Practice putting routine

[Sgtbeaver]

Thought i would share this routine with you because it has helped eliminate most of my 3 putts!

The idea is that you use 1 ball on the practice green and play from hole to hole. The rules are as follows:-

1. If your first putt is within 1 putter length of the hole you leave it where it is.
2. If your first putt is short but not withing 1 putter length you move the ball back another 2 putter lengths.
3. If your first putt is long but not within 1 putter lenth you move the ball back 1 putter length.

Hopefully you play 9 holes on the practice green with the par being 18. The idea of this method is ultimatly not about sinking 15 foot putts but to get the ball within 3 feet of the hole. It punishes you harshly for short putts (as tiger said its better to be 10 feet past the hole then 10 inches short because the ball had a chance to go in).

This is a game that can be played with someone else to add a little bit of pressure but give it a go, note your score and try to improve each time you use this method...that too helps to add pressure to the putts.

[saevel25]

I personally like putting the golf ball down in 2-3 feet intervales, put about 5 in a row, and try to make them all, if you fail once set them back up and start again.

[DannyG]

I have an indoor large putting mat in the basement with (2) holes. ( http://www.bigmoss.com/the-augusta.html ) Using four balls I putt to the first hole. All those that don't go in, plus one that did, comes back and I continue until all four are in the hole. (Ie: putt four balls, 2 go in, 2 stay out. Take back the 2 that didn't go in plus one from the hole and put again) This adds a little more pressure on each putt. You can get down to one ball but if you keep missing will end up with all four back at the start. Once I complete one hole I move to the second which is further away. A variation is to alternate holes so you have to adjust on each putt.

[gauchogolfer]

(as tiger said its better to be 10 feet past the hole then 10 inches short because the ball had a chance to go in).

I think this is a crazy statement. If you're putting from more than about 15 feet away your chance of making the first putt is very low. Wouldn't you want your 2nd putt to be a tap-in from 10 inches, rather than another long putt you'll likely miss?

I like to putt to an area when I'm working on long putts, rather than putting to a hole. From 30 feet the target to get within 3 feet, not focus on being past the hole. For shorter putts I like the ladder approach, where you putt going back on a line in one foot intervals until you make a ten footer. You'll be amazed how long this takes!

[Sgtbeaver]

It was a tongue in cheek statement. I am happy to get the ball anywhere within 3 feet and dont care if thats short, long, left or right at the moment anything is better than a 3+ putt for me!