Most golfers believe that it takes years to master distance around the greens. The truth is, with a little focused practice you can improve quickly and start lowering your score.
A few simple drills and a small investment of practice time can help you hit your short game shots closer to the target, convert more swings and gain confidence around the green. Real improvement can happen in a surprisingly short period of time.
Here are five drills you can use to drive your putter closer to the greens.
Drill 1: Changing the target
Set targets at 10-yard intervals – 10, 20, 30 and 40 yards. Choose one of your higher clubs, such as a sand wedge, and practice controlling your distance by varying the length of your backswing.
Learning to produce different carry distances with the same club is an important skill for the short game, especially if you need to carry a bunker, rough or other obstacle before the ball lands.
Drill 2: Long or short?
One of the best ways to improve a feeling is to predict the outcome before seeing it. Select the target and hit your shot. During the collision, decide whether you think the ball will finish long or short of the target. Then watch the result.
Sometimes you will be right, and sometimes you will be surprised. Over time, this simple exercise sharpens your awareness of how firm contact, swing length and tempo affect distance. As your predictions become more accurate, so will your distance control.
Drill 3: Different trajectories
Practice hitting the same club with three different trajectories: low, medium and high. By adjusting the ball’s position and trajectory, you will change how the ball lands and rolls. Top shots are always soft and roll a little, covering a small total distance. Low shots release a lot after landing and usually travel far.
Learning a variety of routes gives you another way to control distance and adapt to different course conditions.
Drill 4: Landing position for coin toss
Place a small target on the green, such as a coin or ball marker, and practice swinging your golf ball as close to it as possible.
Focusing on a very small landing area trains you to make subtle changes in swing length and speed. As your landing accuracy increases, you will naturally start hitting your shots closer to the hole. Remember, your destination is more important than the ball’s final destination.
Drill 5: Different clubs, same target
Choose one goal and challenge yourself to achieve it using several different clubs. For example, try hitting the same shot with a pitching wedge, gap wedge, sand wedge and lob wedge. Each club will require minor adjustments in trajectory, carry distance and release. These exercises improve feel, expand your creativity and teach you which clubs work best for different shots. Those lessons translate directly into making better decisions on the golf course.
