Best beginner putting drills
Putting is a crucial aspect of golf that can make or break your score. As a beginner, it’s important to focus on developing proper technique and consistency in your putting stroke. Luckily, there are several drills you can practice to improve your putting skills and start sinking more putts on the green.
1. Gate Drill: This drill helps you develop consistent aim and accuracy. Set up two alignment rods or tees in line with the hole, forming a “gate” for your ball to pass through. Start by putting from a short distance and focus on rolling the ball through the gate without touching the rods. Gradually increase the distance to challenge yourself.
2. Clock Drill: This drill helps you improve distance control and feel. Imagine the hole as the center of a clock face. Start by putting from 3 feet (9 o’clock), then move to 6 feet (12 o’clock), and finally to 9 feet (3 o’clock). The goal is to get the ball to stop in the designated “hour” without going past it. This drill helps you develop a consistent stroke length and tempo.
3. One-Handed Putting: This drill helps you improve your touch and feel for the putter. Start by practicing putting with only your dominant hand, either right or left. This forces you to focus on your grip pressure and control the putter with finesse. Once you feel comfortable, switch to your non-dominant hand to further challenge your coordination and touch.
By incorporating these beginner putting drills into your practice routine, you’ll develop a solid foundation for your putting game. Remember to stay patient, focus on your technique, and practice regularly to see improvement on the greens.
The Tee Drill
One of the best beginner putting drills is the Tee Drill. This drill helps golfers improve their putting accuracy and consistency by focusing on their stroke and alignment.
To set up the Tee Drill, place two tees on the green, one towards the back of the hole and one towards the front. The tees should be about one putter’s length apart.
Here’s how the Tee Drill works:
- Start by standing behind the tees and visualizing a straight line between them and the hole.
- Take your putting stance and align your feet, hips, and shoulders parallel to the line between the tees. This will help ensure a square putter face at impact.
- Focus on a spot on the back tee and aim to roll the ball over that spot. This will help you concentrate on hitting the ball along the target line.
- Make your putting stroke, keeping your head steady and your eyes on the spot you selected on the back tee.
- Watch the ball roll towards the front tee and into the hole.
Repeat this drill several times, adjusting your alignment and stroke as needed. The Tee Drill is a great way to develop a consistent and accurate putting stroke, as well as improve your ability to read greens and judge distances.
Remember to stay patient and practice regularly to see the best results from this drill. With time and dedication, you’ll become a more confident and skilled putter on the golf course.
Alignment Drill
One fundamental aspect of putting that many beginners struggle with is alignment. If you’re not aligned properly to your target, it’s going to be difficult to consistently make putts. That’s why the alignment drill is a valuable exercise to help you improve your putting accuracy.
The goal of the alignment drill is to ensure that your body and putter are perfectly aligned with your target line. Start by placing two alignment sticks or clubs on the ground parallel to your target line. Position one stick just outside your toes and the other stick just in front of your putter. Make sure the sticks are straight and not crooked.
Stand behind the ball and imagine a line connecting your ball to the hole. Use this line to align your feet, hips, and shoulders parallel to the target. Place your putter shaft against the front alignment stick, with the head of the putter just behind the ball. This setup will help you develop the correct body posture and alignment for a successful putt.
Practice this drill regularly to train your muscle memory and get a feel for proper alignment. Over time, you’ll become more comfortable and consistent in aligning yourself correctly to the target, leading to improved putting accuracy on the green.
Gate Drill
The Gate Drill is a popular putting drill for beginners that helps improve accuracy and consistency. It involves setting up two objects, such as tees or alignment rods, on either side of the hole to create a “gate” that the ball must pass through. The purpose of this drill is to develop a straight putting stroke and improve aim by focusing on hitting the ball through the target area.
To perform the Gate Drill, start by placing the objects approximately 3-5 inches apart, depending on your skill level. Stand a few feet back from the hole and practice making putts, ensuring that the ball rolls between the two objects and into the hole. This drill forces you to focus on keeping your stroke on line and helps you develop a consistent path for the putter head.
As you progress and become more comfortable with the drill, you can gradually decrease the distance between the objects to make it more challenging. This will require greater precision in your putting stroke and help you develop a more refined touch around the greens. Additionally, you can vary the distance of the putts to work on speed control and distance judgment.
The Gate Drill is a simple yet effective way for beginners to practice their putting and improve their overall performance on the greens. By consistently incorporating this drill into your practice routine, you will develop better accuracy, confidence, and ultimately see an improvement in your putting stats on the course.
Pendulum Drill: Improve Your Putting Stroke
The pendulum drill is a highly effective putting drill that can help improve your stroke and consistency on the greens. By mimicking the motion of a pendulum, this drill helps you develop a smooth and fluid putting stroke, which is essential for sinking more putts.
To perform the pendulum drill, set up on the putting green with a ball and your putter. Take your stance and grip the putter as you would normally. The key to this drill is to focus on the movement of your shoulders and arms, rather than using your hands to control the stroke.
- Start by taking a relaxed and comfortable stance, with your feet shoulder-width apart and your weight evenly distributed.
- Place the ball in front of you and position your putter so that the shaft is parallel to the ground.
- Begin the drill by rocking your shoulders back and forth, allowing the putter to swing freely along the intended putting line.
