Dialing in your putting accuracy can have a huge impact on your golf scores. Even just cutting out a few missed putts each round makes a difference you’ll feel. Over the years, I’ve spent a lot of hours on the practice green trying out different putting drills and seeing what actually translates to a lower scorecard. So, in this guide, I’m sharing my top five drills that’ll help you build confidence and see real results with your putting.
Why Putting Accuracy Matters
Putting is usually about a third to nearly half of your total strokes in a round. That’s a big chunk of the game tied up in an area that’s easy to overlook when you’re focused on bombing drives. I’ve noticed that when my putting is sharp, I end every hole feeling a lot better, even if the rest of my game is just so-so.
Improving your accuracy isn’t a one-and-done deal. It takes reps, consistency, and the right drills to keep things fun and challenging. A lot of golfers struggle because they miss short putts or never develop a consistent stroke they trust. I’m always on the hunt for drills that keep my focus sharp and put confidence behind every roll. It makes each round more enjoyable, and you quickly start to see a drop in your overall score once you put in the work on the greens.
Drill #1: The Ladder Drill
The ladder drill is a classic for a reason. It targets distance control and gets you comfortable with putts from different lengths. Here’s how I set it up:
- Start by placing a tee or coin at three, six, nine, and twelve feet from the hole.
- Place a ball at each mark.
Begin by putting from the closest spot. If you make it, move on to the next one. If you miss, start over at the beginning. The challenge is to work your way up the ladder and sink a putt from each distance in a row before you’re done.
I love this drill for dialing in short to midrange putts. It adds pressure too, knowing you have to start all over if you miss keeps your edge sharp, just like those tense moments on the course. Once you’ve knocked out the standard ladder, try extending the distances or using different holes and pin locations to keep things fresh.
Drill #2: The Gate Drill
This drill is all about making sure your putter face stays square through impact, helping your ball roll on the intended line. Here’s what you need:
- Two tees or coins
- Your putter and a few balls
Set up the tees just wider than your putter head about 12 inches in front of where you’ll strike the ball. The goal: Roll your putt directly through the gate without nicking the tees.
Whenever my stroke is feeling off or my putts are missing left or right, this drill helps me check if I’m really aiming and delivering the putter face how I think I am. It’s a quick fix to spot issues, especially on those days when you just can’t seem to get the ball started on line. As you get better with it, narrow the gate even more to really test your precision.
Drill #3: The Circle Drill
Short putts can rattle the nerves, so I use the circle drill to build up confidence from those knee-knocker distances. Here’s the setup:
- Take six to eight golf balls and place them in a circle about three feet from a cup (spaced evenly around it).
Start on any ball and go around the circle, trying to knock in every putt without a miss. Miss one, and you start the circle over. For a real challenge, make yourself finish two or three full laps in a row.
This one helps get used to different angles and breaks, and after a few laps you’ll feel way more comfortable over those three-footers, not just in practice, but during pressure situations too. You can make it even more challenging by moving the balls back to four feet or by adding a subtle break to the putt.
Drill #4: The Clock Drill
The clock drill is my go-to whenever I want to improve putts from different directions and angles. Think of the cup as the center of a clock face. Here’s how I set it up:
- Place a ball at each hour (so, 12 spots) around the hole, about four feet out.
Move around the clock and try to sink one putt from each position. If you miss, start again from the first ball. This gets you ready for just about every type of break you’ll see on the course and shows you what angles and putts you need to work on most.
I like this one for learning how putts curve differently depending on where you’re standing, even on a “flat” putting green. By hitting every putt, you build a mental catalog of how the ball will behave from various spots, making it easier to adjust midround.
Drill #5: The Distance Control Drill
If you struggle with leaving putts way short or rolling them too far past the hole, this drill really comes in handy. Here’s how I do it:
- Lay down a club, towel, or stick on the green about 18 inches behind a cup.
- From 20, 30, or even 40 feet away, try to roll each putt so it either drops or finishes between the hole and the stick (not past it).
Anything that goes past the stick means it would run way by, just like leaving yourself a rough comeback putt. The idea is to groove the feel for distance, so your lag putts end up nice and close every time. Over time, this helps make sure your first putts give you easy tap-ins rather than tricky testers.
Even if you don’t make every putt, avoiding long three-putts will help keep your scores down. For an extra challenge, track how many times you get the ball in the target zone out of ten attempts and try to beat your personal best every week.
Common Mistakes and How These Drills Help
A lot of golfers fall into routines that don’t help much. Just putting to the same hole over and over with no aim or purpose isn’t going to do much good. I’ve learned it’s really important to keep my practice sessions focused and varied. Practice should have clear goals so you get real improvement, not just time spent on the green.
- Practicing With Pressure: Drills like the ladder or circle force you to start over if you miss, adding a bit of game-time feel to your routine.
- Covering Different Putts: The clock drill and distance control drill introduce the variety you’ll see on the course instead of just dead straight putts.
- Building the Right Habits: The gate drill tunes up your stroke and keeps those technical mistakes in check before they become bigger issues.
Mixing these into your regular sessions keeps things interesting and helps avoid falling into an unproductive rut. The more you switch up your practice, the better you’ll be at handling whatever the course throws at you.
Extra Tips for Building Putting Confidence
Here are a few bonus tips I like to add to my putting practice:
- Always read the break and commit: Don’t rush the read. Pick a spot a few inches in front of your ball and aim for that.
- Keep your routine consistent: Do the same steps every time; it helps calm nerves and breeds consistency when it counts.
- Make pressure part of practice: Finish every session by making three or five putts in a row from a pressure distance. No leaving the green until you do.
- Visualize the stroke and outcome: Before you hit the putt, picture the path and result to reinforce a positive mindset.
The more you do this, the less pressure you’ll feel when you’re standing over a real four-footer for par. Building comfort in practice means you’ll be steadier when it matters most on the course.
Questions Golfers Ask About Putting Drills
Here are a few things golfers regularly ask me about putting practice:
Q: How often should I do these drills?
A: I get the best results doing a mix of these at least two or three times a week, even just for 20-30 minutes. Consistency makes the difference.
Q: Which drill is the most helpful for short putts?
A: The circle drill is my favorite for anything inside three or four feet. It builds a ton of confidence up close.
Q: Should I practice more on breaks or straights?
A: Spend time on both, but don’t neglect breaking putts. The clock drill is super useful for working on reads from all directions.
How I Track Progress and Keep Practice Productive
I always keep a small notebook in my bag to jot down notes about what I’m working on. After a session, I’ll record how many putts I made in a row for drills like the circle or ladder, any misses, and what felt off. A few simple notes help me spot patterns and keep improving instead of just going through the motions. You can also use your phone to log practice stats for a digital approach.
Mixing in these five drills isn’t just about working harder, it’s about working smarter. Over time, your consistency and confidence will both improve, and you’ll notice those clutch putts aren’t so intimidating anymore. Whether you’re a total beginner or just want to get the yips out of your stroke, these putting drills are worth your time. Practice with intent and a bit of variety, and you’ll be shocked at how much lower your scores can go. Keep grinding, and you’ll see the results the next time you’re faced with the must-make putt!