Distance Control Practice Routine

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By Skip Guss

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  • 24 Replies
  1. Skip Guss

    Skip Guss
    Marlborough, MA

    Many of my students are competing right now....taking all that they have practiced & prepared for...onto the course...where it counts! They constantly work on the following routine, helping them improve their distance control on the greens. Try this:

    Mark out a 4' x 4' box...placing tees at the corners...anywhere on the putting green.

    Next....find a spot approx 15' from the center of the box you just laid out...place a tee in the green. Do the same for the following distances...20ft...30ft...40ft....50ft. It makes NO difference where you place these tees on the green...anywhere!

    Finally....grab a scorecard and place the distances inside one of the boxes on the card (15.20.30.40.50)

    Now...the fun begins! Grab 5 Pro V's...brand new ones, please....and do the following:

    -Start at any distance (let's say 20'). The goal is to hit putts towards the 4' box and see how many of the 5 putts you hit STOP inside the box. Record your results under the corresponding distance on the scorecard. Do the same for ALL distances...again...record all of your results on the scorecard!

    -Follow this routine EVERY PRACTICE SESSION! Over time, you will see...on the scorecard... how you are progressing. At first...don't worry if your first results are lower than anticipated. Over time, your numbers should/will improve. (I actually maintain Excel spreadsheets for all of my students...recording every session....calculating averages....pretty neat! They get to see their progress, over time...)

    Knowing this information is great for tournament play! If you know your actual average of getting the ball (on a 40' putt, let's say), within the 4' box is 82%...this information can certainly calm the nerves when faced with a 40' putt to win the championship!

    If you would like to do this...I am here to help! Forward me your numbers, via email, to: info@golfrite.com. I will start recording your sessions, set up a spreadsheet for you, and periodically send it back to you for review.

    Better distance control on the greens = lower scores!!!!! It's that simple!

    Have fun....look forward to getting your results!

    -skip

  2. Alex

    Alex

    Wow love this actually sounds like fun aswell.

    To be fair I've always loved putting practice as I'm always trying to challenge myself. Reset if you miss and carry on till you do.

    Thanks for this will have to try it on a quiet day at the course.
  3. Skip Guss

    Skip Guss
    Marlborough, MA

    Alex: my students love this routine! When they record their results, and see their improvement over time...that REALLY gets them excited. Plus, it helps calm the nerves during competition, as THEY KNOW how good they are from various distances! One of my favorite routines, for sure. Hope you put it into your routine, and enjoy it, too! Thanks!
  4. Gabriel G

    Gabriel G
    Cedar Park, TX

    Military
    I love to practice putting. The way I see it. I cannot hit a ball 300 yards like a Pro. But I can make a ten foot putt like a Pro!
  5. Don O

    Don O
    Madison, WI

    Great advice - I want to reduce the odds of a 3 putt beyond 20 feet.
    I might add, practice with your gamer, even if not a Pro-V1. And why your gamer should not be the last ball you found on course.
  6. Darryl M

    Darryl M
    Wichita, KS

    This Friday at 10:00 am I will be doing my short game practice so I will be adding this in to my routine. I enjoy competitive games while practicing & this one sounds very exciting to try. Thanks Skip
  7. Skip Guss

    Skip Guss
    Marlborough, MA

    Hey Darryl: & "R"...

    Please send results to me....info@golfrite.com. Again...I will keep track of how you are doing, sending along a report now & then....

    This is a very cool routine...hope you enjoy it as well!
  8. Skip Guss

    Skip Guss
    Marlborough, MA

    Nothing like finding a Titleist!

    As a young boy...any time you found a Titleist golf ball in the woods, in the water, in the rough....it was special!

    STILL IS!!!

    I am sure you feel the same way, Don!
  9. Don O

    Don O
    Madison, WI

    skip g said:

    Nothing like finding a Titleist!

    As a young boy...any time you found a Titleist golf ball in the woods, in the water, in the rough....it was special!

    STILL IS!!!

    I am sure you feel the same way, Don!

    Well, if I find an AVX I would keep it. I’d still donate a Velocity or NXT to 1sr Tee. I’d just put a Top Flight in the cup to let the next guy to be excited.
  10. The303

    The303
    Colorado

    Going to try this.
  11. Rick V., Team Titleist Staff

    Rick V., Team Titleist Staff
    Duxbury, MA

    Team Titleist Staff
    Great advice, Skip! Thanks for sharing.
  12. greg p

    greg p
    Chicago 'burbs, IL

    Love it! Sounds like your students have a good teacher. Best...
  13. Skip Guss

    Skip Guss
    Marlborough, MA

    Greg:

    Thanks for the kind words!

    I have sooo much fun developing strategies, games, routines, training tools...all designed to help golfers play better & have more fun on the golf course! If you start working on this routine, please keep me posted on your progress!
  14. Chris92009

    Chris92009
    Ohio

    skip g said:

    Many of my students are competing right now....taking all that they have practiced & prepared for...onto the course...where it counts! They constantly work on the following routine, helping them improve their distance control on the greens. Try this:

    Mark out a 4' x 4' box...placing tees at the corners...anywhere on the putting green.

