Putting · Drill
Make a Two-Putt Zone From 30 Feet
Part of our putting programs for three-putts, start line, reading greens. Build a program with it
Cutting out three-putts is one of the fastest ways to lower your score. Start at about 30 feet. Two keys. Don't start the ball on a line that leaves it below the hole. And roll it to the hole or a little past, so you can see how the next one breaks. Lay one stick a putter length past the hole. Lay another on the low side. That's your zone. Control the length of your follow-through. The backstroke will sort itself out.
The drill
- Pace off 30 feet.
- Lay a stick a putter length past the hole.
- Lay another on the low side.
- Pick a spot for your follow-through to stop.
- Finish three in a row in the zone.
Why it works
Most three-putts come from leaving the first putt short or on the low side, where the second putt is hard to read and hard to hit. A start line that stays above the hole lets the ball fall toward the cup as it slows. Rolling it to the hole or a little past gives you a clear look at the break for the next one. Controlling the follow-through sets the length of the stroke, and the backstroke adjusts to match.
Common mistakes
- You aim straight at the hole and let the ball drift below it.Pick a start line on the high side of the hole so the ball curves toward the cup, not away from it.
- You decelerate and leave the putt short of the zone.Set a stopping spot for your follow-through and finish the stroke there, even if it feels long.
- You try to control the length by shortening the backstroke.Leave the backstroke alone and focus on how far the putter goes through the ball.
How you'll know it's working
- Most of your putts finish inside the zone, between the hole and the stick past it.
- Few putts finish on the low-side stick, and none finish short of the hole.
- Your follow-through stops at the same spot each time, and the pace feels the same from putt to putt.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Move closer than 30 feet, or widen the zone by placing the back stick further past the hole.
Harder: Move the back stick closer to the hole, or ask for five in a row in the zone instead of three.
Common questions
How do I stop three-putting from long range?
Focus on distance first. Aim to finish at the hole or just past it, and keep the ball above the hole so your second putt is simple to read.
Should I miss a long putt high or low of the hole?
Miss it on the high side. A ball that finishes above the hole leaves an uphill putt, which is easier to hit with confidence than a downhill one.
