Pro Tips
Learn to Putt Like The Pros
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 said 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 from my students . Tenfooters seem like they should go in every time , but read the table below and learn just how often putts are dropping on the PGA TOUR .
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 Putting Coach
So what can we do to help our chances and become better “ realistic ” putters ?
26 May 2023 TEE TIMES GOLF GUIDE
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Here ’ s three drills to practice : First , make 25 putts from 5 feet drill . ( Image 1 )
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 . ( Image 2 )
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 .
The last drill is all about distance control . ( see image 3 on page 27 )
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 . Sometimes , with the proper speed and that mindset , the birdie from 30 feet is a lot more attainable !