Putting Drills to Practice at Home
Practicing putting at home is a great way to improve your golf game when you can't make it to the course. Below is a list of some effective putting drills you can do at home, with or without an at-home putting mat (although we highly recommend investing in a putting green for your house if you are really serious about wanting to shave strokes off your game).
We believe that the number one thing to improve your putting at home, is to practice on the most realistic putting surface possible. The BirdieBall RollTech Foam putting greens most closely replicate a natural putting green. They boast the same spongy sub-base that makes up a natural putting green’s sub-base, as well as the grain that is present on a natural putting green. Click here to learn more about the technology behind the patented RollTech Putting Mats. Investing in a putting mat/indoor putting green that simulates real putting conditions at home will allow you to practice on a consistent surface, as well as offer a surface that you can create various slopes and breaks with.
Drills
1. Straight Putt Drill: Set up a straight putting path on your putting mat, carpet or other smooth surface using a ruler or alignment stick. Practice hitting putts along this line, focusing on keeping your stroke straight and consistent.
2. Gate Drill Practice: Place two objects (such as tees or coins) on the mat or ground/carpet, slightly wider than the width of your putter head. This creates a "gate" for your putter to pass through. Practice hitting putts through the gate to improve your accuracy and alignment. BirdieBall’s Putting Mirror has slots to create this gate drill with tees.
3. Distance Control Drill: Set up targets at various distances from your where you are standing and putting from (e.g., 3 feet, 6 feet, 9 feet). Practice putting to each target, trying to hit the targets, focusing on controlling your speed and distance.
4. One-Handed Putting Practice: Practice putting with only one hand (either your dominant or non-dominant hand). This drill helps improve your feel and touch on the putter. Tiger Woods consistently uses this drill to warm up before matches. This drill is especially useful if you use a toe-hang putter. Golf coach Scott Munroe explained to Golf.com that, “Woods has been using the same style of putter since he was 13. It has a lot of toe hang, which helps Woods release the putter head to maximize his ball spin. Practicing putts one-handed allows Woods to impart a lot of top spin on the ball.” (golf.com) “He’s doing this drill with his right hand to feel how much energy he needs with each stroke, which isn’t a lot since the ball spin is so good,” Munroe said. “Over history, the best putters use this method.” (Scott Munroe via golf.com)
5. Putting Mirror Practice: Use a putting mirror or any reflective surface to check your alignment, eye position, and posture. The use of the mirror will allow you to make adjustments as needed to ensure proper setup. It is a generally accepted practice to setup with your eyes over the ball, however it is more important to practice consistency in where you align your head and eyes as you setup to putt. When it comes to putting- the more consistent, the better.
6. Putting Games: Incorporate fun games like "Around the World" (click here for detailed instructions ) or "Horse" (click here for detailed instructions) to keep your practice engaging and competitive. At BirdieBall we offer ShufflePutt and BirdiePong to keep things interesting and entertaining, all the while honing in your putting skills.
7. Blind Putting Drill: Close your eyes while practicing putting to a specific target in your home or hole on your putting mat. This drill helps improve your feel and touch without relying on visual feedback.
8. Practice Breaks: This drill will require some kind of putting mat, to place items under the mat to create different breaks and contours. BirdieBall offers a Contour Shim kit with various sizes and shapes to create different breaks. You can also use household items like magazines, towels (rolled up or flat), plates and ropes- the sky is the limit with what you can use at home. Below are some ideas of the placement of your shims to create different breaks and challenges.
Remember to focus on your fundamentals—grip, stance, alignment, and stroke—during these drills. Consistent practice and attention to detail will help you become a more confident and proficient putter.