For golfers, mastering the art of putting is crucial to their success on the course. Professional golfers spend countless hours honing their putting skills to lower their scores and win tournaments.
Fortunately, several putting drills can help beginner and experienced golfers alike improve their game. This article will explore the top putting drills that have shaped the skills of pro golfers on the PGA tour.
From proper tempo and stance to the use of coins on the putter head, these techniques are guaranteed to enhance your putting abilities. Whether you are looking to improve your control and speed or simply want to learn how to putt properly, the following drills will help you take your game to the next level.
So, if you’re ready to learn from the best and become a pro at putting, read on.
Fundamental Skills
Mastering fundamental skills is crucial for golf players to improve their game, as honing techniques such as proper stance, tempo, and eye-ball coordination through putting drills can save and shave scores, according to various sources such as OurGolfClubs.com and Tiger Woods.
Grip pressure is one of the most important elements of putting, as it directly affects the accuracy and distance control of the ball. A light grip allows for more feel and touch, while a firmer grip provides more stability and control.
Proper alignment techniques are also essential for consistent putting, as they help players aim toward their target. Green reading strategies, such as reading the slope and grain of the green, also play a significant role in determining the direction and speed of the putt.
Putting aids, such as alignment sticks and putting mirrors, can also help players train their putting technique and improve their success rate.
Putting psychology, distance control, putting speed, putting routine, putting fitness, and putting mindset are all additional factors that contribute to a player’s ability to putt effectively.
By focusing on these fundamental skills and incorporating putting drills into their practice routine, golfers can become more confident and consistent on the green, ultimately leading to lower scores and a stronger game overall.
Proper Tempo and Stance
Achieving a consistent tempo and adopting a proper stance are crucial elements of a successful putt, allowing golfers to improve their accuracy and control on the green. A consistent tempo ensures that the golfer’s backswing and follow-through motion is smooth and balanced, leading to a more controlled and accurate putt. On the other hand, a proper stance ensures that the body posture, grip pressure, eye position, and weight distribution are optimal, allowing for a natural and fluid stroke.
To achieve a proper stance, golfers should start by positioning their feet shoulder-width apart and aligning them with the target line. The golfer’s weight should be evenly distributed on both feet, with a slight forward lean toward the ball. The grip pressure should be firm but not too tight, with the hands positioned directly below the shoulders. The golfer’s eyes should be directly over the ball, with the head and spine in a neutral position. Additionally, golfers should pay attention to green reading, putting speed, and putting distance, as well as the putting green conditions, to adjust their stance and tempo accordingly. By honing these skills, golfers can become more confident and consistent on the green, improving their overall game.
| Stance Checklist | Tempo Checklist |
|---|---|
| Feet shoulder-width apart | Smooth and balanced backswing |
| Even weight distribution | Controlled follow-through motion |
| Slight forward lean | Controlled follow through motion |
| Firm grip pressure | Rhythmical pendulum motion |
| Hands positioned below shoulders | Proper timing with the ball |
| Eyes over the ball | Maintaining focus on the target |
| Neutral head and spine position | Keeping the head still |
| Adjusting for green reading, putting speed, distance, and conditions | Practicing with a metronome or counting system |
Overall, mastering proper tempo and stance is crucial to becoming a successful putter in golf. By focusing on body posture, grip pressure, eye position, weight distribution, backswing length, follow-through motion, green reading, putting speed, putting distance, and putting green conditions, golfers can improve their accuracy and control on the green. Incorporating consistent practice with effective putting drills can help golfers develop and refine these skills, leading to a more confident and consistent game.
Coins On Putter Head
By placing coins on the putter head, golfers can determine the balance and stability of their swing, improving accuracy and consistency on the green. The weight of the coins affects the swing weight, allowing players to feel the difference in their strokes.
This training aid helps improve balance and muscle memory, allowing players to control their putts with more precision. Coins on the putter head are just one of many putting aids and equipment accessories available to golfers.
PGA training often incorporates custom fitting and practice routines to help players improve their game. By incorporating drills and training aids into their practice routine, golfers can hone their skills and become more confident on the green.
Overall, coins on the putter head are a simple yet effective tool to help golfers improve their putting game and enhance their overall performance on the course.
The Clock Drill
The clock drill is a popular putting drill that challenges players to improve their aim and control on the green. The drill involves placing four golf balls around a hole, resembling the numbers on a clock face.
Players then putt from each ball, moving in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, until they have put from all four balls. The goal is to sink all four putts consecutively, without missing any shots.
The clock drill is a great way to improve various aspects of your putting game. It helps in improving aim, perfecting speed, enhancing control, developing muscle memory, and building consistency. By practicing this drill, players can also master distance and sharpen accuracy, find their rhythm, and build confidence on the green.
Additionally, the clock drill can also help players overcome putting anxiety by providing a structured and challenging practice routine. It is a highly effective drill that many professional golfers incorporate into their practice routine to improve their putting game.
One Hand Putting
Practicing one-hand putting can improve a golfer’s muscle control and speed, leading to more accurate putts and a more consistent putting game. This drill involves using only one hand, either the left or right, to put the ball toward the hole. By limiting the use of one hand, the golfer is forced to rely on muscle control and hand-eye coordination to make the shot.
This drill is especially useful for training the non-dominant hand and improving the overall putting grip and follow-through technique. To effectively practice one-hand putting, it is important to first establish a putting mindset and routine. This includes focusing on the target, visualizing the ball rolling toward the hole, and taking a consistent stance and grip.
