Putting is a huge part of the game and having a solid set of practice drills and skill tests for the putting green which lead to consistent performance on the course is key.
There are lots of different drills and skill tests which you can use to improve and analyse your performance, and here are five of our go-tos…
End over end
With a line marked on the ball – ideally all the way around – practice hitting short putts with the line set at a specific target (a hole or tee peg). Focus on rolling the ball end over end, with the line not deviating off target or wobbling.
Striking accuracy
Setup a short range putt, then place two tee pegs in the ground just wider than the head of your putter. Focus on striking each putt from the centre of the face, missing the tee pegs while making the putt. Combine this drill with the end over end drill for a tougher test.
Speed is king
Setup a ladder with six sections using tee pegs placed at 3ft intervals. Practice climbing the ladder, hitting a putt into each section in sequence before moving on to the next section. Reset and begin with a putt to the first section if you miss one, and track your performance based on how many putts you take to complete the whole ladder.
Aim small
Test your short putting accuracy by replacing the hole with a tee peg. Track how many putts you can hit against the tee peg in a row, and increase the distance from the tee peg by 1ft after you make 5/10 in a row.
Scoring test
Setup nine putts of varying distance, simulating putts you might face on the course. Using your full routine, putt out with each ball and count the number of strokes you take to complete the test. Repeat and track your performance and improvement over time.
