must be putted farther than the last without overshooting the target area​.

Pressure Practice Putting Drills

By incorporating pressure drills into your practice routine, you can develop the mental toughness needed to stay calm and execute crucial putts when it matters most

• The Nine-Ball Drill: To simulate on-course pressure, try the Nine-Ball Drill. Lay out nine balls in a circle around the hole, and putt each ball one by one. The goal is to sink every putt consecutively. This drill adds pressure, mimicking the conditions you’ll face during an actual round.
• The No Backstroke Drill for Confidence: Set up two feet from the hole and push the putter forward without a backswing. This drill is great for building confidence and ensuring your putter face stays square through impact​.
• Practice Under Pressure Drill: Create a challenging scenario by setting up tees at three, four, and five feet away from the hole. Set a target score, and if you don’t achieve it, start over. This drill replicates the pressure of making a must-have putt during your round​.

Putting Drills Used by PGA Pros

Professional golfers understand that consistency and precision on the green are key to winning tournaments. That’s why they incorporate specific drills into their practice routines to refine their putting skills

• Tiger Woods’ Wedge Putting Drill: One of the most famous putting drills used by Tiger Woods is putting with a wedge. This helps train you to strike the ball with the proper end-over-end roll, giving you a better feel for how the ball will roll on the green​.
• Reverse-Handed Putting Drill: For golfers struggling with wrist movement, the Reverse-Handed Putting Drill helps control your stroke by placing your dominant hand above the weaker one on the grip. This drill limits wrist movement, resulting in a more controlled putt​.

Conclusion

Mastering your putting drills for golf takes practice, focus, and the right drills. By incorporating these drills into your routine, you can improve your accuracy, control your distance, and perform under pressure—just like the pros. 

Whether you’re on the course or at home, these drills can bring you closer to becoming a putting master. Keep practicing, and soon enough, you’ll see the results in your scorecard.

Improving your putting skills is essential for lowering your golf score, and using the right golf balls can make a big difference. Vice Golf balls are known for their precision and great feel, enhancing your practice. By combining effective putting drills with high-quality golf balls, you can significantly improve your performance on the course.