Luke Donald’s Putting Drill: Your Path to Making More Pars

by | Putting Drills

Five ball-and-tee positions around one hole with the yellow-shirted branded golfer.

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DRILL OVERVIEW

Luke Donald Putting Drill: Par Maker

Your drill at a glance

PuttingDrill category
Practise your routineBenefit
15 minutesPractice time
5 / 10Difficulty
Putter, ball + 20 teesEquipment
Luke Donald Par Maker: five starting points, four holes, score out of twenty.
For more putting practice, explore the Golf Practice Made Easy App.
This Luke Donald putting drill tests your short-putt routine over 20 different attempts. Play five putts around each of four holes, using starting points from 4 to 8 feet.
Each ball gets one attempt and every holed putt earns one point. The aim is to keep the same preparation at every tee, then record a score you can compare with your next session.

Watch the Luke Donald putting drill

Watch the Northwestern University drill explained in the original Formulagolf video, then follow the three practice steps below.
Watch the video on YouTube.

Step 1. Set up five putts

Set up five putts from four to eight feet.

What to do

ActionWhat to do
Choose the first holeFind a clear practice hole with room to putt from different sides. The five positions should give you different angles and reads.
Mark five distancesPlace one tee at each of 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 feet around the hole. There are five starting points at this hole, rather than five at each distance.
Keep the roll line clearPut each tee beside the intended ball position, clear of the putter and ball’s path. Use one ball, moving it to the next tee after each attempt.
The illustration shows the five ball positions together so you can see the setup. You only need one ball to play the drill.

Step 2. Play four holes

Play the five-putt test at four different holes.

What to do

ActionWhat to do
Read, aim and settleAt every starting point, read the slope, choose your starting line and pace, and go through your normal routine as if you were on the course.
Play five attemptsPutt once from each tee at the first hole. Award one point for each putt holed and record the subtotal out of 5.
Repeat at three more holesUse the same five distances around holes 2, 3 and 4. Mark five tees at each hole, giving 20 tee positions and 20 first attempts in total.
Continue after a missA miss scores zero. Move to the next position and keep the points already earned. This test does not restart after a miss.

Quick practice checks

Watch forTry this
Rushing the shorter puttsUse your full routine at 4 feet as well as 8 feet. Keep your preparation consistent.
Repeating a missed attemptOnly the first putt from each tee counts. Save extra practice until the scored test is finished.
Choosing the same read every timeSpread the tees around each hole so the distances and slopes give you a useful variety.
Losing track of the totalWrite down each hole’s score out of 5 before moving to the next hole.

Step 3. Add your score

Add four scores out of five for a total out of twenty.

What to do

Play five putts at each of four practice holes, keeping the same distances for future tests.
ScoreWhen to award it
1 pointYou hole the putt.
0 pointsYou miss the putt.
Add your points for a total out of twenty.

George’s Conclusion

George at the practice range.
The Luke Donald putting drill gives your short-putt practice a clear structure: five attempts at each of four holes, with one routine for every ball.
Record your score out of 20 and notice the putts you find hardest. For a challenge with a restart rule, try the Gary Woodland Birdie Maker Drill.
MAKE THE NEXT BUCKET COUNT

Pick a card. Practise with purpose.

Explore the Golf Practice Made Easy App.
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