Putting speed is crucial for reducing 3-putts and enhancing your overall performance on the greens. The key to mastering putting speed lies in consistent practice with drills that focus on distance control and lag putting. This post outlines some effective speed drills you can easily incorporate into your training regimen.
1. The Ladder Drill
Goal: Improve distance control
Setup: Use a series of markers or cones placed at varying distances (3, 5, 7, and 10 feet from the hole).
Execution: Start with the closest marker and attempt to get your ball to stop as close to the hole as possible without going past it. Work your way back through the markers.
Benefits: This drill helps you develop a feel for how much power is required for different distances.
2. The One-Putt Challenge
Goal: Enhance lag putting skills
Setup: Choose a hole and mark a distance of about 30-40 feet away from it. You’ll take multiple putts from this distance.
Execution: Try to get the ball within a 3-foot circle of the hole with each putt. Keep track of how many putts you need to do this successfully 10 times.
Benefits: This mimics real-game situations where you need to pace your putts perfectly.
3. The Clock Drill
Goal: Build confidence and consistency
Setup: Place five balls around the hole, each at different clock positions (e.g., 3, 6, 9, 12 o’clock).
Execution: Putt each ball into the hole one after the other, focusing on getting the distance and speed right for each.
Benefits: Having the balls at different angles helps you practice speed and break together.
4. The 3-6-9 Drill
Goal: Gradual distance learning
Setup: You will putt three balls from three different distances: 3 feet, 6 feet, and 9 feet.
Execution: From each distance, putt all three balls and record how many you sink. This should be done multiple times to track improvement.
Benefits: This covers a variety of common distances faced on the green, promoting adaptability and skill development.
Conclusion
Incorporating these putting speed drills into your practice routine can dramatically improve your lag putting and speed control, ultimately leading to better scores. Make sure to focus on the feel of each putt as you work through these drills; repetition is key. Happy putting!
Do you have any other favorite drills or tips to improve putting speed? Share them below!
Speed drills are essential for improving our putting game! One great method is the clock drill, where you place tees at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o’clock around the hole. This really helps with speed control and consistency.
Absolutely! Another drill I’ve tried is the ladder drill. You place balls at varying distances and practice getting each one to stop at a designated line. It really fine-tunes your distance judgment.
The gate drill is also effective. Set up two alignment sticks just wider than your putter head and practice rolling the ball through the gate. It enhances both speed and accuracy.
It’s great that we’re sharing these drills! I’d add the one-handed putting drill, which helps develop feel and control. Try putting with your dominant hand only, then switch. It’s more challenging than it sounds!
Another method to consider is the ‘20 putts from 20 feet’ challenge. This drill forces you to focus on your speed control under pressure, as you aim for that 2-foot circle around the hole.
Making speed drills part of your routine can significantly lower your scores. Plus, don’t forget to focus on your stance and grip each time – they’re fundamental to speed control!
True, Brandon! Sometimes I find myself overthinking my grip. Do you think it’s helpful to keep a consistent routine before each putt during these drills?
I often wonder what sort of mental exercises we can incorporate into speed drills. Visualization can be a game changer when it comes to sinking putts consistently!
Honestly, who needs music when you’ve got the sound of a sweet putt dropping! Drills are cool, but let’s not forget the joy of sinking putts in real games!
Incorporating putting speed drills can really sharpen your touch on the greens. They help build muscle memory which is crucial for consistency in performance.