There are no mulligans out on the course, so practice like you play!

As we were navigating through traffic during our weekly trek to the local driving range, my son asked me, “Hey Dad, why do you spend more time at the putting green than you do hitting golf balls at the range?”

“Do you remember what I’ve told you about practice?”

“Yea, practice makes permanent.”

“Exactly kiddo, but in golf, practice makes pars!”

Decades ago, I read a startling fact in Golf Magazine that most amateur golfers never consistently break the 90-stroke barrier. I remember vividly the shock of this stat because at the time my average score per round hovered a little closer to that number than I cared to admit.

The article suggested that struggling golfers should start logging the results of each shot and use this information to help identify weaknesses in their game and where the most strokes are being lost.  A few rounds later, it was abundantly clear that over half of my strokes were occurring on or around the green. Armed with this newfound knowledge, I designed the following practice routine in the hopes it would reduce this number and possibly trim some fat off my handicap as well.

The first putting drill is called ‘Quarter to Three’ and has a very simple setup. First, place a golf tee approximately three feet from the hole – this will be like the twelve-position on a clock face.  Use three other tees to mark and measure where the three, six, and nine positions would be. Once you place a ball next to each tee the setup is complete and it’s time to have some fun! The rules of this game are simple; make all four putts in a row to complete a round, and do so for ten rounds in a row. And yes, the “in-a-row” part is the crucial part as it’s what simulates the pressure and mental focus needed while putting in an actual match. Practice like you play, I always say!

Drill number two is called the ‘Lag Ladder.’ This time we will use five golf tees but instead of making a circle around the hole we will be marking distances in three feet increments extending in a straight line away from the hole. I typically mark off five spots with 15 feet being the furthest interval from the hole. Once marked, place a golf ball at each distance and let the games begin! Starting at the three-foot mark and working your way out to the furthest marker, the goal is to make as many feet of putts as possible, and either equal or improve upon that number over the course of five consecutive rounds.

Now, before you grab your putter and head off to the links, I’d like to leave you with a few parting shots.  Remember, there are no mulligans on the course, so it should go without saying there shouldn’t be any in your practice. Also, practice with the same type of ball and putter you plan on playing with on the course. You are trying to build consistency in your short game so limit the variables and practice with what you play. By adding these drills to your routine once or twice a week, your putts and scores will be doing the same thing, sinking.