Additionally, using putting aids such as alignment sticks or markers can help improve accuracy and consistency. One-hand putting is a great drill for beginners to develop fundamental skills, as well as for seasoned golfers to fine-tune their putting game. Incorporating this drill into a regular practice routine can lead to significant improvements in a player’s putting ability.
Chalk Line
Moving on from the previous subtopic of One Hand Putting, another popular drill that pro golfers use to improve their putting skills is the Chalk Line drill. This drill involves using a chalk line, which is a tool that helps golfers to draw a straight line on the putting green. The golfer then aims to put the ball along the line, which helps to improve their aim and control.
Using a chalk line can have its pros and cons. On one hand, it is a simple and effective tool for improving putting skills. It provides a clear visual aid for golfers to practice their aim and distance control. On the other hand, some golfers may find that the chalk line can be distracting or difficult to use in certain weather conditions. Additionally, there are alternative putting aids, such as alignment sticks or laser pointers, that can achieve similar results. However, the chalk line remains a popular choice among golfers of all skill levels. In the table below, we compare the Chalk Line drill with other popular putting aids and also provide some variations and tips for using and maintaining a chalk line.
| Putting Aid | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Chalk Line | Provides a clear visual aid for practicing aim and distance control | Can be distracting or difficult to use in certain weather conditions |
| Alignment Sticks | Easy to use and transport | May not provide as clear a visual aid as the chalk line |
| Laser Pointer | Provides precise and accurate feedback | Can be expensive and may not be allowed on some courses |
| Putting Mirror | Helps with body alignment and aim | Can be bulky and difficult to transport |
When using a chalk line for putting drills, some variations can be used to challenge and improve golfers’ skills. For example, golfers can draw multiple lines at different distances and angles to practice different types of putts. They can also vary the distance between the ball and the chalk line to improve their distance control. Beginner golfers can start with shorter lines and gradually increase the length as they become more comfortable with the drill. Advanced players can use the chalk line to practice more challenging putts, such as breaking putts or putts with subtle slopes.
To maintain a chalk line, it is important to clean it after each use to prevent the buildup of dirt or debris. It should also be stored in a dry and cool place to prevent the chalk from clumping. When using a chalk line, some tips and tricks include using a light touch to avoid smudging the line and using a consistent and smooth putting stroke to follow the line accurately. With consistent practice and the use of the chalk line drill, golfers can improve their putting skills and shave strokes off their scores.
The 1-2-3 Drill
Improving one’s putting skills is essential for any golfer, and the 1-2-3 drill is a popular and effective practice routine that focuses on improving rhythm, agility, and accuracy.
This drill involves placing three balls at varying distances from the hole, such as three feet, six feet, and nine feet away. The goal is to make each putt in succession, starting with the closest ball and working outwards, without missing any.
This drill trains players to develop better muscle control, speed control, and putting accuracy, while also honing their stroke mechanics and distance control.
The 1-2-3 drill is also an effective way to improve a player’s putting mindset. By completing this drill, players gain confidence in their abilities and learn to focus on the task at hand.
Additionally, the drill’s emphasis on rhythm training helps players develop a consistent putting stroke, which is crucial for achieving putting consistency on the course.
Overall, the 1-2-3 drill is a valuable practice technique for any golfer looking to improve their putting skills and shave strokes off their game.
Manila Folder and Feeling the Lag
The Manila Folder and Feeling the Lag are two additional putting drills that can help golfers refine their skills and achieve greater consistency on the green. These drills are designed to improve precision, consistency, and distance control. Here are four reasons why golfers should consider incorporating these drills into their practice routine:
- Muscle Memory: The Manila Folder drill involves placing a folder on the green and putting balls toward it. This drill helps golfers develop muscle memory and refine their putting speed. By hitting the folder consistently, golfers can build confidence in their ability to control the ball’s speed and achieve accurate aim.
- Tempo Training: The Feeling the Lag drill focuses on improving a golfer’s putting tempo. This drill involves hitting long putts and focusing on the ball’s roll and contact with the green. By practicing this drill, golfers can develop a consistent putting tempo, which is crucial for achieving distance control and accuracy.
- Accurate Aim: The Manila Folder drill helps golfers improve their aim by hitting the folder consistently. This drill encourages golfers to focus on their ball contact and follow-through technique, which are essential for achieving accurate aim and distance control.
- Putting Confidence: By practicing these drills regularly, golfers can increase their putting confidence and improve their overall game. These drills help golfers develop a consistent putting routine, which is crucial for achieving success on the green.
Conclusion
Improving one’s putting game is essential to becoming a successful golfer. Golfers must master fundamental skills such as control, speed, and proper technique. The top putting drills that have shaped pro golfers’ skills on the PGA tour are the quick 3-step winning putt guide, the 1-2-3 drill, and the Manila Folder. These drills focus on proper tempo and stance, one-hand putting, and feeling the lag.
The quick 3-step winning putt guide helps golfers develop a consistent putting stroke by emphasizing the importance of a proper stance and tempo.
The 1-2-3 drill focuses on developing a consistent putting distance by using three different putting strokes.
Lastly, the Manila Folder drill teaches golfers to feel the lag and develop touch by using a Manila folder as a putting aid.
By practicing these top-putting drills, golfers of all skill levels can improve their putting game and lower their scores. Proper technique, control, and speed are essential to becoming a successful golfer. With hard work and dedication, golfers can master these fundamental skills and become pro golfers themselves.
