Putting · Drill
A Short Putting Warm-Up That Builds Confidence
Part of our putting programs for three-putts, missing short putts, start line. Build a program with it
A good warm-up builds trust in your stroke. Start with start line. Find a short, straight putt, a little uphill. Make a narrow gate with two tees just in front of the ball. Roll putts through it until you trust your aim. Next, work around the hole from a few feet away. Vary your speed. Some die at the front edge. Some go in firmly. By the end, you'll have made dozens of short putts. Finish with a few longer ones, straight first, then breaking.
The drill
- Roll short putts through a tee gate.
- Keep going until you trust your line.
- Circle the hole from a few feet.
- Vary your speed.
- Finish with a few longer putts.
Why it works
A short, straight, slightly uphill putt removes break and lets you judge only your start line. The tee gate gives instant feedback on whether the face and path send the ball where you aimed. Working around the hole at different speeds shows you how pace changes the line, and that is the main cause of three-putts. Finishing with longer putts moves that trust to the distances where speed control matters most.
Common mistakes
- Setting the tee gate too wide, so almost any roll passes through.Set the tees only slightly wider than the ball so a poor start line touches a tee.
- Hitting every putt at the same speed when you circle the hole.Alternate putts that die at the front edge with putts that hit the back of the cup firmly, as the steps describe.
- Moving to longer putts before the short ones feel reliable.Stay on the gate until you roll several in a row cleanly, then move on.
How you'll know it's working
- The ball passes through the gate without touching a tee several times in a row.
- Short putts from around the hole drop with both gentle and firm pace.
- Longer putts finish close enough that the next putt is a short, easy one.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Move the ball closer to the hole and widen the tee gate slightly until the start line feels dependable.
Harder: Narrow the gate, move farther from the hole, or set a rule that you must make a set number in a row before moving on.
Common questions
How long should I warm up my putting before a round?
About 15 minutes is enough for this drill. Spend most of it on short putts, then finish with a few longer ones for speed.
Why practice a slightly uphill putt?
An uphill putt holds its line and slows the ball near the hole, so you can see your start line without break affecting the result.
