7 Putting Drills That Will Instantly Improve Your Scores
- Next Shot Golf
- Feb 13
- 2 min read
Putting is one of the fastest ways to lower your golf scores because nearly 40% of all shots in a round happen on the greens. The difference between shooting 102 and 95 often comes down to eliminating three-putts and making more short putts. The best way to improve quickly is by practicing structured putting drills that build consistency, distance control, and confidence under pressure.
Below are some of the most effective putting drills golfers of all skill levels can use to see immediate improvement.
1. The 3-Foot Circle Drill (Eliminate Missed Short Putts)
Short putts are the easiest strokes to save.
How to do it
Place 6–8 balls in a circle three feet from the hole
Putt each ball without repeating misses
Start over if you miss one
Goal
Make all putts consecutively before finishing the drill
This builds confidence and pressure tolerance — essential for scoring.
2. The Ladder Drill (Distance Control Mastery)
Great putting is largely about speed control.
How to do it
Place tees at 10, 20, 30, and 40 feet
Putt one ball to each distance in sequence
Focus on finishing each putt within a 3-foot radius
Goal
All balls finish inside the target zone
This drill dramatically reduces three-putts.
3. Around-the-World Putting Drill
This drill improves short-putt accuracy from multiple angles.
How to do it
Place balls around the hole at 4–6 feet
Putt each ball once
Track how many you make
Goal
Make at least 70% consistently
4. One-Handed Putting Drill (Stroke Consistency)
Helps eliminate wrist breakdown and promotes smoother strokes.
How to do it
Hit short putts using only your trail hand
Focus on maintaining a smooth tempo
Repeat using both hands afterward
This builds better feel and stroke stability.
5. The Gate Drill (Improve Starting Line)
Starting the ball on the correct line is critical.
How to do it
Place two tees slightly wider than the putter head
Putt through the gate without touching the tees
Repeat from 5–8 feet
This improves face control at impact.
6. Long Lag Putting Drill (Avoid Three-Putts)
Distance control from long range saves strokes quickly.
How to do it
Choose a hole 30–50 feet away
Putt 10 balls
Goal: finish every putt within 3 feet
Even moderate improvement here can save multiple strokes per round.
7. Pressure Putting Drill
Simulates on-course stress situations.
How to do it
Choose 5 putts between 4–8 feet
You must make all 5 to finish
If you miss, restart the sequence
This helps develop tournament-level focus and confidence.
Weekly Putting Practice Routine
To see results quickly, structure practice like this:
Drill | Time |
Short putts (3–6 ft) | 10 minutes |
Distance control drills | 15 minutes |
Pressure drill | 5 minutes |
Practicing putting 20–30 minutes, three times per week can dramatically reduce scores.
Key Takeaway
The best putting drills focus on short-putt consistency, distance control, and pressure practice. When you combine these areas into a weekly routine, you can eliminate three-putts, gain confidence over short putts, and lower your scores faster than almost any other part of your game.
