Real-world examples of putting drills for improving accuracy

Let’s skip the fluff and get straight to the green. When golfers ask for examples of examples of putting drills for improving accuracy, what they really want is: “Tell me exactly what to do, how to set it up, and what I should feel.” So that’s how we’ll handle this.

Below are several real examples you can rotate through in a week. You don’t need fancy tech or a putting lab. A flat-ish practice green, a couple of tees, and a marker are enough to get started.

Gate drill: start-line accuracy you can actually measure

If your ball can’t start on the intended line, nothing else matters. The gate drill is one of the best examples of putting drills for improving accuracy on short putts.

How to set it up

Find a straight putt of 4–6 feet. Place two tees in the ground just wider than your putter head, forming a “gate” around the putter. About a foot in front of the ball, place another pair of tees just wider than the ball, forming a second gate.

As you stroke putts, the putter should pass through the first gate without hitting the tees, and the ball should pass through the second gate. If you clip tees, your face angle or path is off.

Why it works

You’re training your eyes and hands to agree on a start line. Instead of guessing whether your stroke is online, the tees give instant feedback. This is one concrete example of a putting drill that can clean up your stroke in a single session.

Pro tip

Keep score. Hit 20 putts and record how many make it through both gates. Try to beat your best score every time you practice. That turns this into a measurable, repeatable drill instead of just “hitting a few putts.”

Ladder drill: distance control that stops three-putts

If you’re looking for examples of putting drills for improving accuracy on longer putts, the ladder drill is a classic—and for good reason.

How to set it up

On a relatively flat section of the green, lay down tees or coins at 10, 20, 30, and 40 feet from a hole or target. Your job is to roll one ball to each distance, in order, and stop it as close as possible.

You can play this a few ways:

• No three-putts game: From each marker, you must get down in two putts or less. Track your percentage.
• Zone control: Create a 3-foot circle around the hole. Any first putt that ends inside the circle is a “win.”

Why it works

Most amateur strokes bleed strokes from 20–40 feet. This drill forces you to learn how big a stroke you need for each distance. Sports science research on motor learning suggests that variable practice (changing distances, speeds, and targets) builds more adaptable skills than doing the exact same putt over and over. The ladder drill is a textbook example of that kind of variable practice.

For a deeper dive into how repetition and variation affect skill, check out resources from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: https://www.ninds.nih.gov

Around-the-world circle drill: short-putt confidence under pressure

If you want real examples of putting drills for improving accuracy inside 6 feet, this one should live in your weekly routine.

How to set it up

Pick a flat or slightly breaking putt. Place 8–10 balls in a circle around the hole at 3 feet. Your rule: you must make every putt in a row to “complete the circle.” If you miss, start over.

Once you can clear the 3-foot circle consistently, move the balls back to 4 feet, then 5 feet.

Why it works

You’re building:

• Repetition on the length of putt you face most often.
• Pressure, because a single miss sends you back to the start.

This is one of the best examples of putting drills for improving accuracy that also mimics real on-course nerves. Your heart rate will jump a bit on the last couple of putts—exactly what you want before your next “must-make” par save.

Clock drill: reading break and committing to a line

The clock drill is a great example of putting drills for improving accuracy when you’re dealing with breaking putts, not just straight ones.

How to set it up

Imagine the hole is the center of a clock. Place balls at 3, 6, 9, and 12 o’clock, all at the same distance—start at 4 feet. Pick a breaking putt so that each position has a different look.

Before each putt:

• Read the break.
• Pick a start line.
• Commit to that line and roll it.

Keep track of how many out of 12 you make. Once you’re at 75% or better from 4 feet, move to 5 feet.

Why it works

This drill forces you to adjust your aim and speed from different angles instead of grooving the same straight putt. You’re training your brain to understand how slope changes the picture, which is a huge part of real-world putting accuracy.

If you’re curious about how vision and perception affect performance in sports, the National Eye Institute has accessible resources on visual processing: https://www.nei.nih.gov

One-handed drill: building feel and face control

Another strong example of a putting drill for improving accuracy that most golfers skip is the one-handed drill. It feels weird at first, but it’s powerful.

How to set it up

From 3–5 feet, hit sets of putts using only your lead hand (left hand for right-handed golfers). Grip the putter normally with that hand; your trail hand rests behind your back or on your hip.

Roll 10–15 putts with the lead hand, then switch and hit 10–15 with the trail hand only.

What to focus on

• Smooth, unhurried tempo.
• Solid contact in the center of the face.
• The feeling of the putter head swinging, not stabbing.

Why it works

You’re stripping away the “two-hand argument” and forcing each hand to learn its job. Many coaches in 2024–2025 still use this as one of their best examples of putting drills for improving accuracy because it exposes tension and yips quickly. When you go back to two hands, the stroke often feels more connected and stable.

