How To Putt Better - Stop Three Putting

Putting is one of the most frustrating parts of the game. it seems so simple, but yet it kicks all of our butts. We either miss extremely short putts that we know we should have made, we three putt, or we collapse under pressure with putting.

On average the amateur golfer three putts 8 to 10 times per 18 hole round. So if you could eliminate all those three putts, that is an immediate 8 to 10 strokes you shave off of your game.

Imagine how much more fun golf would be if you were shooting 10 shots less, that could help you break 100, 90, and even 80!

To do that, you need to practice the three following drills:

1. Pre Shot Routine
2. Star Drill
3. Distance Control

Pre-Shot Routine

Pre-shot routine is one of the most important parts of any part of the golf game. It gets you in the right state of mind and it reinforces to yourself saying, "Hey, I know what I am doing here."

For putting a Pre shot routine should include the following:

1. Calm the mind
2. Read the Green
3. Line up the putt
4. Practice strokes
5. Putting the ball

It can be anything you want that gets you comfortable. For example here is my pre-shot routine:

I mark the ball and begin cleaning the ball as I step behind the mark and bend down and read the green. I take a couple of deep breaths while will still reading the green. I then line up the ball and pick up the mark. I make one practice stroke while looking at the ground, then I make two practice strokes while looking at the hole to gauge the speed.

I then immediately step up and stroke the ball with taken minimal amount of time to think any more about the stroke.

Star Drill

To make more putts within 10 feet use this drill. For this drill you take 12 tees and set three tees on each side of the practice green hole. The distances for each tee are 3 feet, 4 feet, 6 feet.

You go around in a circle putting and making a ball at each tee before moving to the next side. Do this until you make it all the way around, and if you miss a putt at any point you have to start over.

Distance Control

For this you take three tees and put them at 10 feet, 15 feet, and 20 feet. You then take an extra club and put it a putters length behind the hole.

You putt three balls from each tee and try to get each ball past the hole, but stop short of the extra club. If you leave it short or hit the club, you have to start over.

Now What?

Practice these drills and you will be sure to get better at putting. So just keep practicing and keep getting better.