Improving your putting is arguably the most efficient way to lower your golf scores. Mastery on the greens has a significant impact, turning three-putts into two-putts or even one-putts, and making those clutch par saves that keep a round going. This blog post delves into a variety of putting drills designed to enhance different aspects of your putting game, from accuracy and distance control to reading greens and putting under pressure. Finally, I’ll share a one-month putting practice plan that requires just 30 minutes a day to help you see real improvement on the greens.
The Fundamentals of Putting
Improving your putting begins with mastering the fundamentals. Each element of the putting stroke, from posture to alignment, grip to stroke, and distance control to accuracy, plays a crucial role in your ability to putt successfully. Here’s a closer look at each of these fundamentals:
Posture and Alignment
A proper posture is the foundation of a consistent putting stroke. When addressing the ball, your eyes should be directly over it or slightly inside the ball line. This positioning allows for a better perception of the line to the hole and ensures that your stroke is on the correct path. Your feet, hips, and shoulders should be parallel to the target line, creating a square stance that promotes accuracy. A slight bend at the hips and knees, with arms hanging comfortably from the shoulders, will enable a natural, pendulum motion of the putter.
Grip and Stroke
The grip is your only connection to the club, making it a critical component of your putting. While there are several effective grip styles (traditional, cross-handed, claw, among others), the key is to find one that allows for a comfortable, tension-free hold on the putter. The grip should support a smooth stroke where the shoulders initiate the movement, minimizing wrist action. This pendulum-like motion ensures consistency and control.
Distance Control
Distance control is arguably more important than direction on long putts. It involves judging the speed of the greens and applying the correct amount of force to your strokes. A consistent tempo in your putting stroke is essential for reliable distance control. Practice varying the length of your stroke to match different distances, but keep the tempo constant. Learning how different greens react and adjusting your stroke accordingly will improve your ability to judge distances accurately.
Accuracy
Starting the ball on your intended line is vital for making putts. This requires a square putter face at impact, aligning perfectly with your target. Accuracy also hinges on your ability to read greens correctly, assessing slopes and breaks to determine the ideal path for the ball. Regular practice with drills that focus on starting the ball on a specific line can enhance your accuracy.
By focusing on these fundamentals, golfers can develop a more reliable and effective putting stroke. It’s beneficial to practice regularly, incorporating drills that target each of these areas. With time and dedication, improvements in these fundamentals will lead to more holed putts and lower scores on the course.
Improving your putting begins with mastering the fundamentals. Each element of the putting stroke, from posture to alignment, grip to stroke, and distance control to accuracy, plays a crucial role in your ability to putt successfully. Here’s a closer look at each of these fundamentals:
Putting Drills to Elevate Your Game
1. Putt Through Tees
This drill focuses on guiding your putter through a narrow path defined by tees placed on either side of the putter head at address. The objective is to putt the ball without striking the tees, which helps in maintaining a straight stroke path and ensuring that your putter face remains square at impact. This drill not only refines your stroke but also enhances your ability to start the ball on your intended line, a critical skill for making more putts.
2. Coin on Putterhead
A drill for tempo, where placing a coin on the back of the putterhead and keeping it balanced throughout the stroke emphasizes a smooth transition and consistent speed. This technique, suggested by renowned coaches, is aimed at eliminating jerkiness in the stroke, ensuring a fluid motion that is crucial for distance control and consistency.
3. Putting Gate Drill
The gate drill involves placing two tees on the ground to form a “gate” through which the ball must roll after being struck. This exercise is invaluable for working on accuracy and precision, training you to hit the ball through the narrow space. It’s also beneficial for learning to read greens, as you can set up gates at various distances and breaks to see how the ball behaves on different slopes and speeds.
4. The Ruler Drill
Simple yet challenging, the ruler drill requires you to roll a ball along a one-yard ruler without it falling off. This drill hones your ability to hit the ball straight, focusing on starting your putts on the intended line. Success with this drill translates to improved confidence in seeing the ball roll exactly where you aim on the greens.
5. 150 Short Putts
Consistency and confidence from short range are crucial. By attempting and making 150 putts from within 3 feet, you engrain the feeling of success over these must-make putts. This drill also allows you to work on keeping your stroke consistent under the repetitive demand of making putt after putt.
6. Phil’s Circle Drill
Inspired by Phil Mickelson, this drill involves placing balls in a circle around a hole at a distance of 3 feet. The goal is to make all putts without missing, rotating around the hole. It’s designed to improve short-range accuracy and build confidence for those crucial short putts in a round.
7. Clockwise 1-2-3 Putter Length Drill
This comprehensive drill has you putt from distances of one, two, and three putter lengths, moving in a clockwise direction around the hole. It’s an excellent way to practice putting from various distances and breaks, teaching you to adjust your stroke for different lengths and to anticipate how the ball will roll on different slopes.
- See Also : https://golf.com/instruction/putting/10-pga-tour-player-approved-putting-drills-you-can-try/
One-Month Putting Practice Plan
Below is a structured practice plan laid out in a table format, dedicating 30 minutes each day to work on your putting game over the course of a month. Each week focuses on a specific aspect of putting, gradually building your skills and confidence on the greens.
| Week | Focus | Daily Routine |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Fundamentals and Feel | 10 min: Ruler Drill 10 min: Coin on Putterhead 10 min: 150 Short Putts |
| Week 2 | Accuracy and Alignment | 10 min: Putt Through Tees 10 min: Putting Gate Drill 10 min: Phil’s Circle Drill |
| Week 3 | Distance Control | 10 min: Lag Putting (varying distances) 10 min: Clockwise 1-2-3 Putter Length Drill 10 min: Lag Putting (focus on not leaving putts short) |
| Week 4 | Putting Under Pressure | 10 min: Warm-up (favorite drill from previous weeks) 20 min: Perform a drill simulating pressure situations (e.g., make 10 in a row from 3 feet) |
This plan is designed to be flexible; you can adjust the drills based on your progress and areas that need more focus. The key is consistent practice and challenging yourself to improve each aspect of your putting game. By dedicating just 30 minutes a day, you can see substantial improvement in your putting, leading to lower scores and more enjoyable rounds of golf.
Conclusion
Embarking on this 30-day putting practice plan is a commitment to improving your game from the green, arguably where it matters most. By dedicating just 30 minutes a day to focused, deliberate practice, you’re likely to see a noticeable improvement in your putting consistency, confidence, and overall scoring. Remember, the key to success with any practice regimen is consistency, mindfulness in practice, and a positive attitude towards improvement.
Golf is a game of patience and continuous learning. While this plan focuses on putting, the principles of dedicated practice, goal setting, and incremental improvement apply to all aspects of the game. Happy putting!
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