    Next....find a spot approx 15' from the center of the box you just laid out...place a tee in the green. Do the same for the following distances...20ft...30ft...40ft....50ft. It makes NO difference where you place these tees on the green...anywhere!

    Finally....grab a scorecard and place the distances inside one of the boxes on the card (15.20.30.40.50)

    Now...the fun begins! Grab 5 Pro V's...brand new ones, please....and do the following:

    -Start at any distance (let's say 20'). The goal is to hit putts towards the 4' box and see how many of the 5 putts you hit STOP inside the box. Record your results under the corresponding distance on the scorecard. Do the same for ALL distances...again...record all of your results on the scorecard!

    -Follow this routine EVERY PRACTICE SESSION! Over time, you will see...on the scorecard... how you are progressing. At first...don't worry if your first results are lower than anticipated. Over time, your numbers should/will improve. (I actually maintain Excel spreadsheets for all of my students...recording every session....calculating averages....pretty neat! They get to see their progress, over time...)

    Knowing this information is great for tournament play! If you know your actual average of getting the ball (on a 40' putt, let's say), within the 4' box is 82%...this information can certainly calm the nerves when faced with a 40' putt to win the championship!

    If you would like to do this...I am here to help! Forward me your numbers, via email, to: info@golfrite.com. I will start recording your sessions, set up a spreadsheet for you, and periodically send it back to you for review.

    Better distance control on the greens = lower scores!!!!! It's that simple!

    Have fun....look forward to getting your results!

    -skip

    Thats one of the best putting practice activities I have seen in a long time! Keep the ideas coming!!
  15. Skip Guss

    Skip Guss
    Marlborough, MA

    Chris:

    A much-belated "Thank You" for the nice comment. Would very much like to see how you are doing with the routine...please send along YOUR results at: info@golfrite.com Results are beginning to come in....very cool!

    More ideas/thoughts/practice routines will be coming....hope some/all of them help you play better!

    Thanks again, Chris...skip
  16. BMarsh

    BMarsh

    Heading to the course to try it out!
  17. Skip Guss

    Skip Guss
    Marlborough, MA

    Please keep me informed on your progress! Send results to: info@golfrite.com and I will track them for you! Have fun "BMarsh"!!!
  18. Vinh N

    Vinh N

    this drill is similar to drill I made up when I wanted to lower my score from mid 80's to 70's cuz I would 3-putt 5-7x a round not cuz I'm a bad putter but as an amateur a lot of my approach shots are nowhere near the hole( 40 ft.). I'm shocked to never seen high level amateurs/pros practice distance control on the greens instead rather rely on touch/feel? pros have their wedges dialed in to distance w 7, 9, 11 o'clock, to full back swing. why don't they do the same w putting stroke.

    with skip's drill the target is 4' x 4' box, so basically your target is within 2 ft of the hole. I figured for me, if I lagged my putt to within 5' my chances of sinking the par putt 95% cuz I'm able to see the break of the lag putt coming/going. so my drill, my target is a 10 ft diameter circle(5 ft short/long/left/right).

    like skip's drill, I measure out 10', 20', 30', 40',..., 100' on a LEVEL green. but unlike skip's drill, I figured with normal stance/stroke if I take my putter back to the inside of my back foot, my putt goes 10'. if I take it back to the middle of the back foot = 20', outside back foot = 30' and thereafter 2" of backswing = 10' distance roll. then I would just practice putting the ball without a target but practice distance like I would w my irons. when I got my distances down pat with my putter, all I have to worry about when I putt is the LINE and take feel/touch out of the equation. so every green I pace out distance, also helps me see both sides of the putt and few more paces on the Fitbit.

    I know what the first question is: what about down/uphill putts? through practice/experience I've found out to incorporate undulation into my drill is simple formula. 1 ft elevation change = 10 ft. ball rolls. ie if I have a 70 ft. putt thats downhill drops about 1 ft., then I putt the ball 60 ft. if it's 1 ft. uphill, I play a 80 ft. putt.

    so after practicing this drill, I was able to essentially eliminate 3 putts. I went from 5-7x/round to having trouble recalling last time I 3-putt(maybe 1x over 4-5 rounds).
  19. Greg D

    Greg D
    Oklahoma City, OK

    That sounds like a great drill. Going to try that out this weekend!
  20. Skip Guss

    Skip Guss
    Marlborough, MA

    Greg:

    I have a number of students working on this routine....they are realizing better results because of it! Have been tabulating results...watching trends...students KNOW it is working for them. Feel free to send YOUR results to: info@golfrite.com and I will gladly keep tabs of your progress for you!
  21. ADeLucia

    ADeLucia
    Clayton NC

    love this idea! I think to practice with games and other fun ways really keep practice interesting and competitive! would love to hear if you have any more!
  22. Skip Guss

    Skip Guss
    Marlborough, MA

    More to come...thanks for following!
  23. Don W

    Don W

    Sounds great! Thanks for sharing Skip, going to try this routine. Love the idea! Your students have the best teacher.
  24. Don W

    Don W

    Sounds great! Thanks for sharing Skip, going to try this routine. Love the idea! Your students have the best teacher.
  25. Don W

    Don W

    I could see they meet a best teacher ! .. Goodluck

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