Tag: putting drills

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Five Tips Pros Use to Make More Putts

By Kevin Cotter, PGA

Nothing separates weekend warriors from elite golfers like putting. The pros sink putts with confidence, while amateurs often struggle with consistency. If you want to roll the ball like the best, you need more than just luck—you need a solid routine, proper technique, and a confident mindset. Here are five pro-level tips to help you make more putts and lower your scores.

2017 NCLM Conference Golf TournamentPhoto by Aaron Hines

1. Master Your Setup and Alignment

Pros take their setup seriously. Even a perfect stroke won’t get the ball in the hole if you’re not correctly aligned. The key? Keep your feet, knees, hips, and shoulders parallel to your target line. Many pros use alignment aids in practice to reinforce proper positioning. Also, ensure your eyes are directly over the ball or slightly inside the target line for optimal accuracy.

2. Develop a Smooth, Repeatable Stroke

One of amateur golfers’ most common mistakes is getting too handsy with the putter. Pros focus on a consistent stroke powered by the shoulders, keeping the hands quiet. A smooth pendulum-like motion leads to better distance control and accuracy. To improve, try the “gate drill” by placing two tees slightly wider than your putter head. If you don’t hit the tees, your stroke will stay on path.

3. Read Greens Like a Pro

Good putting starts before you even stroke the ball. Pros read greens from multiple angles, considering grain, slope, and speed. A great technique is the “low side read,” where you examine the putt from the side that slopes downward. Use your feet to feel subtle breaks, and practice lag putts to develop a better sense of green speed. The more you understand the break, the more putts you’ll make.

4. Control Your Speed

Even the best read means nothing if your speed control is off. Pros focus on rolling the ball with perfect pace, often aiming to have it finish about 12-18 inches past the hole if they miss. A great drill to improve speed is the “ladder drill,” where you putt balls to stop at different distances within a designated zone. Mastering speed prevents those dreaded three-putts and boosts confidence on short putts.

5. Commit to Every Putt with Confidence

Doubt is the silent killer of a good putt. The best players trust their read, commit fully to their stroke, and let go of the outcome. Before you putt it, take a deep breath, visualize the ball rolling smoothly into the cup, and step up with confidence. A hesitant stroke leads to missed opportunities, but a committed one—even if you miss—sets you up for long-term success on the greens.

Now, grab your putter and have some fun out there! 🏌️‍♂️

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Drain Putts Like Tiger Woods

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Struggling On The Greens? This Putting Drill Can Help Instantly

By Brendon Elliott, PGA

Published on Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Beyond some standard fundamentals, the art of putting is as individual as a fingerprint.

We all have unique factors influencing our approach to putting: our height, body type, tempo at which we walk and talk and, most impactfully, how we see a putt with our eyes all influence what we do with the flat stick, whether we know it or not.

We often force ourselves into a setup position that is too “squared off” or “technically sound” to allow our eyes to see that critical starting spot to roll the ball over just after impact.

Our brain, or subconscious, will actually reroute the putter on the downstroke if it feels that something is “off” visually when you make those last few looks with your eyes down the target line. This will lead to often funky-looking strokes and a potential massive loss of confidence.

If you’ve been experiencing some struggles on the green, not to fear. This drill below can help right away.

Find your spot
  • With three golf balls, start with a putt of 6 feet on the practice green.
  • Really focus on your putting line. Take a trip around the hole and see the line from all sides.
  • Once you are confident on the line, find a point on your line about 4-6 inches past your ball and align the mark on your golf ball to that point. Pro tip: Using your golf ball mark is a critical part to being a good putter!
  • As you start to get set up to the ball, make it a point to feel comfortable with what you see with your eyes as you are over the ball. How does the line on the ball look in relation to that intermediate starting point? How does your putter head look with regard to the ball and your intermediate starting point? Adjust your body, line, or even your putter head if it seems off a bit.
  • It is critical to get your setup conditions correct in terms of what you see as you are over the ball and not necessarily in a way that feels more “technically sound.” Your eyes and instincts, unique to you, are far more critical in allowing you to roll the ball end over end and over that intermediate spot on your line.

Once you start continuously rolling the ball over that intermediate spot on your line, this drill will allow you to putt with more confidence and think less about how technically sound your putting may be. Technique is essential, but it often handcuffs golfers by not allowing them to stroke the putt freely and confidently!