Putting · Drill
A Speed Drill to Cut Your Three-Putts
Part of our putting programs for three-putts. Build a program with it
From long range, focus on speed. Forget the line for a moment. If every long putt finishes in a small zone, three-putts go away. Put a tee about two feet past the hole. Putt from 30, 40 and 50 feet. Try to finish every ball past the hole but short of the tee. A ball that dies short of the hole never had a chance. One a bit past did. Track how many finish in the zone.
The drill
- Put a tee two feet past the hole.
- Putt from 30, 40 and 50 feet.
- Finish past the hole but short of the tee.
- Count how many land in the zone.
- Aim for seven out of ten.
Why it works
Most three-putts come from a poor first putt, not a poor second one. A first putt that finishes within a small zone around the hole leaves a short second putt. Judging speed is a feel skill, so repeated putts to one fixed target train your stroke length and tempo to produce the same roll each time.
Common mistakes
- You steer the ball toward the hole and think about the line.Pick a rough line, then put your full attention on how far the ball needs to roll.
- You decelerate and let the ball die short of the hole.Keep the putter head moving through impact and make the finish about as long as the backswing.
- You change your tempo from one distance to the next.Keep the same smooth rhythm and change only the length of the stroke.
How you'll know it's working
- At least seven out of ten balls finish past the hole but short of the tee.
- Your misses are spread evenly short and long, not mostly short.
- Your second putts from the drill are mostly short tap-ins.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Start from 20 feet and move the tee to three feet past the hole so the zone is larger.
Harder: Move the tee to 18 inches past the hole, or count only balls that finish in the zone on consecutive putts.
Common questions
How far past the hole should I try to hit a long putt?
A ball that finishes about one to two feet past the hole is a good target. It gives the ball a chance to drop and leaves a short putt back if it misses.
Why do I keep leaving long putts short?
Most golfers decelerate or make too short a stroke because they fear going past the hole. Make the follow-through match the backswing and aim to finish past the hole.