- During the backswing, your arms and shoulders should move as one unit, with minimal wrist movement.
- As you swing the putter forward, focus on maintaining a smooth and consistent tempo, and let the putter release naturally through impact.
- Continue practicing the pendulum motion until you feel comfortable and confident in your stroke.
By practicing the pendulum drill regularly, you can train your body to execute a repeatable and consistent putting stroke. This drill helps eliminate unnecessary hand and wrist movement, which often leads to inconsistent contact and accuracy. Remember to maintain a relaxed grip and to let the putter swing freely along the intended putting line. With dedicated practice, the pendulum drill can greatly improve your putting performance and help you sink more putts on the course.
Distance Control Drill
One important aspect of putting that every beginner golfer should focus on is distance control. Having good distance control allows you to consistently roll the ball the correct distance towards the hole. One effective drill to improve your distance control is the “Gate Drill”.
In the Gate Drill, you will set up two tees just wider than the width of your putter on the practice green, about 6-8 feet away from you. The goal of this drill is to roll the ball through the gate and have it come to rest on a specific distance marker on the other side. This drill helps you develop a feel for the distance you need to roll the ball to achieve the desired outcome.
To begin the drill, choose a specific distance marker on the green to aim for. This could be a hole or another target. Take your stance and focus on your grip and alignment. Start with shorter putts, around 6-8 feet, and gradually increase the distance as you improve.
When rolling the ball, focus on hitting it with a smooth and consistent stroke. Pay attention to the speed and tempo of your stroke. Watch as the ball rolls through the gate and lands on the distance marker. Take note of any adjustments you may need to make for the next putt.
One-hand Putting Drill
One of the best putting drills for beginners is the one-hand putting drill. This drill helps improve your form, accuracy, and control by focusing on one hand at a time.
To start this drill, choose which hand you want to work on first. Grip your putter with only that hand and place your other hand behind your back. This forces you to rely solely on your one hand for the putting stroke and helps you develop a more consistent and repeatable motion.
With your one hand, practice swinging the putter back and forth, focusing on keeping your wrist firm and your arm and shoulder working together. Pay attention to the path of the putter and the contact point with the ball, making adjustments as needed to improve your accuracy.
Once you feel comfortable and confident with your putting stroke using one hand, switch to the other hand and repeat the drill. This helps you develop the same level of skill and control with both hands, which is important for overall putting performance.
By practicing the one-hand putting drill regularly, you can improve your confidence, consistency, and accuracy on the greens. It is a simple yet effective drill that can benefit golfers of all skill levels, especially beginners looking to establish a solid foundation for their putting game.
5 Best beginner putting drills
Flintronic Golf Alignment Stick Training Aid
Features
| Part Number | F1EU-4638405 |
| Warranty | 6 Months |
| Color | Green |
| Size | One Size |
KINGTOP Ultra Golf Putting Mirror
Features
| Part Number | KT-GA198-PE1 |
HUAEN Indoor Putting Green Mat
Features
| Part Number | TGTAN-A |
| Model | putting mat |
| Color | green |
| Size | 9.35ft |
MELE LiINKS Golf Putting Alignment Mat
Features
| Model | YCK23-0302-A |
| Color | 30 in |
| Size | 30 inches |
GYMAX Complete Right Handed Golf Set
Features
| Warranty | 90 Days |
| Color | Grey |
| Size | Bag Length: 90 cm |
GoSports Golf Putting Alignment Set
Features
| Part Number | GOLF-STENCILGUIDE-01 |
| Model | GOLF-STENCILGUIDE-01 |
| Color | Silver |
Question-answer:,
What is a one-hand putting drill?
A one-hand putting drill is a practice exercise in golf where you use only one hand to putt the ball. It helps to improve your hand-eye coordination, feel, and touch in your putting stroke.
How do you do a one-hand putting drill?
To do a one-hand putting drill, grip the putter with only your dominant hand and have your other hand behind your back. Then, make a putting stroke and try to sink the ball into the hole. Repeat this drill with both hands, focusing on your technique and control.
What are the benefits of a one-hand putting drill?
The benefits of a one-hand putting drill include improved hand-eye coordination, feel, and touch in your putting stroke. It can also help you develop a more consistent and fluid putting motion, as well as increase your confidence on the greens.
How often should I do a one-hand putting drill?
You can do a one-hand putting drill as often as you like, but it’s recommended to incorporate it into your regular practice routine. Aim to do this drill at least once or twice a week to see improvements in your putting performance.
Are there any variations of the one-hand putting drill?
Yes, there are variations of the one-hand putting drill. You can try doing the drill with your non-dominant hand, or even alternate between hands for each putt. You can also vary the distance and slope of the putting green to challenge yourself further.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the one-hand putting drill is a valuable practice technique for golfers of all skill levels. By focusing on using only one hand during the putter swing, players can improve their control, accuracy, and feel for the green. This drill helps to develop a consistent and smooth stroke, leading to more successful putts on the course. Whether you are a beginner looking to build a solid foundation or an experienced golfer seeking to fine-tune your skills, incorporating the one-hand putting drill into your practice routine can lead to significant improvements in your overall putting performance. So grab your putter, choose your hand, and start honing your skills with this effective drill.
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