Drive for show, putt for dough. Nothing lowers your score faster than making the putts you're *supposed* to make. Here are three drills that work.
Why putting matters most
A missed 20-footer costs the same stroke as a shanked drive — but it's far more fixable. Most amateurs lose 3–5 strokes a round inside the circle. That's the cheapest improvement in the game.
Drill 1: The 10-in-a-row ladder
Start at 10 feet. Make 10 in a row, then step back to 15, then 20. Miss one and you start that distance over. This builds the pressure of *needing* to make it — exactly like a real round.
Drill 2: The circle of 8
Place 8 discs in a circle ~20 feet from the basket. Putt your way around. Track your makes out of 8 every session. Watching that number climb is the most motivating feedback there is.
Drill 3: Pressure putts
End every practice session with 5 "money" putts from your make-or-break distance (usually 25–30 feet). Treat each like it's for the win. Training under pressure is the only way to perform under pressure.
Build a routine
Pick the same stance, grip, and tempo every time. A repeatable routine removes doubt. Putt every day, even 15 minutes — consistency beats marathon sessions.
Log your rounds in Radius and watch your Game IQ climb as your circle-1 percentage improves.
Put it into practice with Radius
Track rounds, scan your bag, find courses, and watch your Game IQ climb.
Create your free account