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If there's one area of golf where practice truly pays off, it's putting. Statistics show that putting accounts for roughly 40% of all strokes in a typical round. The good news? With consistent practice and the right drills, significant improvement is achievable for players of all skill levels.
Many golfers spend hours working on their driving distance or iron play while neglecting the component of the game that impacts their score the most. A player who averages 36 putts per round could save 3-5 strokes by developing a more consistent putting stroke and better distance control.
The following five drills address the most critical aspects of putting: alignment, distance control, stroke mechanics, reading greens, and performing under pressure. Incorporate these into your practice routine just 15-20 minutes per session, and you'll start seeing improvements on the course within weeks.
Place two tees in the ground slightly wider than your putter head, creating a "gate" that your putter must travel through during your stroke. Position this gate about 6 inches in front of your ball on your target line.
The gate drill instantly provides feedback on your stroke path. If you're pushing or pulling putts, your putter will hit one of the tees. This drill trains your muscles to deliver the putter on the intended line, promoting a square face at impact and a consistent stroke path.
As your skill improves, gradually move the tees closer together to challenge yourself. Pros can often stroke putts through a gate barely wider than their putter head, demonstrating exceptional stroke control. Start with a comfortable width and narrow it as you improve.
Position yourself in the center of the practice green. Imagine a clock face around you, with 12 o'clock directly in front of you, 6 o'clock behind you, and other hours at their respective positions.
Distance control is crucial for reducing three-putts. This drill forces you to adjust your stroke length and power for varying distances, developing your feel and distance judgment. Additionally, putting in different directions helps you adapt to subtle green slopes and grain changes.
Find a straight putt on the practice green. Secure one end of the string at the hole and stretch it back to your putting position. Secure the other end with a tee just behind where you'll place your ball. The string should represent the perfect line to the hole.
Many amateur golfers struggle with alignment more than any other aspect of putting. This drill provides a clear visual reference for both putter face alignment and the intended ball path. With consistent practice, you'll develop the ability to see proper lines without needing the string.
Find a flat area on the practice green with plenty of space in front of you.
The ladder drill develops your touch and feel for very precise distance control. It trains your brain to make small, incremental adjustments to your stroke length and power. This refined distance control is especially valuable for lag putting and dealing with subtle breaks.
Select a moderately challenging putt on the practice green with some break. This should be similar to the types of putts that make you nervous on the course.
Adding pressure and consequences to practice putts helps simulate the on-course experience. Many golfers practice perfectly well but struggle when a putt actually matters. This drill helps bridge that gap while reinforcing the importance of a consistent pre-putt routine.
For maximum improvement, incorporate these drills into a structured practice routine:
Consistent practice, even for just 15-20 minutes a few times per week, will yield better results than marathon sessions once a month. Focus on quality over quantity, and pay attention to the feedback each drill provides.
Remember that putting is both a science and an art. The technical aspects matter—face angle, path, impact spot—but so does the intangible "feel" that comes from experience. These drills help develop both sides of the equation.
Most importantly, bring what you learn from these drills onto the course. Many golfers practice one way but revert to old habits during actual rounds. Before each putt on the course, briefly recall the feeling of your best practice putts and try to replicate that same confidence and stroke.
At Buddies on the Green, we believe even modest improvements in putting can dramatically lower your scores and increase your enjoyment of the game. Give these drills a chance, be patient with your progress, and watch those three-putts turn into two-putts and even one-putts!
PGA putting specialist with over 12 years of experience helping golfers improve their performance on the greens.
My Caddie learns how you play every hole. Track clubs, tendencies, and notes across rounds so you always know your best play.
Track your golf rounds smarter with Buddies on the Green’s new Pace of Play Timer. Get real-time feedback, projected finish times, and post-round stats to keep every game smooth, social, and on pace.
Skins punishes a bad hole. Wolf needs a flowchart. Bingo Bango Bongo rewards three events on every hole — first on the green, closest to the pin, and first in the cup. Now live on Buddies on the Green.
