The short game as you already know can obliterate a game that was previously going just swell. There’s nothing like wrapping up a hole with a 4 putt. Fortunately, you are not destined to rinse and repeat. There is hope! Adding putting drills to your warm up routine can drastically improve your experience on the green.

Concentrate on the following 3 essential putting drills:

- Keep the club face square

- Swing through smoothly

- Control your distance

Here is something to try if you have a tough time with your club face opening or closing. Place a coin, ball, and tee on the green in a line toward the hole. Orient the coin 6 inches in front of the ball, and the tee 12 inches behind the ball. Know putt the ball bringing your club back to the tee and swinging through the ball and over the coin focusing on keeping the club face square throughout the swing and as it passes over the coin.

Now, to practice a smooth swinging motion, here is a similar drill. Again, put a ball down with a tee 12 inches behind. Bring the club back until it hits the tee but this time focus on swinging smoothly without pausing in your backswing.

The last of these putting drills is the distance control putting drill. Of course there are many drills out there but this one is probably the best. Put down 5 markers or tees, each one 4 feet apart. Place your ball next to the first marker and hit to each of the others in succession. Of course, wait for the ball to stop and take your time to set up on the ball each time. During this drill your goal is to hit the ball to the next marker or slightly past training yourself to never hit short while developing a feel for consistency. Because you are rapidly hitting the ball from one marker to the next, you are able to strike the ball while the feel of the last contact is still fresh in your mind. This gives you an advantage over practicing putting the ball into the cup, walking over, picking it up, putting it back down and setting up on the ball again.

These are just a few of the many putting drills out there. Embrace them and your short game will see big improvements. Just make sure to have fun while doing it. If it becomes drudgery find some new ones to try, make up your own, or take a break and come back to them later.

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