Putting Drills?

[Reg5000]

I am a 70-79 golf and I rarely hit the 80s so I consider myself a decent golfer but one thing that I and almost every golfer on the planet feel I need to work on to significantly lower my scores is putting.  Putts outside of 10ft I hit sometimes but not as often as I would like.  I always leave it close but I just dont feel confident all the time standing over the ball.  Are there any putting that you good putters out there feel helped you the most and that you recommend for everyone else.  Please let me know below what kind of putting tips and drills you guys got.

[Pablo68]

I just purchased 'Putting Out of Your Mind' by Rotella off of Ebay for around $6.00 including shipping. So far it's been an interesting and helpful read. I haven't finished it yet but so far it's all mental.

Some highlights I've read so far.......

Change your thinking and focus only on putts you've made; especially those that were made under pressure. (Mine is the 8 foot eagle putt I made after a friend just holed out his sand shot from 40 yds for eagle. It was all I could do just to draw the putter back.)

Forget your misses. ALL of them!

Develop a routine and stick with it through thick and thin.

On short semi-straight putts (5' and in) focus on a blade of grass on the lip of the cup.

It's okay to miss.

[rustyredcab]

+1 on Dr. Bob's book. I am likely not as good a putter as Reg5000 but I'm better having read and absorbed this book. I have the audio book and listened to it twice in one day on a driving trip. Stopped along the way to play golf and putted the best I'd putted in years.

One of the big take-aways for me is all I can do is hit a good putt. Sometimes they go in and sometimes they do not.

[Reg5000]

I'll have to pick that up and read it.  Thanks for your input guys.  Any little bit I can add to what I know now helps.

[rustyredcab]

Originally Posted by Reg5000

I'll have to pick that up and read it.  Thanks for your input guys.  Any little bit I can add to what I know now helps.

The author reads the audio book. I'm an audio fan. I can "hear" the good Doctor coaching me when I play.

[robrey85]

My instructor told me some putting drills that have helped me.

Get some land surveying sticks (usually 4 foot ones) draw a line where 1' is.

The first one is comparable to playing a 9 hole round of golf.

Measure a tee 4', 8' & 12'.

The 4' tee is Par 3, 8' Par 4 & 12' Par 5, totaling a par 36.

In order play the holes

8

12

8

4

8

12

8

4

8

If you miss the putt, you score a 5, if you make a putt, you score a 3. In order to hit par or better, you need to make more putts than miss. The idea behind this is that you are practicing putting where each putt actually counts for something instead of just hitting putt after putt with no consequence.

For practicing longer putts, I'm not 100% what he said but this is how I do the long putts.

I measure 1' in four directions around the cup so I have a square. Then I measure 24' 32' 40' from the cup. The goal is to make the balls within the square using the same scoring system as you did in the short putt game. Play the holes in the following order:

32

40

32

24

32

40

32

24

32

Those are the practice drills I do and they definitely help.

[Reg5000]

Originally Posted by robrey85

My instructor told me some putting drills that have helped me.

Get some land surveying sticks (usually 4 foot ones) draw a line where 1' is.

The first one is comparable to playing a 9 hole round of golf.

Measure a tee 4', 8' & 12'.

The 4' tee is Par 3, 8' Par 4 & 12' Par 5, totaling a par 36.

In order play the holes

8

12

8

4

8

12

8

4

8

If you miss the putt, you score a 5, if you make a putt, you score a 3. In order to hit par or better, you need to make more putts than miss. The idea behind this is that you are practicing putting where each putt actually counts for something instead of just hitting putt after putt with no consequence.

For practicing longer putts, I'm not 100% what he said but this is how I do the long putts.

I measure 1' in four directions around the cup so I have a square. Then I measure 24' 32' 40' from the cup. The goal is to make the balls within the square using the same scoring system as you did in the short putt game. Play the holes in the following order:

32

40

32

24

32

40

32

24

32

Those are the practice drills I do and they definitely help.

Sounds interesting....Thanks man.

