13 Proven Putting Drills That Take Less Than 10 Minutes to Sharpen Your Short Game – How To Break 80

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Improving your putting can have a dramatic effect on your overall golf game.

It’s the finesse and precision on the greens that often distinguishes a good round from a great one.

Yet, finding the time to practice can be a challenge.

What you need are effective drills that fit into a tight schedule but still offer significant benefits to your performance.

With the right exercises, you can enhance your putting without the need for hours of practice, ensuring that every moment you spend training translates directly to improved skills on the course.

5-putting-drills-take-less-than-10-minutes

The beauty of putting drills is that they can be both simple and incredibly effective, focusing on developing muscle memory and consistency.

By integrating quick and targeted putting exercises into your routine, you can build confidence and reliability in your putt.

Whether you’re at the driving range, at home, or having a quick warm-up before a round, these drills are designed to refine your stroke and improve your accuracy.

Remember, even the pros dedicate time to honing their putting skills; consistent practice is key to mastering the greens.

Understanding the Basics of Putting

Before diving into the drills, it’s vital to grasp the essentials of putting in golf.

Your stance, stroke, and the putter itself form the foundation for success on the greens, applicable whether you’re in match play or enjoying a casual game.

The Importance of a Proper Stance

Your stance in putting is foundational, as it affects the consistency and accuracy of your putting stroke.

For effective alignment, your feet should be shoulder-width apart with the ball positioned slightly forward of center in your stance.

This setup promotes a balanced and stable posture, allowing for a smooth pendulum motion of the putter.

Mastering the Putting Stroke

A proficient putting stroke hinges on simplicity and repeatability.

Your arms and shoulders should work as a single unit, with minimal wrist action to maintain a square putter face through impact.

The goal is to strike the ball with a smooth, pendulum-like motion, creating a straight roll without sidespin.

Consistency is key; always use the same tempo, regardless of putt length.

Golf Club Dynamics: The Putter

Choosing the right putter is critical, as it’s the most used club in your bag during a game of golf.

Putter heads come in various shapes, influencing stroke dynamics.

The main types—blade, mallet, and peripheral weighted—suit different putting styles, such as a straight back-and-through motion or an arc stroke pattern.

The putter face also plays a role; some are designed to impart topspin, which can aid in starting the ball on its intended line.

Fundamental Putting Drills

Mastering your putting can significantly reduce your overall score.

These fundamental putting drills are designed to enhance your accuracy and control on the greens, and each can be completed in under 10 minutes.

The Clock Drill

Purpose: To improve your consistency and accuracy from various angles around the hole.

Setup: Place four balls at equal distances around a hole, resembling the 12, 3, 6, and 9 positions on a clock face. Each ball should be about one putter length from the hole.
Execution: Attempt to sink all four putts consecutively. If you miss, restart the drill.

The Gate Drill

Purpose: To refine your putting stroke and ensure the putter is moving straight through impact.

Setup: Lay your putter flat on the ground to measure the width and place two tees just outside the putter’s heel and toe.
Execution: Stroke putts through the “gate” created by the tees without hitting them. Learn more about the gate drill.

The Ladder Drill

Purpose: To better your distance control, crucial for lag putting.

Setup: Place tees or markers on your putting line at one-putter-length intervals away from you.
Execution: Try to putt balls so that each stops at the successive markers, building a ladder effect with your balls.

Manilla Folder Putting Drill

Purpose: Aims to improve the accuracy of your putting stroke by providing immediate feedback on the starting line of your putt.

Setup: Place a standard-sized manilla folder on the putting green with one edge creating your intended putting line.
Execution: Putt the ball along the edge of the folder. The goal is to see the ball roll straight along the folder edge for at least a few inches.

Advanced Skills Development

In this section, you’ll focus on enhancing your precision on the greens through targeted drills that challenge your distance and speed control, hone your precision and alignment techniques, and simulate the stress of putting under pressure.

Distance and Speed Control

To excel in distance control, the Clock Putting Drill is an excellent routine that takes less than 10 minutes.

You set up balls in a circle around the hole at a consistent distance, like soldiers on a clock face, and putt from each ‘hour’, aiming to get the speed just right.

For speed control, a simple Lag Putting Drill can help you consistently get the ball close to the hole.

Practice with long putts to various distances, focusing not on sinking the putt but on leaving it within a manageable distance for your next stroke.

Precision and Alignment Techniques

Your ability to line up the putt properly can be refined using alignment aids like a chalk line or an alignment stick.

Place the stick directly on your intended line, linking the ball to the flagstick, and then practice putting with the goal of following that line precisely.

Another effective method is to set up a narrow gateway of tees just wider than your putter head to help train a square release and improve your alignment.

This confines your putter to a precise path and magnifies any deviation, thus enhancing your accuracy.

Putting Under Pressure

To develop confidence in your putting, simulate competition conditions.

Perform a series of putts with a consequence for missing, such as restarting the drill or doing a physical task.

This method forges a putt with pressure, making you more composed during actual gameplay.

Another technique is the “3-5-7” drill: make three consecutive putts from three, five, and seven feet.

This progresses your skills under escalating pressure and emulates the intensity of a tournament setting, training you to maintain focus and control speed regardless of nerves.

Drills to Enhance Consistency

Improving your putting consistency can significantly lower your golf scores. These drills are designed to refine your stroke and give you a reliable technique that holds up under pressure.

One-Handed Putting Technique

Putt one-handed to develop a better feel and a more consistent stroke.

By isolating one hand, usually your dominant one, you focus on maintaining a stable wrist and a smooth follow-through.

Begin by taking ten putts with only your dominant hand on the putter.

Your goal is to keep the putter face square through impact, ensuring the ball rolls straight on your intended line.

