Sample Practice Session: Putting Speed Control
Coaching Notes
Did you know that a putter has a sweet spot? And hitting it is nearly as important as hitting the sweet spot on an iron or driver?
Let's find that sweet spot during this session and work on our speed control for lag putting.
Putting Speed Control Practice Session [50 min]
Putter Path Drill [8 min]
Find a 5 foot straight putt on the putting green. Place an alignment tool (e.g., alignment stick, meter stick, flag stick, golf club) parallel to the outside line of a putt. (Demo video here.)
Stroke 18 putts to start to dial in your alignment and stroke path.
Basil Putting Drill [5 min]
Nick Faldo famously got a putting tip ahead of the 1992 Open Championship – code name “Basil”. It led Nick to his third Claret Jug.
Later, Nick revealed that the code name referred to children’s television character Basil Brush – reminding Nick to keep the putter low to the ground and brush the grass.
Grab a pretty thick coin and throw it down on the green. Simulate hitting putts and try to strike the side of the coin with the bottom of your putter. Do this for 5 minutes with different length strokes.
This checks that you are keeping the sole of the putter brushing the putting surface and keeping it low through impact, giving you the best angle of attack to achieve optimum roll. This will improve your strike consistency particularly on long putts.
Tiger's Gate Drill [6 min]
From 3' away from the hole, place two tees just wider than the head of your putter creating a gate for your putter to swing through.
Start by hitting 12 putts with your right hand only (lefties should do this left handed), then 6 putts with both hands. (Demo video of Tiger doing it here.)
1-Handed Efforts from Mid-Range [5 min]
Hit 10 putts from 25 feet with one hand on the putter (whichever one you are most comfortable with). This will help with a few things:
- Creates a sense of rhythm as the putter likely feels heavier than usual
- Lets the hand release naturally without being too wristy
- Regulates the length of your stroke
- Keeps upper arm in contact with your body which increases your chance of hitting the sweet spot
Mid-Range Coin Challenge [8 min]
Grab a small coin or ball marker. Hit the following putts placing the coin or ball marker approximately 2 feet in front of your ball on the proper line:
- 3x 25 foot straight putt
- 3x 25 foot left to right putt
- 3x 25 foot right to left putt
Complete this circuit 2 times for a total of 18 putts.
SCORING: How many times can you hit the mark each time? Is one particular putt better for you?
Long-Range Coin Challenge [8 min]
Complete the same drill as above but this time at distances of 40, 45 and 50 feet.
Complete the circuit 5 times for a total of 15 putts.
SCORING: How many times can you hit the mark from each distance? How do the results compare to your previous drill given the longer distance?
