Controlling the distance of your putts is crucial for lowering your scores on the green. It allows for more accurate shots and ultimately leads to fewer three-putts. Below are three practical examples of distance control drills for putting that you can easily incorporate into your practice routine.
This drill is perfect for understanding how to adjust your stroke for different distances and helps improve your feel for speed on the greens.
Set up a series of markers (like tees or coins) at varying distances from the hole—start with 3 feet, then 6 feet, 9 feet, and 12 feet. The goal is to putt each ball to the respective marker without going past it. You can start with a few practice strokes to get comfortable with the distances, then begin the drill.
After successfully hitting each target, challenge yourself by alternating the order of the distances or increasing the distance between markers. This variation keeps the drill engaging and forces you to adjust your putting stroke for varying lengths.
Notes: If you’re struggling, consider using a metronome app to keep a consistent rhythm during your strokes, which can help develop a repeatable putting motion.
This drill is fantastic for simulating real-world putting scenarios and helps you gauge how much speed you need for different lengths of putts.
Place six balls around the hole, each at a distance of 3 feet, forming a clock face (e.g., 3 o’clock, 6 o’clock, 9 o’clock, and so on). Begin by putting each ball into the hole, focusing on consistent speed and distance control.
Once you sink all six putts, increase the distance to 5 or 6 feet. The key is to maintain an even tempo and practice a variety of angles and distances. This drill helps you gain confidence and develop better feel for distance while under pressure.
Notes: If you’re feeling ambitious, try placing balls at varying distances from the hole, such as 4, 5, and 6 feet, to challenge your control further.
This challenge allows you to track your progress over time while honing your distance control skills.
Set up five targets at different distances (e.g., 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 feet). Each target should be a designated area on the green where you want to land your putts. Start by putting one ball at each distance and recording how many times you hit the target. The goal is to improve your accuracy and consistency with each session.
As you become more comfortable, you can increase the difficulty by adding more targets or adjusting the distances. This drill is great for building confidence in your ability to control distance and making adjustments as needed.
Notes: To keep things interesting, consider timing yourself to see how quickly you can hit all targets while maintaining good form.
By incorporating these examples of distance control drills for putting into your practice routine, you’ll find that your confidence and skill level on the greens will improve, leading to better overall performance in your game. Happy putting!