A truly essential skill for scoring well is controlling distance on the greens and getting your first putt close enough to tap in.
Distance control starts with solid technique and a simple principle: the length of your backstroke should be your primary distance controller, with as few moving parts as possible. Your head and lower body should remain quiet until the stroke is complete.
Here are some of my favorite drills to help improve your distance control.
1. Three-foot increment drill
Set balls at three-foot increments from the hole, starting short and gradually working your way back. The only goal is to roll the ball the correct distance and finish close to the cup. Don’t worry about break or aim — focus solely on speed.
If you fail to roll the ball the proper distance, stay at that spot until you succeed before moving back. As the distance increases, train yourself to lengthen the backstroke slightly. This drill teaches you how to make precise adjustments to backstroke length.
2. Putt to 10, 20, 30 and 40 feet
Place targets at each of these distances on a relatively flat section of the green. I like using alignment sticks to clearly define each target. Putt to each distance, focusing on matching stroke size to putt length.
This drill also allows you to calibrate your backstroke lengths, which can immediately translate to better distance control on the course. Remember to add length for uphill putts and subtract length for downhill ones.
3. Back-and-forth drill
This is one of my favorites because it forces you to adjust your stroke for changing conditions — even when the putt length stays the same.
Choose two holes on the practice green that create contrasting conditions (uphill/downhill or sidehill). Putt back and forth between them, aiming to two-putt or better a set number of times in a row — start with five and build from there. If you three-putt, the count resets to zero.
4. Eyes-closed putting
To improve feel, putt to a target with your eyes closed. At impact, decide whether you think the ball will finish short or long of the target. Then open your eyes and assess the result.
This drill strengthens your awareness of speed and helps develop instinctive distance control over time.
5. Draw-back game
This drill works great as a two-person competition. Play match-play putting around the green with the goal of finishing your first putt within three feet of the hole — roughly the length of your putter.
If your first putt doesn’t finish inside that range, draw the ball back one putter-length from the hole and putt again. This game rewards great speed control and reduces pressure on the second putt.
Whether you’re working through drills or competing with a partner, time spent on the practice green pays off. Few skills translate to lower scores more directly than controlling your distance on the greens.
