2 Great Putting Drills For Distance Control
If you want to be a great putter, you must have great speed control. Simply, it makes no sense to practice only aim, when the speed your ball rolls is the main factor determining line. So here are two great drills to help develop your speed control on the greens. And with proper speed control, finding your line will be a breeze.
The verbage I’ll use for this post will be for a right handed golfer. If you’re a lefty, just reverse the information. It’s nothing personal southpaws - promise.
Drill #1 — Right Hand Middle
The right hand middle drill is a wonderful way to achieve distance control on long lag putts. Because your right hand and fingers play such an important role in how you feel distance, this drill is a great way to develop touch.
How to perform this drill: Take ten balls and place them in the middle of the green. Mark the spot from where you’re putting with a tee. Take a comfortable stance and grip the putter with your right hand only. From there, putt the first ball with just your right hand at a spot on the fringe of the green. Your goal is to get the ball to stop as close to the fringe, without actually touching it, as you can. Take the second ball and, using the same technique, putt to a spot about five yards right of your first ball. Again, you want it as close as possible to the fringe without touching it. Continue this all the way around the green until your last ball has been putted. When you’re done putting the balls to the fringe, walk to your golf balls and putt them back to the tee. Make sure you’re still using just your right hand. One lap around the green with ten balls is considered a set. Do a couple sets a week when practicing.
**Application tips — Use your eyes. Focus on the fringe and let your eyes determine how hard to hit the ball. Also, feel your entire arm swinging — not just your hand and wrist.
Drill #2 — Right Hand Row
The right hand row drill is a wonderful way to develop touch, as well as visualizing the putting line. Again, obtaining feel in your right hand and fingers will give you the ability to judge distances from all over the green.
How to perform this drill: Set ten balls in a row beginning five feet from the hole. Each ball should be three feet away from the previous ball. When you are finished setting the balls, the first will be three feet away from the cup and the tenth will be thirty feet away. Then, put a tee in the ground 18 inches on the other side of the cup. To start the exercise, set up comfortably to the first ball. Grip the putter with your right hand only and stroke the ball toward the cup. Your only thought should be to knock it in with the correct speed. The ball should not go further than eighteen inches past (the tee is your guide) the hole on a missed putt. After you’ve stroked the first putt, go back to the next ball in line and start the process over. Continue this procedure until all balls are putted. No matter what ball you’re putting, from three feet to thirty, it should travel at the same speed at the hole. They should either go in or get past the hole — but not past the tee. So, we want all balls in that 18 inch zone past the hole if not holed. This is optimum speed. Ten balls make a set. Strive to do 5 sets a week when practicing.
**Application tips — Again, use your eyes. Before hitting each putt, take two (right handed only) practice swings while looking at the hole. Feel your entire arm - not just your hand and wrist.
Good Luck and Good Putting!
May 14th, 2007 at 4:57 pm
More good stuff, will give it a try as soon as possible. Keep up the good work Andy it all helps!
July 10th, 2007 at 2:54 pm
I use the left hand below the right in putting. Should I use the left hand in this drill rather than the right?
I also find that if I am having a bad day on the putting green I change to looking at the hole (on a straight putt). Moe Norman used to do that although he wasn’t known for putting - mainly his accuracy from tee to green. It helps me to get the distance right and if you focus on the apex of a breaking putt that helps too.
Cheers,
Tom
July 21st, 2007 at 2:43 pm
Andy, I appreciate all the tips you send. You seem to be more concerned with a players improvement than most. I don’t get a whole lot of time to practice, but the tips you provide do help a lot. Thanks
July 24th, 2007 at 5:49 pm
Hi Andy,
Yes I have already started this lesson at the putting green and it is working out fine with me. I hope to get good results after a week or two on the course.
Thanks Andy.
July 27th, 2007 at 3:19 pm
I have a major problem on reading the lines on a putting green. Firstly does the direction in which the grass has been cut effect the final direction of your putt and secondly if it does how much movement can you expect?