Tee gate at the hole: entry line and dying speed

Most golfers think only about starting line; better players think about entry line—how the ball arrives at the hole.

How to set it up

Pick a 6–8 foot breaking putt. Based on your read, imagine the “front door” of the hole where the ball should enter. Place two tees just outside the edge of the cup at that entry point, forming a small gate.

Your goal: start the ball on a line and with a speed that lets it roll through that gate and drop.

Why it works

You’re connecting break, speed, and line into one picture. This is a more advanced example of a putting drill for improving accuracy, but it’s exactly how elite players think: they don’t just aim at the hole; they aim at the part of the hole that matches their speed.

The USGA has resources on green reading and putting basics that can pair nicely with this drill: https://www.usga.org

At-home putting mat routine: modern 2024–2025 trend

With the explosion of at-home putting mats and affordable training aids in 2024–2025, more golfers are getting quality reps without leaving the house. If you’re looking for examples of examples of putting drills for improving accuracy you can do indoors, this is where to start.

How to set it up

On a putting mat or smooth carpet:

• Mark a start line using alignment sticks, tape, or the mat’s built-in lines.
• Place a coin or small target 3–4 feet away.
• Roll putts trying to stop the ball on the coin, not just near it.

You can mix in:

• Gate drill with two sleeves of balls or books as rails.
• One-handed strokes for feel.
• “Make 10 in a row” challenges to simulate pressure.

Why it works

You’re training start line and speed control in a controlled environment. While you won’t get real green speeds, you absolutely can sharpen your stroke. For general guidance on setting up home practice spaces and staying active, the CDC has physical activity resources that can help you structure routines: https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity

How to structure a weekly routine using these examples

Knowing a bunch of drills is nice; using them in a smart way is better. Here’s how to turn these examples of putting drills for improving accuracy into a simple weekly plan.

On a typical practice day, you might:

• Warm up with the gate drill for 10 minutes to lock in start line.
• Move to the ladder drill for 15 minutes to work on distance control.
• Finish with either the around-the-world circle drill or clock drill for 15 minutes to simulate pressure and break.

On off-course days, use your at-home mat for 15–20 minutes of start-line and one-handed work.

The goal isn’t to do every example of a putting drill every day. Instead, rotate through them so you’re always touching on:

• Start line
• Distance control
• Green reading
• Pressure and confidence

That mix is what turns these real examples into lower scores.

Common mistakes when using these examples of putting drills for improving accuracy

A few traps to avoid so your practice actually pays off:

Mindless reps
If you’re just raking balls and hitting without a target, you’re not really using these drills. Every putt should have a clear intention: line, speed, and a specific outcome.

No scoring or tracking
Turn drills into games. Track how many gates you clear, how many putts you make in a circle, or your percentage of two-putts from 30–40 feet. That’s how you know if your examples of putting drills for improving accuracy are actually working.

Only practicing straight putts
Real golf gives you more breaking putts than dead-straight ones. Mix in the clock drill and tee gate at the hole so you’re ready for real-world slopes.

Ignoring your body
Fatigue and posture affect putting. If you’re stiff or in pain, your stroke will change. For general health guidance and joint care, resources from Mayo Clinic are worth a look: https://www.mayoclinic.org

FAQ: examples of putting drills for improving accuracy

Q: What are some simple examples of putting drills for improving accuracy for beginners?
A: Start with the gate drill (tees around the putter and ball), the around-the-world circle drill from 3 feet, and a basic ladder drill from 10–30 feet. These are beginner-friendly examples that hit start line, short-putt confidence, and distance control without needing special gear.

Q: Can you give an example of a putting drill I can do at home without a mat?
A: Yes. Use a coffee mug as a “hole” and roll putts across carpet from 6–8 feet. Place a coin 6 inches in front of your ball as a start-line target and try to roll the ball directly over the coin and into the mug. It’s a low-tech example of a putting drill for improving accuracy that still trains line and speed.

Q: How often should I use these examples of putting drills to see real improvement?
A: If you can get in 3 sessions a week of 30–45 minutes focused on these drills, you’ll usually feel a difference in 3–4 weeks. The key is consistency and tracking—don’t just “hit putts,” run the drills as games and record your scores.

Q: Are these the best examples of putting drills for improving accuracy for advanced players too?
A: Yes, with tweaks. Advanced players can tighten gates, extend distances, and add consequences (like restarting after a miss) to increase pressure. The same core examples—gate drill, clock drill, ladder drill, and tee gate at the hole—scale up very well.

Q: Do I need training aids, or are tees and coins enough?
A: Tees, coins, and a ball marker are more than enough for most of these real examples. Training aids can help, but they’re optional. The structure of the drill and your focus matter more than the gear.

If you build a routine around these real-world examples of examples of putting drills for improving accuracy, you’ll stop guessing on the greens. Instead, every practice session will have a clear purpose—and that’s when putts start falling, and scores quietly drop.