Putting drills for every handicap
Putting accounts for about 40% of strokes for most amateurs, and three-putts inside 6 feet account for the largest single chunk of those strokes. These five drills target the highest-leverage areas, with a measurable success criterion you can log session over session.
Why most putting practice doesn't help
Standing on the practice green dropping balls and putting toward the closest hole is the most common kind of putting practice. It feels productive. It teaches you almost nothing measurable. The five drills below all share the same property: they have a pass/fail target, so you know whether the rep counted.
1. 20-in-a-Row from 4 feet
Goal: short-putt confidence and pressure tolerance.
Place a ball 3 to 4 feet from the cup. Make 20 in a row. Miss any putt and restart at zero. Track how many attempts it takes to clear 20.
Success criterion: clear 20 in 1 attempt for low handicappers, 2 to 3 for mid handicappers.
2. Clock Drill (4 to 8-foot conversion)
Goal: consistent conversion from the highest-leverage distance band.
Place 8 balls in a circle around the hole at a fixed distance (start with 5 feet). Putt around the clock. Track makes out of 8. Repeat at 6, 7, 8 feet.
Success criterion: 5 of 8 from 5 feet, 4 of 8 from 6 feet, 3 of 8 from 7 to 8 feet.
3. Lag Putting Ladder (30 to 50 feet)
Goal: distance control on long putts. Three-putt avoidance.
Three putts from 30 feet, three from 40, three from 50, all toward the same flag. Goal is to leave each putt within a 3-foot circle around the hole.
Success criterion: 6 of 9 inside the 3-foot circle.
4. Gate Drill (start line)
Goal: face control and start line.
Set up two tees just wider than the ball, 2 feet in front of you, on a 6-foot straight putt. The putt has to roll between the tees without hitting either. Hit 10.
Success criterion: 8 of 10 clean rolls. If you fail, narrow the gate until you can.
5. 5-Stations Pressure Putting
Goal: pressure tolerance and stroke under stress.
Five tees at 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 feet. Make every putt to advance. Miss any putt at any station and restart from 3 feet.
Success criterion: clear all 5 stations.
Sample 20-minute putting practice plan
- 0:00 to 5:00. Warm-up: 10 putts from 4 feet, then 5 lag putts.
- 5:00 to 12:00. Clock Drill at 5 and 6 feet (16 putts total).
- 12:00 to 17:00. Lag Putting Ladder (9 putts).
- 17:00 to 20:00. 5-Stations Pressure Putting finisher.
How to log your putting drills
PracticeCaddie's drill library includes each of these with built-in timers, success criteria, and made/missed logging. Your session history aggregates the data so you can see, e.g., your 5-foot conversion rate trending up over weeks.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best putting drills?
The five most-cited evidence-based putting drills are 20-in-a-Row from 4 feet (short-putt confidence), the Clock Drill (4 to 8-foot conversion), Lag Putting Ladder (distance control from 30 to 50 feet), Gate Drill (start line), and 5-Stations Pressure Putting (pressure tolerance). Each has a measurable success criterion.
How long should I spend on putting in practice?
Putting accounts for roughly 40% of a typical amateur's strokes per round. Allocate at least that share of practice time. For a 60-minute session, 20 to 25 minutes on the practice green is a defensible minimum.
Should I practice short putts or long putts more?
Short putts (3 to 6 feet) are higher-leverage, because misses inside 6 feet are the most common amateur three-putt cause. Most putting research suggests a 60/40 short-to-long split for high handicappers and a 50/50 split for low handicappers.
Do indoor putting mats help?
Yes, for stroke mechanics and start line. They don't simulate green speed or break, so use them to groove the stroke, then transfer to a real green for distance control work.