Putting is one of the most critical areas for improving scores and breeding confidence on the green in golf. From a full novice to a player wanting to finesse your skills, learning a few game-changing putting drills will make a huge difference. In this blog post, learn about effective putting drills to help you with stroke improvement for an overall better performance.
Understanding the Basics of Putting
In putting, the feel is basically controlling the direction and the speed with which the ball rolls into the hole. All this can be attained through a combination of technique, practice, and mental focus using the right drills to improve consistency in putting.
Importance of Putting Drills
Putting drills are important for several reasons, including:
• Consistency: They help build a consistent stroke that is very important in accurate putting.
• Accuracy: Drills improve your alignment to be on target and the direction of the ball.
• Distance Control: The use of varying distances during training allows one to work out how to adjust the stroke on diverse green types.
• Confidence: Successfully completed drills install confidence that is critical in performing under pressure.
Game-Changing Putting Drills
1. Gate Drill
Set up two tees or alignment rods parallel to each other and just a little wider than the face of your putter. This creates a sort of "gate" just in front of the hole. Perform putting through the gate with varying distances using different speeds. This drill will help you build up your accuracy and help you visualize a straight line of putting .
2. Clock Drill
Think of the hole as the center of a clock. Place tees or markers around the hole at 3 feet, 6 feet, and 9 feet, representing 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock, and 9 o'clock positions. Make putts from each marker, giving particular attention to consistent speed and distance control. This drill will help both your accuracy and your judgment of distance.
3. Downhill and Uphill Putts
Practice downhill and uphill putting to simulate on-course situations. Downhill putts require a very delicate touch; you can easily overshoot the hole. Uphill putts require a little more oomph if you want to make it go uphill. Both of these drills work on touch and adaptability with respect to the terrain.
4. Distance Control Drill
Set three balls each at 5 feet, 10 feet, and 15 feet from the hole respectively. It will make you feel challenged to putt to get close to the hole, not over it. Make the stroke longer and slower to optimize your distance control.
5. Putting with Obstacles
Set up an obstacle course of tees or cups around the hole. Work the ball around the obstacles to practice putting some very difficult situations. This drill helps you become more aware of your surroundings and to be accurate.
Incorporating Putting Tips
Aside from the drills, here are some important putting tips to help take your game to the next level:
• Grip and Posture: Lightly grip the putter while remaining still throughout the entire stroke.
• Vision: Visualize the path the ball is going to take and what is desired as an outcome from putting.
• Rhythm: Develop a smooth, consistent rhythm in your putting stroke.
• Practice Routine: Institute a regular practice routine for driving ranges to further reinforce muscle memory and technique.
Conclusion
Success in putting golf requires time and strategy. There you have it-greatly impacting drills and tips to be inducted into your practice schedule that will help you acquire a better stroke, greatly improve your accuracy, and gain more confidence on the greens. The more regularly you practice putting drills, the more polished your skills become, and the readier you are to deliver under pressure during competition.
Then try these putting drills starting today and watch your score continue improving day in and day out. Take your game one step further with the most efficient putting drills and start developing the skills that come along with precise putting anywhere in the green.
Need to know more about how to be a better putter? Well, we also have a complete golf drills PDF for you with tips and specific training recommendations. Begin now!
