Fun Putting Drills?

[Koth]

My main problem with putting is distance control. I can usually read the break of a putt, and hit it straight and clean.

The problem came from when I first started I kept hitting putts 5 feet past the hole, leaving myself a not-so-easy second putt. After realizing that, I became gunshy and started leaving a lot of putts 5 feet short or worse.

When I miss, it's because the putt didn't make it to the whole most often. Other times I will hit it too hard and leave it 5-6 feet past the hole. The rest of the time I will leave it pretty close for a tap-in.

At the putting green I've been lining up balls in a row starting at about 5 feet and go back from there. My main goal is to hit it just past the hole. I don't really want to sink it because I want to make sure I get the distance feel down.
After that I will place balls at random distances around the hole and pick putts at random to see if I can remember the weights I used in the previous putting drill.

This drill seems to help with my putting, but it gets pretty boring after a while. The only drill I do that is actually somewhat fun is setting up a few balls at one end of the putting green, and trying to sink them into a hole 100 feet away. But that doesn't really relate very well to real putting on the course.

I also putt regularily on my carpet, but that doesn't help with distance control.

So, my question is, are there any putting drills that are actually FUN?

If there aren't any, what are some putting drills that will mainly focus on distance control?

[wubskis]

I rarely have a putting session that resembles work, all I ever do for practice is go around the putting green's 9 flags and attempt to get every 'hole' in 2. If at any point I three putt, I go back to the first hole and start over. It's surprisingly not at all demoralising (for me at least) and I tend to get a good practice session in without ever feeling like it's a grind.

[DDSeabolt]

For pace I'll put a tee in the ground and an alignment stick about 18 inches behind the tee. I putt at the tee but try to leave it beyond the tee but shy of the stick. Then I'll switch the stick on the other side and reverse the put line.

[ks8829]

The fun comes when you play a round and you see the benefit of your putting practice. I enjoy practicing putting to make more pars and birdies. I know that If I want to improve my game putting or keeping it sharp, that putting is almost half the score.

[nuck81]

For lag and distance control, Putt towards the fringe, with the goal of nestling right next to it.

Great Drill I got from "Putting out of your Mind" That book helped me tremendously.

[se7en]

sounds like you are hitting the ball when you putt, instead try to determine your roll first by releasing the ball through the impact. Once you feel longer contact, you should feel more confident about the distance.

[Koth]

sounds like you are hitting the ball when you putt, instead try to determine your roll first by releasing the ball through the impact. Once you feel longer contact, you should feel more confident about the distance.

Yeah, I have noticed that I try to hit the ball when I putt instead of just concentrating on making a good putting swing. Maybe I should try putting with my eyes closed for a while.

[saevel25]

i find most of the time when i mishit a put on distance is because i take the club back to short and then hit it really fast..

The key for distance control with me is putting with the same rythm, if i do that then i know i can have consistant feel. If the rythm changes then i am out of wack on what to do.

[The Recreational Golfer]

So, my question is, are there any putting drills that are actually FUN?

All of them are fun if you think they are. When the one you're doing stops being fun, go do something else completely different.

As for distance control, pretend if you get down in two from 30 feet you win the U.S. Open. Take your two putts, drop the ball somewhere else, and do it again. Or imagine yourself to be The Green Shark and all the money is against you getting this 30-footer down in two, and you're going to show them they should never bet against The Green Shark. I mean, all this is kind of silly, but it's how you have fun! Just become a kid again and let your imagination take over. And it's OK since it's all in your head, and anyone watching will still think you're a serious, stuffy adult.

[Koth]

i find most of the time when i mishit a put on distance is because i take the club back to short and then hit it really fast..

My distance control problem is just hitting it too light. I always feel like I put a good stroke on the ball, I just don't hit it hard enough. I always know right after I make the putt if it's going to be too short.

All of them are fun if you think they are. When the one you're doing stops being fun, go do something else completely different.

Yeah, I think I just have to stop doing actual drills and just start putting around the green. Make it more of an actual game situation rather than just hitting putt after putt.

[Koth]

I went to the practice green today and tried putting with my eyes closed. I realized that my body is a WAY better putter than my mind. I would get my line, close my eyes and take a couple of practice strokes, then line myself up behind the ball, close my eyes and putt. I was getting pretty consistent results too. Way better than I was with my eyes closed.

I could tell from the feel that I wasn't hitting every putt flush in the middle of the head, but I was still making good contact. I think I'm going to continue practicing this way until I can get my mind to stay the hell out of my putting.


I also didn't do any drills. I just grabbed two balls and putted around the green going from one hole to the next. I was two-putting pretty much everything with my eyes closed.