[VegasRenegade]

Originally Posted by Reg5000

I am a 70-79 golf and I rarely hit the 80s so I consider myself a decent golfer but one thing that I and almost every golfer on the planet feel I need to work on to significantly lower my scores is putting.  Putts outside of 10ft I hit sometimes but not as often as I would like.  I always leave it close but I just dont feel confident all the time standing over the ball.  Are there any putting that you good putters out there feel helped you the most and that you recommend for everyone else.  Please let me know below what kind of putting tips and drills you guys got.

you speak of making putts outside of 10 ft Perhaps you think these puts are easier to make than they are.

the PGA average 1 putt from 10 ft is 38% It is 50% from 7' 10"   You can see the entire table at

http://www.pgatour.com/r/strokes-gained-putting-baseline/index.html

[Ben]

I started a thread here which outlines a great practice routine I've created. http://thesandtrap.com/t/43452/i-love-practicing-putting

It all comes down to practice (with whatever routine you develop). Building that confidence in knowing that you can knock down putts. And seeing that ball drop over and over again. Constant practice is what will make anyone a superb putter.

Someone mentioned Rotella's book. I've read it and highly recommend it.

[Stephen Newcomb]

On another forum a gentlemen posted his putting/chiping/pitching/bunkers/long bunkers/irons/driving exercises. Below is his putting exercise (which is a small portion of his entire exercise)

week 1

make 25 in a row from 3 feet

20 in a row from 20 feet stopping in a 3 foot circle
20 in a row from 30 feet stopping in a 3 foot circle
20 in a row from 45 feet stopping in a 3 foot circle

week 2

make 25 in a row from 5 feet
30 in a row from 20 feet stopping in a 3 foot circle
30 in a row from 30 feet stopping in a 3 foot circle
30 in a row from 45 feet stopping in a 3 foot circle

[jimmizu]

Here's what I was taught: Set 3 balls down "blank side up" at the distance you want to practice. Casually stroke them and really watch what they do. Now go back to the exact same spot and do everything you would on course, line up the aiming stamp or line, take a practice stroke or two, etc, and now putt.  Builds confidence to hit 2 of 3 at 15 or 20ft.

My dad taught me this many years ago, THANKS DAD!

[Reg5000]

Originally Posted by VegasRenegade

you speak of making putts outside of 10 ft Perhaps you think these puts are easier to make than they are.

the PGA average 1 putt from 10 ft is 38% It is 50% from 7' 10"   You can see the entire table at

http://www.pgatour.com/r/strokes-gained-putting-baseline/index.html

I never said it was easy 10 ft was a round off if I could be 50 percent from nearly 8ft Id have tremendous scores.  And seeing as I DONT make 50 percent of putts from 8 feet because Im no pro that means there is room to improve mr.  vegas.  So any drills you think make help putting drop them off here thanks.

[Reg5000]

Originally Posted by Stephen Newcomb

On another forum a gentlemen posted his putting/chiping/pitching/bunkers/long bunkers/irons/driving exercises. Below is his putting exercise (which is a small portion of his entire exercise)

week 1

make 25 in a row from 3 feet

20 in a row from 20 feet stopping in a 3 foot circle

20 in a row from 30 feet stopping in a 3 foot circle

20 in a row from 45 feet stopping in a 3 foot circle

week 2

make 25 in a row from 5 feet

30 in a row from 20 feet stopping in a 3 foot circle

30 in a row from 30 feet stopping in a 3 foot circle

30 in a row from 45 feet stopping in a 3 foot circle

Thanks thats some intense drilling to make those shots but the more the better thanks for the post.

[Stephen Newcomb]

Originally Posted by Reg5000

Thanks thats some intense drilling to make those shots but the more the better thanks for the post.

anytime. HIs reasoning behind all the shots and having to make so many in a row is to simulate the pressure putts. Imagine how disappointed you would be missing your 25th putt and having to start all over. I don't mave much time for practice and scale the numbers down, but its still a pain in the you know what.