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A GENTLER MONTH OF PUTTING PRACTICE
Try the 30-day putting challenge
Seven drills. Your pace. Enjoy your practice.
Over the next 30 days, choose from these seven putting drills whenever you have time to practise. Repeat your favourites, try something different and enjoy having a simple idea to take to the green.
Hi, I’m George, a scratch golfer and creator of the Golf Practice Made Fun App. Try this challenge, then explore the App for more ways to make your practice count.
There’s no fixed timetable, points table or pass mark. You don’t need to practise every day, work through the drills in order or complete all seven. One useful session is a good start.
Step 1. Pick a drill that suits today
Choose according to the time, equipment and space you have. Bring a putter and a few balls. Some drills use tees, a marked ball or a flagstick on a practice green where permitted.
| If you fancy… | Try this drill |
|---|---|
| Make lining up feel simpler | Ball Line |
| Get comfortable with short putts | Three-Foot Putting Circle |
| Explore your starting direction | Putting Gate: Start the Ball on Line |
| Feel the difference between distances | 10-20-30 Putting Pace Challenge |
| Notice where the ball finishes | Distance Control |
| Make long putts feel less daunting | Lag Putt To Avoid 3 Putting |
| Enjoy a little friendly practice | Par Maker |
Using the App? Open your dashboard, choose Putting and search for the card’s name. Save the cards you like to My Cards so they’re easy to find next time.
You could choose one or two favourite drills and repeat them during the month, or sample all seven. A few putts at home may suit Ball Line or the gate drill; longer pace drills need a practice green.
Step 2. Enjoy your putting practice
Start with comfortable distances. Before each putt, choose a line, get settled and roll the ball. Pause, notice what happened and give yourself another go.
A simple example: Try Ball Line on your first visit, repeat it next time and add a short putting circle if you feel like it. On a day with more time and space, explore one of the pace drills. You choose the rhythm.
DRILL 1 · PUTTING CARD 1
Ball Line
Make lining up feel simpler
Draw a clear line on your ball. Point it along the direction you want the putt to start, then take your normal stance and roll the ball. Reset the line before your next putt. Choose an easy putt to begin with.
Keep it easy: Take your time with the setup. You don’t need to hole every putt or count how many you make.
DRILL 2 · PUTTING CARD 11
Three-Foot Putting Circle
Get comfortable with short putts
Place four balls roughly three feet from a hole, at different positions around it. Putt each one using your normal routine, then replace them if you want another go. Begin on a fairly level part of the green.
Keep it easy: Treat every ball as a fresh attempt. A miss simply gives you another chance to practise.
DRILL 3 · PUTTING CARD 9
Putting Gate: Start the Ball on Line
Explore your starting direction
Place two tees a short distance in front of the ball to make a gate on your chosen start line. Leave a generous gap, then roll the ball between them from a comfortable distance. Reset before your next putt.
Keep it easy: Start with a wide gate. You can make it narrower another time if you enjoy the challenge, but there’s no need to make it difficult.
DRILL 4 · PUTTING CARD 10
10-20-30 Putting Pace Challenge
Feel the difference between distances
Choose starting spots about 10, 20 and 30 feet from a hole. Putt from each in turn, noticing how much swing you need for the different distances. Try to leave the ball comfortably close to the hole.
Keep it easy: If those distances feel too long, bring them closer. You’re exploring pace, not chasing a score.
DRILL 5 · PUTTING CARD 3
Distance Control
Notice where the ball finishes
On a practice green where permitted, lay a flagstick across your putting line about two feet beyond the hole. Putt from a comfortable distance, aiming to reach the hole without running beyond the flagstick. Notice whether your ball finishes short, close or too far past.
Keep it easy: Use the finish position as helpful feedback. There are no points to add and no penalties for a miss.
DRILL 6 · PUTTING CARD 4
Lag Putt To Avoid 3 Putting
Make long putts feel less daunting
On a quiet practice green with enough space, try longer putts from different starting spots. The App card suggests 40, 50 and 60 feet; for this gentle challenge, shorten those distances to suit your confidence and the available space. Aim to leave a comfortable second putt.
Keep it easy: Begin closer if needed. Watch where each ball stops and adjust the feel of your next stroke.
DRILL 7 · PUTTING CARD 6
Par Maker
Enjoy a little friendly practice
Place four tees about five feet from the hole, at different positions around it. Use one ball and move between the starting spots, taking your normal routine each time. Bring the tees closer if that makes the session more enjoyable.
Keep it easy: Practise on your own whenever you like. Optional: if you have a partner, take turns and encourage each other. Keep it friendly; no competition or scorekeeping is required.
Step 3. Complete your round
If you’re using the Golf Practice Made Fun App, you can tick one box in your Practice Round after each putt. A tick means you practised; it doesn’t depend on holing the ball or hitting a target.
A round of 18 is an optional guide. Play fewer putts if that suits your time, or come back to finish the round another day. There’s no need to rush, restart after a miss or force yourself to finish.
There’s nothing to add up. If you want, leave one short note such as “The wider gate felt comfortable” or “I’m starting to judge the longer putts better.” Notes are optional too.
At the end of the 30 days, ask yourself: Which drill did I enjoy? What felt easier? What would I like to keep practising? Use those answers to choose your next card. You don’t need a final test or a better score to have made worthwhile use of the month.
George’s Conclusion
The aim is to make putting practice easier to start and more enjoyable to repeat. Pick a drill, keep the setup comfortable and give yourself a few useful putts.
If you find one drill you enjoy coming back to, the challenge has given you something useful. Keep that card handy and take it to the green when you next have the chance.
MAKE THE NEXT BUCKET COUNT
Pick a card. Practise with purpose.
