Putting · Drill
The Reverse Ladder Speed Drill
Part of our putting programs for three-putts, start line. Build a program with it
You don't need a hole to train speed. Find a flat spot. Push a ball marker into the green about 24 feet away. Putt your first ball as close to it as you can. Then make each next putt stop one or two feet shorter than the last. Look at the gaps. Gaps of three feet or more, or uneven gaps, mean more work. Use five to ten balls. Keep at it until the gaps are even.
The drill
- Set a marker about 24 feet away.
- Putt the first ball close to it.
- Stop each next one a foot or two shorter.
- Watch for big or uneven gaps.
- Repeat until the gaps are even.
Why it works
Three-putts usually start with a poor first putt, and a poor first putt is usually a speed error, not a line error. This drill trains you to judge how far the ball rolls from the length of your stroke and the pace of your swing. Stopping each ball a set distance short of the last one forces you to change that length in small, controlled steps. Using no hole removes the pull to aim and lets you focus only on distance.
Common mistakes
- You change your wrist action to get a shorter roll instead of changing stroke length.Keep your wrists quiet and shorten the backswing a little for each shorter putt.
- You rush the shorter putts and hit them with a jab.Keep the same smooth tempo on every ball and let stroke length set the distance.
- You stare at the marker and ignore where the balls stop, so the gaps stay uneven.Look at the whole row after each ball and step off to judge the gap before you hit the next one.
How you'll know it's working
- The balls finish in a neat row with gaps of about one to two feet between them.
- Your first ball ends up close to the marker on most rounds of the drill.
- Your stroke length and tempo feel the same from ball to ball, and only the length of the backswing changes.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Use only five balls and set the marker closer, then move it back to 24 feet once the gaps are even.
Harder: Use ten balls, or putt on a green with a slight slope, and aim to keep every gap under two feet.
Common questions
How do I stop three-putting?
Work on speed first, because most three-putts come from a first putt that finishes too far from the hole. Drills that train distance control, like this one, help you leave the ball close enough to hole out the next putt.
Do I need a hole to practice putting speed?
No. A ball marker or a tee on a flat spot gives you a target for distance, and you can judge your speed by where the balls stop.
