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DRILL OVERVIEW
Distance Control Putting Drill
Your drill at a glance
PuttingDrill category
Control your pacePractice focus
15 minutesPractice time
5 / 10Difficulty
Putter, balls + flagstickEquipment
For more putting practice, explore the Golf Practice Made Easy App.
This distance control putting drill gives you a clear finishing window on long putts. Try to hole the ball or finish beyond the cup without reaching the flagstick lying two feet behind it.
Practise from at least 20 feet and play two sets of nine. One point per successful finish gives a total out of 18.
Watch the distance control putting drill
Step 1. Lay the flagstick flat
What to do
| Action | What to do |
|---|---|
| Choose a practice hole | Find a clear putting lane with room for a putt of at least 20 feet. |
| Place the flagstick | Lay it flat on the green two feet beyond the hole, across your intended putting line. Keep the cup clear. |
| Check the layout | From your starting position, the hole comes first and the flat flagstick lies beyond it. The gap between them is your finishing window. |
Step 2. Putt from 20+ feet
What to do
| Action | What to do |
|---|---|
| Read and aim | Choose your line and pace, then use your normal routine. |
| Play nine first attempts | Try to hole each putt. If it misses, aim to finish past the cup without touching or reaching the flagstick. |
| Record and clear | Record each result before collecting balls that might obstruct the next putt. Keep the starting point fixed for the scored test. |
Quick practice checks
| Watch for | Try this |
|---|---|
| Finishing short | Rehearse the distance while looking at the hole, then allow enough stroke length to reach it. |
| Hitting the flagstick | Use the narrow finishing window to judge how much pace the putt needs. |
| Only judging left and right | Notice finishing distance as well as line. This test rewards a controlled finish. |
Step 3. Score two sets of nine
What to do
Play eighteen putts from the same starting point, with the flagstick two feet beyond the hole.
| Score | When to award it |
|---|---|
| 1 point | The putt is holed, or finishes past the cup and short of the stick without touching it. |
| 0 points | The putt finishes short, touches the stick, or finishes at or beyond it. |
Add your points for a total out of eighteen.
George’s Conclusion
The distance control putting drill gives every attempt a clear purpose: give the ball a chance to go in while controlling how far a miss travels.
Record your two sets of nine and notice whether you tend to leave putts short or run them too far. For longer-distance practice, try the Lag Putting Drill.
MAKE THE NEXT BUCKET COUNT
Pick a card. Practise with purpose.
