Chipping Drills

Putting is a crucial part of your golf game, and improving your putting skills can significantly lower your score. Here are several effective putting drills to enhance your technique, accuracy, and consistency:

1. The Gate Drill

• Objective: Improve your alignment and putting stroke.
• How to Do It:
  1. Set up two tees just slightly wider than your putter head, about 2-3 inches apart, creating a "gate" in front of your ball.
  2. Focus on stroking the ball through the gate without hitting the tees.
  3. If you hit a tee, adjust your stroke or alignment to avoid it.
• Benefits: This drill helps you focus on making a straight back-and-through stroke and improving consistency.

2. Clock Drill

• Objective: Improve distance control and confidence in putting from various distances.
• How to Do It:
  1. Place four tees or markers around the hole, about 3-5 feet away in the shape of a clock (at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o’clock).
  2. Start by putting from each spot to the hole, focusing on both speed and accuracy.
  3. Once you make one putt from each spot, repeat from farther distances, eventually working your way up to 10-15 feet.
• Benefits: This drill helps with distance control and pressure putting.

3. Straight Line Drill

• Objective: Improve putting alignment and consistency on straight putts.
• How to Do It:
  1. Place a straight line of tees or chalk along the putting green, roughly 3-4 feet long, directly in line with the hole.
  2. Put a ball at the start of the line and aim to roll the ball along the line, ensuring it goes straight and doesn’t veer off course.
  3. Repeat several times, adjusting your stroke for consistent results.
• Benefits: This drill helps develop a straighter putting stroke and better alignment.

4. Distance Control Drill (Lag Putting)

• Objective: Improve lag putting for better distance control on long putts.
• How to Do It:
  1. Pick a hole and place a ball about 30 feet away.
  2. Try to lag the ball as close to the hole as possible without worrying about sinking it.
  3. Once you get comfortable with this distance, progressively move farther away.
• Benefits: This drill is great for practicing distance control, especially on long putts to avoid three-putting.

5. One-Handed Putting Drill

• Objective: Improve your feel and stroke mechanics.
• How to Do It:
  1. Putt with just one hand at a time — start with your dominant hand, and then switch to your non-dominant hand.
  2. Focus on the feel of the stroke, ensuring the putter head moves smoothly through the ball.
  3. Alternate hands, and then putt with both hands together after practicing each side.
• Benefits: This drill helps you develop better control and smoothness in your stroke by engaging each hand individually.

6. Around the World Drill

• Objective: Build confidence in short putts.
• How to Do It:
  1. Place several balls around the hole at varying distances, starting from about 3 feet out.
  2. Putt each ball into the hole, one at a time, ensuring you make each one before moving to the next.
  3. Once you complete a full circle of putts, step back and repeat from 4-5 feet.
• Benefits: This drill improves short-putt consistency, which is vital for reducing your score.

7. The Mirror Drill

• Objective: Improve your putting alignment and consistency.
• How to Do It:
  1. Place a mirror on the ground in front of you, with a hole or target lined up at the other end.
  2. Practice your putting stroke while watching your reflection to ensure your body and putter are aligned properly.
  3. This drill can also be done with an alignment rod to check your setup.
• Benefits: It helps ensure your body, eyes, and putter are aligned, leading to better stroke mechanics and more accurate putts.

8. 3-3-3 Drill

• Objective: Improve your consistency and confidence at different distances.
• How to Do It:
  1. Set up three balls at three different distances: 3 feet, 6 feet, and 9 feet.
  2. Putt the first ball from 3 feet, the second from 6 feet, and the third from 9 feet.
  3. Repeat the sequence several times.
• Benefits: This drill helps build confidence in both short and medium-range putts.

9. Two-Ball Drill

• Objective: Improve consistency and practice dealing with pressure.
• How to Do It:
  1. Place two balls next to each other, about 3-5 feet from the hole.
  2. Try to make both putts in one go, treating them as a pair of important shots.
  3. Repeat until you make both putts consistently.
• Benefits: This drill helps you get comfortable making multiple putts in quick succession, simulating pressure situations.

By incorporating these putting drills into your practice routine, you’ll develop better control over your strokes, improve your accuracy, and increase your confidence on the greens. Consistency and practice are key to becoming a strong putter!