August 15th, 2007 at 9:21 pm
Great tips Andy, will give it a go “today” and see if it improves my putting, i am sure it will. I will let you know. It is good to have tips given in small doses online like this - they are easier to deal with that a lot of information at one time. Keep it up.
October 12th, 2007 at 5:49 am
I’m amazed at the result with the tips you just have imparted to the millions of golfer. I adapted the tips and was just amazed at the speed and control that i have just 2 days ago. my putter has been on and off for some time. in some days, I’ll put maybe 27-29 but on off days. 3-putt is also very common. 2 days ago, I putted 25 with only a single 3 putt. guess what, the score 80 with one out of bound. thanks again:razz:
October 14th, 2007 at 5:29 pm
I find that it’s a ‘confidence thing’. For anything under 12 feet I aim at the cup, trying very hard to get the speed that will stop the ball 12 inches past the hole. For longer putts I imagine a two foot circle around the hole and try to stop the ball inside that circle. It works more often than not, especially on very long puts and I have made great improvements this season….
Thanks for all the tips.
I also tried the Worst Ball Round and found it VERY hard to do. If I had the time to practice this once a week I am sure that it would bring a quick improvement to my Tee to Green game.
I think that it is true to say that since April, 2007, when I bought your program, I have not only made myself a much better player, but I have enjoyed the game more.
Last Tuesday I played in a society round and I had a net 63…… off my normal handicap this would have been good for 43 points, but, off my society handicap I scored 48 points, that’s right. 22 out and 26 in.
I was almost embarrased !!! I played with a single figure man who was outdriving me by 50 yards, but I hit more greens than him and I chipped and putted better, which is how I did all the scoring.
I would advise any high handicapper using your fantastic system to concentrate on the irons from 5 up and earn how to hit straight shots to the greens. It is the great leveller and improves scores quickest. Forget the long drives, not everyone can achieve it, but you can get much better from 150 yards in and that’s where it counts most !! What a super feeling when you look up to see the ball heading straight for the flag!!!
Learn how to chip with a 6 or 8 iron from just off the fringe. You get 25% to 30% air time and then a lovely roll to the hole….Forget the wedge from around the greens, it is TOO difficult for normal golfers to do. Sometimes the wedge does achieve great shots BUT sometimes it does not, (for no obvious reason) and that is unacceptable. Use the 6 or 8 iron, as dictated by the situation and watch those scores drop. It is a real winner. I have actually holed several similar shots this year.
November 14th, 2007 at 8:52 pm
thanks andy your tips,i have taken 2 shots of my handicap (9-7)and my game has come on a lot.
November 16th, 2007 at 2:53 pm
the best tip i ever got was to act like your throwing the ball to the target. Two putt every time
August 10th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Hi Andy I tried John Richardsons Left Hand only putting tip got from John Daly dvd, it changed my putting action completely.I now lag putts from 50/60ft to 18ins maybe 1handed drill is secret whichever hand is used. Regards John Matthews
September 3rd, 2008 at 5:42 am
Hi Andy,
The puttings have helped me greatly. They are not erratic as they used to be.
Thanks a lot.
Ananth
September 24th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
I really appreciate your golf tips, Andy! I have one simple question, which should be easy for you. When putting, what is the LAST thing you look at; the ball or the cup?
Many Thanks!
September 25th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
Hi Ralph,
I definitely keep my head down for a couple of seconds as I strike the ball whilst putting. My final actions are not to look at the cup.
Cheers
Andy
October 22nd, 2008 at 1:28 am
Hi Andy
Enjoyed your 20 questions and answeres on the rules of golf.
Unfortunately I have the putting yips. I’ve had them for several years but was able to control them by using a broomstick putter, however this does not work for me anymore. Unlike most people with the yips I have no problem with short puts but anything over 4 metres I find I am unable to take the club back without hitting the ground and even have windy putts.
I love playing golf but I am reaching a stage where I will be forced to give it up.
Have you any suggestions.
Regards,
Sylvia
November 10th, 2008 at 2:32 am
Thanks for your tips - they are a great help. Re: the putting - I am left handed but play right handed. Should I still practice with only the right hand as I think my left hand is the more sensitive.