How Do YOU Practice Putting?
If you’re lookin’ to cut strokes off your score, the short game is one of the first places you should start. But it doesn’t matter how many hours you spend on the practice green if you’re reinforcing bad techniques. My favorite putting drill is below, but I need you to chip in by leaving your favorite putting drills in a comment below!
Short Circle Putting Drill– put 10 balls in a circle within 3-ft (a 56degree wedge is usually approximately this length) of a hole. Putt each one in. If you miss, start over. Continue until you hit 10 in a row. This forces you to get used to not only the putting stroke and consistent contact, but also forces the mind into a pressure situation with real stakes. It’s surprisingly hard. Next, put 10 balls 20-ft from the hole. Mark out a 3-ft radius from the hole with tees. Putt until you get all 10 within that radius.
-Scratch
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I put some balls down about 15′ from the edge of the putting green, and putt to that edge. It emphasises feel for distance and stops “target paralysis”. Once I’m happy, I’ll do the same with some 30 footers. Then I’ll toss some balls down near holes and knock them in. Remember- a 15 foot putt hit 15 feet, but 1 foot off line, leaves a 1 foot putt. A 30 footer hit 33 or 27 feet but on line leaves a 3 foot putt. Which would you prefer?