Master Your Putting Skills with These Essential Golf Drills and Tips

Putting is one of the most critical aspects of golf, and mastering it can significantly lower your scores. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover essential golf drills and tips to enhance your putting skills. By focusing on these key areas, you’ll develop a consistent and effective putting game that will help you excel on the greens.

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1. Finding the Perfect Putter Setup

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Golf Drill: Mirror Alignment Drill

A crucial first step in improving your putting is finding the perfect putter setup. Use a putting mirror to check your alignment and ensure the lie angle is correct. The putter should be flat on the ground, and the shaft should align with your forearms. This setup reduces compensations during your stroke, leading to more consistent results.

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Golf Tip:Always set up to the ball in a consistent manner, and use the mirror to verify that your eyes, shoulders, and putter face are properly aligned.

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2. Aiming Techniques

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Golf Drill: Start Line String

Accurate aiming is essential for successful putting. Set up a start line string over a straight putt to practice aligning your putter. Many putters have an aim line to help with alignment. Matching the putter’s aim line with the string ensures you’re aiming correctly.

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Golf Tip:Record your putting practice sessions to visually check if you’re aiming left or right. This helps you make necessary adjustments for better accuracy.

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3. Start Direction

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Golf Drill: Gate Drill

Controlling the start direction of your putt is vital. The gate drill is a popular exercise among professional golfers. Place two tees slightly wider than your putter head on either side of the intended line and practice putting the ball through the gate without hitting the tees. This drill helps ensure your putts start on the intended line.

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Golf Tip:Aim to get 8 out of 10 putts through the gate. Consistency in starting your putts on the correct line will significantly improve your overall putting performance.

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4. Distance Control

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Golf Drill: 10 Percent Rule Drill

Distance control is perhaps the most important factor in putting. At GOLFTEC, we use the "10 Percent Rule," which means a good putt should stop within 10 percent of the total length of the putt. For example, a 10-foot putt should stop within one foot short or long of the hole. Practice this by setting up tees at the appropriate distances.

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Golf Tip:Use a ghost hole for practice to get instant feedback on your putt distance. Consistently practice putting to different distances to improve your touch and feel.

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5. Green Reading

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Golf Drill: Ghost Hole Drill

Effective green reading combines visual assessment and sensory feedback. Use ghost holes to mark the line you believe the putt should follow. Practice reading the green by getting low to visualize the break and feeling the slope with your feet.

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Golf Tip:Combine your green reading skills with start line and distance control drills. This holistic approach will help you become a well-rounded putter capable of handling various green conditions.

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Conclusion

By incorporating these essential golf drills and tips into your practice routine, you’ll develop a more consistent and effective putting game. Focus on your putter setup, aim, start direction, distance control, and green reading to see significant improvements on the greens. Happy putting!