Pro Tips
Putt Like The Pros
Learn How To Increase Your Percentages by Gianna Augustine, PGA
Let’ s play out a scenario you have probably faced on the course— it’ s a beautiful day, you’ re enjoying golf with your friends or even playing in a heated competition! You’ ve found your way onto the green in regulation, and you’ re staring down a 30-footer for birdie. The thoughts of circling your score on your card are so exciting. It’ s finally your turn to putt and that beloved birdie putt comes up 6 feet short( or goes by the hole 6 feet). Have you been there? I certainly have. Now, we’ re grinding just to save par!
Statistically speaking, a PGA TOUR player has a 60 % chance of draining a 6-footer. If you’ re like me, I am definitely not practicing as much as that PGA / LPGA tour player, meaning my chances are significantly less.
Putting percentages on tour are a common misconception. I hear my students say,“ It seems like 10-footers for Tour players go in every time. But read the table below and see just how often the percentage of putts are dropping PGA TOUR players.
Putting distance One putt percentage on PGA Tour 5 feet 76 %
7 feet 56 % 10 feet 38 % 20 feet 15 % 30 feet 7 %
Data from Potters Putting, 2019
Marcus Potters,, PGA Tour TOUR Putting
Coach Putting Coach
So what can we do to help our chances and become better“ realistic” putters?
Here Are Three Drills to Practice First, make 25 putts from 5 feet drill.( Photo 1 above on right)
This one is simple, make 25 putts from 5 feet in a row. While this seems mundane, try it— it is much harder than it sounds. The adrenaline I get once I get to that 23rd putt in a row really mimics the feelings while on the course. The pressure is on to make the 25th putt. This is a true“ practice like you play drill.”
Next, the 5-4-3-2-1 drill.
( Photo 2 below)
Photo 1
Pick a cup and start 4 feet away and make five putts in a row. Now, move back to 5 feet and make four out of five putts. Next, 6 feet and make three out of five putts; then 7 feet, make two out of 5 putts; and 8 feet, make one out of five putts. This drill brings the PGA TOUR percentages to life.
Photo 2
The last drill is all about distance control.( Photo 3 below)
Photo 3
The last drill is all about distance control. Place a club about 18 inches behind a hole. Start at 10 feet, and try to make two out of three putts either go in the hole or end between the cup and the club. If the ball hits the club, it does not count because the ball would have gone out of the optimal next putt range. After you get two out of three in the zone from 10 feet, do the same thing from 20, 30, and 40 feet. I recommend trying this drill at different practice facilities because all green speeds are different.
Practicing these drills is proven to help lower scores. At minimum, spend half an hour once a month trying to accomplish them! Remember, sometimes it’ s not about making that 30-footer; it’ s about getting it close. Ultimately, with practice, the proper speed, and mindset, that birdie putt from 30 feet becomes a lot more attainable! �
Gianna Augustine( Coach G), PGA, is a teaching professional at the Overland Park Golf Division. She was named one of the Best Teachers in Kansas by Golf Digest for 2024-2025. Won the 2022 Midwest Section PGA Player Development Award, and the 2021 LPGA Central Section Junior Leader Award. The first ever female to compete in the Watson Challenge( 2022). She is a U. S. Kids Golf and First Tee Certified Instructor. She offers year-round group and individual instruction to all ages. To learn more about Augustine, visit golfop. com or Instagram @ golfcoachgianna.
30 July 2025 TEE TIMES GOLF GUIDE