Classic Putting Drills You Can Do at Home...With Videos!

After three decades in this beautiful game and sixteen years as a PGA Professional, I've seen just about every putting woe imaginable. From the weekend warrior who can't seem to find the bottom of the cup from three feet to the scratch golfer whose nerves turn their hands to jelly on crucial putts. The good news? Most putting problems can be solved right in your living room, office, or anywhere you've got a few feet of carpet and a golf ball.

These classic drills work beautifully on a quality putting mat like PrimePutt, where you get consistent roll and realistic feedback, but they're just as effective on your office carpet or living room rug. The key is consistency – practicing a little bit every day rather than marathon sessions once a week.

I've compiled six of my favorite putting drills that you can practice at home, complete with demonstration videos, so you can see exactly how each one works. These aren't fancy gadgets or complicated systems. These are time-tested fundamentals that have helped countless golfers drop strokes and build confidence on the greens.

The Ball Mark Drill: Building Your Foundation

Purpose: Develop a consistent setup and stroke path while improving accuracy on short putts.

This drill is pure gold for developing fundamentals. I learned this one early in my career from an old-school pro who swore by its simplicity, and I've been teaching it ever since.

Steps:

1. Place a ball mark or small coin on your carpet about six inches in front of where you'll place your ball

2. Set up to your putt as you normally would, focusing on your usual pre-shot routine

3. Focus entirely on rolling your ball directly over that mark – ignore everything else

4. Start with 3-foot putts and gradually increase distance as your accuracy improves

5. Practice for 10 minutes daily to build muscle memory

Feedback: You'll know instantly if your stroke path is off because the ball will miss the mark. The beauty lies in this immediate, honest feedback that forces you to make adjustments in real time.

Arc Putting Stroke Drill: Finding Your Natural Path

Purpose: Discover and groove your natural putting stroke arc instead of fighting against it.

Here's where things get interesting. Not everyone should putt with a straight-back, straight-through stroke. In fact, most golfers naturally have a slight arc to their putting stroke, and fighting against that natural tendency often creates more problems than it solves.

Steps:

1. Set up two alignment sticks or golf clubs on the ground, creating a gentle arc

2. Make the arc subtle, curving maybe an inch or two inside on the backswing

3. Mirror the same path on the follow-through as the backswing

4. Practice stroking putts along this arc, letting your putter head naturally follow the curved path

5. Start with shorter putts and gradually increase distance while maintaining the arc

Feedback: You'll feel how much more fluid and consistent your stroke becomes when you stop fighting your natural tendencies. The putter will feel lighter and more connected to your body.

Looking at the Hole or Closing Eyes Drill: Trusting Your Feel

Purpose: Remove visual interference and develop a natural feel for distance and direction.

This one might feel weird at first, but stick with me. The magic happens when you eliminate the overthinking that often sabotages our putting.

Steps:

1. Set up to your putt normally with your usual routine and alignment

2. Choose your method: either look directly at the hole, OR close your eyes completely

3. If looking at the hole: Keep your eyes on the target throughout the entire stroke

4. If closing your eyes: Close them just before starting your backswing

5. Trust the stroke – don't peek or second-guess yourself

6. Practice both methods to see which gives you better results

Feedback: You'll be amazed at how often the ball finds the hole when you trust your natural instincts. I've seen golfers knock in twenty-footers with their eyes closed after missing three-footers while staring at the ball.

Metronome Drill: Developing Rhythm and Tempo

Purpose: Build consistent tempo and rhythm that stays steady under pressure.

Tempo is the secret sauce that separates good putters from great ones. This drill helps you develop that smooth, consistent rhythm that makes putting look effortless.

Steps:

1. Set a metronome to 60 beats per minute (use a phone app if needed)

2. For short putts: One beat back, one beat through

3. For longer putts: Two beats back, two beats through

4. Maintain the rhythm regardless of putt length – only stroke length changes

5. Practice daily until the tempo becomes automatic

6. Gradually increase to different tempos to find your natural rhythm

Feedback: Your putting will transform from a mechanical motion into a smooth, rhythmic dance. You'll know it's working when your tempo stays consistent even on important putts.

One-Handed Drill: The Tiger Woods Special

Purpose: Develop smooth acceleration and build strength in your putting muscles.

Tiger made this drill famous, and for good reason. Putting with just your dominant hand forces you to develop a smooth, accelerating stroke while building the small muscles in your hands and forearms.

Steps:

1. Use only your dominant hand on the putter grip

2. Start with very short putts (2-3 feet maximum)

3. Focus on solid contact and maintaining a smooth tempo

4. Watch for end-over-end roll – the ball should roll cleanly

5. Gradually increase the distance as control improves

6. Practice both short and medium putts once you're comfortable

Feedback: This drill quickly reveals any hitches or decelerations in your stroke because you simply can't muscle the ball to the hole with one hand. You'll develop the kind of smooth acceleration through impact that all great putters possess.

Straight-Back Straight-Through Path Drill: For the Purists

Purpose: Develop mechanical precision for golfers who putt better with a straight stroke path.

While most golfers have a natural arc to their stroke, some players do putt better with a straight-back, straight-through path, especially on shorter putts.

Steps:

1. Set up two alignment sticks parallel to each other

2. Create a narrow channel just wide enough for your putter head

3. Practice stroking putts without touching the guides

4. Start with very short putts and focus on the path

5. Gradually increase the distance as your control improves

6. Monitor contact – the putter should never hit the sticks

Feedback: You'll immediately know if your stroke path wanders because the putter will contact the alignment aids. This develops the kind of mechanical precision that breeds confidence on short putts.

Consistency Over Perfection

The beauty of practicing these drills at home is consistency. You can work on them every day without the variables of different greens, weather conditions, or course distractions. Your carpet or putting mat becomes your laboratory, and these fundamentals become second nature.

Remember, great putting isn't about having perfect mechanics – it's about having consistent mechanics that you can repeat under pressure. These drills will help you develop that consistency while building the confidence that transforms good golfers into great ones.