If there's one area of golf where practice truly pays off, it's putting. Statistics show that putting accounts for roughly 40% of all strokes in a typical round. The good news? With consistent practice and the right drills, significant improvement is achievable for players of all skill levels.
Many golfers spend hours working on their driving distance or iron play while neglecting the component of the game that impacts their score the most. A player who averages 36 putts per round could save 3-5 strokes by developing a more consistent putting stroke and better distance control.
The following five drills address the most critical aspects of putting: alignment, distance control, stroke mechanics, reading greens, and performing under pressure. Incorporate these into your practice routine just 15-20 minutes per session, and you'll start seeing improvements on the course within weeks.
Place two tees in the ground slightly wider than your putter head, creating a "gate" that your putter must travel through during your stroke. Position this gate about 6 inches in front of your ball on your target line.
The gate drill instantly provides feedback on your stroke path. If you're pushing or pulling putts, your putter will hit one of the tees. This drill trains your muscles to deliver the putter on the intended line, promoting a square face at impact and a consistent stroke path.
As your skill improves, gradually move the tees closer together to challenge yourself. Pros can often stroke putts through a gate barely wider than their putter head, demonstrating exceptional stroke control. Start with a comfortable width and narrow it as you improve.
Position yourself in the center of the practice green. Imagine a clock face around you, with 12 o'clock directly in front of you, 6 o'clock behind you, and other hours at their respective positions.
Distance control is crucial for reducing three-putts. This drill forces you to adjust your stroke length and power for varying distances, developing your feel and distance judgment. Additionally, putting in different directions helps you adapt to subtle green slopes and grain changes.
Find a straight putt on the practice green. Secure one end of the string at the hole and stretch it back to your putting position. Secure the other end with a tee just behind where you'll place your ball. The string should represent the perfect line to the hole.
Many amateur golfers struggle with alignment more than any other aspect of putting. This drill provides a clear visual reference for both putter face alignment and the intended ball path. With consistent practice, you'll develop the ability to see proper lines without needing the string.
Find a flat area on the practice green with plenty of space in front of you.
The ladder drill develops your touch and feel for very precise distance control. It trains your brain to make small, incremental adjustments to your stroke length and power. This refined distance control is especially valuable for lag putting and dealing with subtle breaks.
Select a moderately challenging putt on the practice green with some break. This should be similar to the types of putts that make you nervous on the course.
Adding pressure and consequences to practice putts helps simulate the on-course experience. Many golfers practice perfectly well but struggle when a putt actually matters. This drill helps bridge that gap while reinforcing the importance of a consistent pre-putt routine.
For maximum improvement, incorporate these drills into a structured practice routine:
Consistent practice, even for just 15-20 minutes a few times per week, will yield better results than marathon sessions once a month. Focus on quality over quantity, and pay attention to the feedback each drill provides.
Remember that putting is both a science and an art. The technical aspects matter—face angle, path, impact spot—but so does the intangible "feel" that comes from experience. These drills help develop both sides of the equation.
Most importantly, bring what you learn from these drills onto the course. Many golfers practice one way but revert to old habits during actual rounds. Before each putt on the course, briefly recall the feeling of your best practice putts and try to replicate that same confidence and stroke.
At Buddies on the Green, we believe even modest improvements in putting can dramatically lower your scores and increase your enjoyment of the game. Give these drills a chance, be patient with your progress, and watch those three-putts turn into two-putts and even one-putts!
PGA putting specialist with over 12 years of experience helping golfers improve their performance on the greens.
My Caddie learns how you play every hole. Track clubs, tendencies, and notes across rounds so you always know your best play.
Track your golf rounds smarter with Buddies on the Green’s new Pace of Play Timer. Get real-time feedback, projected finish times, and post-round stats to keep every game smooth, social, and on pace.
Skins punishes a bad hole. Wolf needs a flowchart. Bingo Bango Bongo rewards three events on every hole — first on the green, closest to the pin, and first in the cup. Now live on Buddies on the Green.