String Line Putting Path Drill

The String Line Putting Path Drill involves stretching a string above the putting line from the ball to the hole.

Attach the string to two tees planted firmly into the ground, ensuring it’s taut and directly above the target line.

As you practice your putts, your putter should follow the path of the string, which serves as a visual guide to maintaining a straight stroke.

Aim to repeat this drill with 20 putts, focusing on consistent ball contact underneath the string line.

A consistent stroke is key to becoming a great putter, and this drill provides immediate feedback on your ability to hit your putts on the intended path.

Incorporating Putting Drills into Practice Routines

To elevate your performance on the greens, consider meticulously structuring your practice time. Thoughtful inclusion of putting drills in your regular practice is key to lowering your scores and refining your short game.

Developing a Pre-Round Warm Up

Your pre-round warm-up is an opportunity to familiarize yourself with the day’s playing conditions. Dedicate at least 5 minutes on the practice green to:

Feel the Putt: Begin with short, 3-foot putts. This instills confidence as you see the ball drop into the hole repeatedly. As you warm up, gradually move further back, observing how putts roll out on today’s greens.
Adjusting Your Stroke: Pay attention to the green’s speed and texture. Incorporate tees at varying widths along your putting line to refine your accuracy and pace control.

Building a Practice Routine for Lower Scores

Devoting time to a structured practice routine can significantly lead to lower scores. In less than 10 minutes, you can execute drills that sharpen your precision and consistency.

The Gate Drill: Place two tees slightly wider than your putter head on the green. Putt through this ‘gate’ to perfect your putter path.
The Distance Control Drill: Hit balls to different distances (3, 6, and 9 feet). Keep your focus on consistent stroke lengths and follow-throughs to enhance feel and build muscle memory.

By incorporating these drills into your regular practice, you’re not just repeating motions; you’re ingraining the skills that will translate into tangible improvements during play.

Incorporating Game-Like Scenarios

Refine your short game with drills that mimic the real challenges you’ll face on the course, emphasizing precision in lag putting and the ability to consistently two-putt.

The Two-Putt Challenge

To effectively simulate the pressures of a golf game, The Two-Putt Challenge pushes you to sink every ball in two putts or less. Here’s how to do it:

Select two holes on the green approximately 20-30 feet apart.
Putt from the first hole towards the second with the aim of setting up an easy second putt.
Complete seven successful rounds without missing a two-putt to conquer this drill.

Successful completion translates to enhanced confidence and a stronger putting game under real conditions.

Lag Putting to a Tee

Lag putting requires finesse and control, seminal to shaving strokes off your par. Here’s a structured approach:

Place a tee in the green at a challenging but manageable distance.
Practice putting towards the tee, focusing on distance control rather than hole accuracy.
Aim to stop the ball as close to the tee as possible, ideally within a club’s length.

This drill improves your touch and accuracy for those crucial long putts in your golf game, essential elements for lowering your scores on the green.

Mental and Psychological Aspects of Putting

Putting in golf demands not just physical skill but also a strong mental game. Your confidence on the green can profoundly influence your performance. Professional golfers often speak about the importance of mental preparation and the psychological resilience required for consistent putting.

Focus on Visualization

Visualization is a technique where you see the putt in your mind before you make it. Imagine the ball’s path and its destination in the cup. This practice can help solidify your muscle memory and is a strategy often used by the best putters. To adopt this strategy, consider exercises that enhance your ability to picture the shot, such as those found in the Art of Putting.

Establish a Pre-Putt Routine

Routines engender consistency, allowing you to replicate success. Before each putt, take a moment to:

Read the green.
Visualize the path.
Feel the stroke.

A routine calms the mind and sets a rhythm, which is crucial for maintaining tempo. For detailed steps on creating a solid routine, explore tips from golf state of mind.

Mental Rehearsal

Mentally rehearse making putts from various distances. This can improve your self-belief and prepare you to execute under pressure, a trait observed in many professional and amateur golfers alike.

Positive Self-talk

Engage in positive self-talk to bolster your confidence. Affirmations like “I am a great putter” can prime your subconscious for success.

Remember, the mental aspect of putting is as crucial as the physical one. Practice these mental exercises regularly, and your putting game is likely to reflect the precision and composure of a professional.

Frequently Asked Questions

Before diving into the specific drills, understand that these questions are designed to help you identify quick and practical putting drills to enhance your golf game effectively.

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What are efficient putting drills for improving accuracy?

To improve your accuracy on the greens, you should concentrate on drills that focus on your stroke precision and aim. The 10 putting drills recommended by experts will help refine your putting stroke and significantly enhance your accuracy.

Can I use putting mats for effective practice sessions?

Yes, using a putting mat is a great way to create effective practice sessions, especially when you’re short on time or cannot access a golf course. Putting mats come with visual aids and targets that are excellent for focusing on stroke mechanics and alignment.

Which putting exercises can help enhance speed control?

Speed control can be developed through exercises like the 30-60-90 drill, which trains you to adapt your putting stroke to various distances. This drill is great for refining your touch on the greens.

Are there putting drills suitable for indoor practice?

Certainly, there are many putting drills designed for indoor practice. The convenience of practicing putting at home means you can use drills which fit even in limited space to keep your putting skills sharp year-round.

What techniques can improve my putting consistency at home?

To improve putting consistency at home, focus on techniques that reinforce a repeatable stroke. Such techniques include using a mirror to check your setup and stroke path, and consistently practicing short putts to build muscle memory.

How can short-duration putting drills improve my golf game?

Short-duration putting drills can enhance your golf game by allowing you to efficiently use your practice time to focus on specific aspects of putting. Incorporating these drills regularly into your routine leads to steady improvement and confidence when it’s time to putt on the course.

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