7 Putting Drills for Golf to Lower Your Scores

Putting has a huge impact on your golf scores. Putting accounts for nearly half your strokes in any given round. Yet most golfers spend about 90% of practice time hitting drivers and irons.

Let's take a look at the best putting drills for golf that address every putting weakness. You'll improve distance control for fewer three-putts and your accuracy will increase dramatically on short putts. Your putting stroke mechanics will become consistent and reliable. Most importantly, your confidence on the greens will soar.

Table of Contents

7 Essential Putting Drills For Golf

Drill 1: The Gate Drill for Accuracy

The gate drill fixes pushes and pulls instantly. It forces your putter face to be square through impact.

Place two tees in the ground about one inch wider than your putter head. Position them six inches past the ball on your target line. The tees form a "gate" your putter must pass through to maintain the intended line.

Stroke putts that roll through the gate without touching either tee. This ensures your putter face stays square through impact, improving ball roll.

This drill is perfect for players who are pushing or pulling putts. If your ball starts offline or if you miss just one ball, you need this drill.

Drill 2: The Circle (Clock) Drill for Short-Putt Confidence

Short-putt confidence is incredibly important. This drill builds automatic success from close range.

To start, place eight balls around the hole in a circle. Each ball sits 3-4 feet from the cup, like numbers on a clock. Make each putt in sequence moving clockwise. If you miss, start over from the beginning.

Complete the entire circle three times in one practice session. This means making 24 consecutive putts without missing. Sounds hard? It is and that's why it works. Record how many attempts it takes to complete one full circle and track this number.

Drill 3: Ladder Distance Control Drill for Lag Putting

Three-putts kill your scores. The ladder distance control drill helps to eliminate three-putts by encouraging you to focus on lag putting through better distance control as part of your practice routine.

Place markers at 15, 25, 35, and 45 feet from starting position. Use tees, coins, or towels as targets. Hit four putts trying to stop within three feet of each marker.

Reducing 3-putts happens when you consistently lag long putts close. This drill trains feel for different distances. Your brain learns speed adjustments automatically.

Drill 4: One-Handed Putting Drill

Right-hand and left-hand isolation reveals weaknesses in your putting stroke. Most players dominant hand does too much in the putting stroke. This creates inconsistency, especially if not addressed in your practice sessions.

Hit ten putts using only your lead hand. Focus on smooth acceleration through the ball. Then hit ten putts using only your trail hand. Feel how each hand influences the stroke differently.

Spend five minutes on one-handed putting before rounds. Start with your lead hand only for five putts. Switch to your trail hand for five putts. Finish with regular two-handed putts. Your stroke will feel smooth and controlled.

Drill 5: The Around-the-World Drill

Mental toughness determines putting success. This drill builds pressure resilience when included in focused drills.

Place four balls at different positions around the hole. Each ball sits 4-5 feet away. Make all four putts in sequence. If you miss, start completely over.

Create "make-or-restart" rules that simulate real pressure. During rounds, missing short putts costs strokes. This drill recreates that pressure in practice. Your brain learns to handle stress.

Mental toughness and muscle memory develop together. As you repeat this drill, your stroke becomes automatic even under pressure. You stop thinking and start trusting.

Drill 6: Coin or Tee Contact Drill for Pure Strikes

Pure contact produces consistent roll. This drill ensures solid strikes every time.

Place a coin/tee behind the ball about one inch back on your target line to help ensure the correct putter path. Position your ball normally. Make your stroke without hitting the coin or tee behind the ball.

This drill works to prevent scooping and deceleration because hitting the coin means your putter approached the ball at the wrong angle or you decelerated. A proper stroke misses the coin entirely while making solid ball contact, ensuring you hit the correct line.

Drill 7: The 3-Ball Speed Control Drill

Feel matters more than mechanics for distance control. This drill develops feel rapidly.

Hit three consecutive putts from the same spot to the same target, about 20 feet away works well. The first ball should stop short of the target by 2-3 feet before the next ball is played. The second ball should reach the target. The third ball should pass the target by 2-3 feet. This helps to train your feel because you're making small speed adjustments. Your brain learns precise control rather than guessing at force needed.

How Often Should You Practice These Drills?

Practice frequency on the putting green depends on your current skill level and improvement goals.

Practice three drills per session, twice weekly. Each session lasts 20-25 minutes. Rotate through all seven drills over two weeks. This builds fundamental skills without overwhelming you. Once you get better, continue to practice your two weakest drills twice weekly. Spend about 10-15 minutes on these drills per practice session.

Common Putting Mistakes to Avoid

These errors plague most amateur golfers:

Over-gripping the putter kills the feel. Your grip pressure should be about a 3-4 on a scale of 10. A lighter grip allows for a natural stroke rhythm. A tighter grip causes jerky, inconsistent strokes.

Watching the ball before impact causes poor contact. Keep your eyes on the ball location until your putter completes the stroke, a tip that many players overlook. Most golfers aim right at the target unconsciously. Use alignment aids during practice. Check your alignment on every practice putt.

Rushing short putts and decelerating on long putts creates distance control issues. Match your tempo across all putting distances. Your backswing and through-swing should take equal time regardless of distance.

Recommended Gear for Better Putting

Equipment matters for putting consistency. Blade putters suit arcing strokes. Mallet putters work better for straight-back-straight-through strokes. Putting mirrors show setup positions clearly, addressing various aspects of your game. Laser alignment tools ensure accurate aim. Gate training aids provide instant feedback on your path. Proper length puts eyes directly over the ball. Correct lie angle ensures sole sits flat at address.

Conclusion

These seven putting drills address every aspect of your putting performance. Distance control drills help eliminate three-putts. Accuracy drills build confidence on short putts. Pressure drills develop mental toughness. Remember that putting represents 40-50% of your overall score. Small improvements on greens produce large scoring benefits.