What drills can I do to improve my putting consistency?

Improving putting consistency is essential for lowering your scores in golf. Here are some effective drills to help you enhance your putting consistency:

• Gate Drill: Place two tees or alignment rods just wider than the width of your putter head, creating a gate around the hole. Practice making putts through the gate, focusing on starting the ball on the intended line.

• Clock Drill: Place tees or markers around the hole at intervals of 3, 6, 9, and 12 o’clock (like a clock face). Start close to the hole and make putts to each marker, then move progressively farther away. This drill helps improve distance control and consistency.

• Distance Control Drill: Place three balls at distances of 3, 6, and 9 feet from the hole. Start with the closest ball and attempt to sink each putt consecutively. Focus on consistent stroke length and pace.

• One-handed Putting: Practice putting with only one hand (your dominant hand) to improve feel and touch. This drill helps develop a smooth, pendulum-like stroke and promotes better control.

• Reverse Gate Drill: Instead of placing tees or markers around the hole, create a gate just behind the hole. Practice putting through the gate, focusing on speed control to prevent the ball from rolling too far past the hole.

• Coin Putting Drill: Place a coin or ball marker on the green at a specific distance from the hole (e.g., 3 feet). Practice making putts to the coin, aiming to hit it consistently. Move the coin to different locations on the green to practice putts from various distances and angles.

• Eyes-Closed Putting: Set up to putt as usual but close your eyes before making your stroke. This drill helps develop a feel for distance and improves your ability to judge the pace of putts without relying solely on visual cues.

• Straight-Line Putting Drill: Lay a club or alignment stick on the ground to create a straight line from your ball to the hole. Practice making putts along this line, focusing on starting the ball on the intended line and maintaining a consistent stroke path.

• Putting Gate Drill: Set up two tees or alignment rods just wider than the width of your putter head, a few feet in front of the ball. Practice making putts while ensuring your putter head passes through the gate without touching the tees. This drill helps promote a square and cantered impact position.

• Pressure Putting Drill: Create pressure situations by giving yourself consequences for missing putts (e.g., penalty strokes, extra putts). This drill simulates the pressure of real game situations and helps improve your ability to perform under pressure.

• Visualization and Routine Drill: Before each putt, visualize the ball rolling into the hole along your intended line. Develop a consistent pre-putt routine to help you focus and maintain confidence before each stroke.

• Putting Challenges: Create fun and challenging putting games or contests with friends or practice partners to add variety to your putting practice and keep it engaging.

• Recording and Analysing: Use video recording or a putting stroke analyser to record your putting strokes from various angles. Analyse your stroke mechanics and make adjustments as needed to improve consistency.

• Practice with a Purpose: Focus on specific aspects of your putting game during each practice session, such as distance control, alignment, or stroke mechanics. Set specific goals and track your progress over time.

• Get Feedback: Seek feedback from a qualified golf instructor or coach to identify any flaws in your putting stroke and receive personalized tips for improvement.

Consistent practice incorporating these drills will help you develop a more reliable putting stroke and improve your putting consistency on the golf course. Remember to stay patient and persistent in your practice efforts, as improvement takes time and dedication.