Putting accounts for nearly half of your strokes during a round, yet it’s often overlooked in practice. At County Longford Golf Club, we believe that a strong short game starts on the greens. These five simple putting drills will help improve your feel, accuracy, and consistency.
1. Gate Drill for Alignment
- Purpose: Improve start line and stroke path.
- How: Place two tees just wider than your putter head and practice putting through the “gate.” If your putter hits a tee, you know your stroke is off-line.
2. Circle Drill for Pressure Putting
- Purpose: Build confidence on short putts.
- How: Place 6–8 balls in a 3-foot circle around the hole. Putt each ball in succession. Try to make them all before moving on.
3. Ladder Drill for Distance Control
- Purpose: Develop touch and speed control.
- How: Place tees at 10, 20, and 30 feet. Putt from each distance, trying to stop the ball within a 2-foot zone past the hole.
4. 1-2-3 Drill
- Purpose: Enhance feel and rhythm.
- How: Hit three putts in a row, each one longer than the last, using just your feel. Then do the same coming back.
5. Eyes-Closed Drill
- Purpose: Improve your natural stroke and feel.
- How: Hit 5 putts with your eyes closed. Focus on your stroke and trust your instincts. This trains touch and quiets mechanical thoughts.
Closing Tip:
Consistency on the greens can make the difference between a good round and a great one. Practice these drills regularly and watch your scores drop.
