Master Your Golf Putting Pace Control with This Simple Drill

Do you struggle with leaving putts woefully short or blasting them past the hole? You're not alone. Poor distance control, also known as pace or lag putting, is one of the quickest ways to ruin a good round of golf.

Many golfers spend hours obsessing over the perfect putting stroke or the latest putter design. But the truth is, even a mechanically flawed stroke can be effective if your pace control is dialed in.

In this post, I'll walk you through a simple but highly effective drill that will transform your feel on the greens. This exercise, which I use regularly with my students, focuses entirely on distance control and gives you immediate, tangible feedback.

The Core Problem: Why Distance Control Matters More Than Line

When we miss a putt, our first instinct is often to blame our line or our stroke. But more often than not, the real culprit is speed.

Think about it: if you hit a putt on the perfect line but with the wrong speed, it's not going in. The ideal speed determines how much the ball will break and ultimately dictates whether it drops in the hole or leaves you with a stressful comebacker.

If you want to reduce your three-putts and shoot lower scores, improving your distance control should be your top priority on the practice green.

The Pace Control Challenge Drill

This drill is designed to help you develop a better sense of touch and distance control by challenging you to squeeze as many putts as possible into a specific zone.

Setting Up the Drill

Setting up this drill is quick and easy. You'll need a few golf balls, your putter, and two pieces of string (or you can use a couple of spare clubs if you prefer).

1. Find a relatively flat section of the practice green.
2. Lay down your two strings or clubs to create a specific zone. The distance between the strings is entirely up to you and the range you want to practice. For example, you might create a zone from 15 to 25 feet for mid-range practice.
3. Grab your golf balls and head to your starting position.

How the Drill Works

1. The First Putt: Your goal with the first putt is to get the ball to stop as close to the first string as possible. This sets the baseline for the drill.

1. The Challenge: Your objective is to see how many golf balls you can fit into the space between the two strings.

1. The Rules: This is where the challenge really begins. Once you've hit your first putt, your new target line is no longer the first string; it's the ball you just hit. Each subsequent putt must travel past the previous ball but remain within the second string.

1. The Outcome: The drill ends when you either leave a putt short of the previous ball or hit a putt past the second string. Count how many balls you successfully fit into the zone.

Why This Drill is Effective

This drill is a fantastic way to measure and record your performance. Instead of just mindlessly hitting putts toward a hole, you have a specific, measurable goal.

By challenging yourself to hit slightly firmer or softer putts with each stroke, you are developing the fine motor skills and "feel" necessary for exceptional distance control.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When trying this drill, you might encounter a few common pitfalls. Here's how to navigate them:

* Rushing the First Putt: The first putt is crucial. As I demonstrate in the video, a poor first putt that goes too far significantly reduces the amount of space you have to work with. Take your time and make sure that first putt is as close to the initial string as possible.

* Over-correcting: It's common to leave a putt short and then try to hit the next one much harder, resulting in a putt that blasts past the second string. Try to make small, incremental adjustments to your stroke length and effort level.

* Ignoring Feedback: The beauty of this drill is the immediate feedback it provides. Pay attention to how each stroke feels and how the ball responds. Are you accelerating smoothly through the ball, or are you jabbing at it? Use this feedback to refine your touch.

Customizing the Drill for Your Game

One of the best things about the Pace Control Challenge is its versatility. You can adjust the distance of the strings to practice short, mid-range, or long lag putts.

If you struggle with leaving 30-footers short, set up a zone from 25 to 35 feet. If those tricky 10-footers are giving you trouble, create a tighter zone closer to the hole.

You can also experiment with different slopes. Try setting up the drill on uphill, downhill, or side-hill lies to further develop your feel and adaptability.

Conclusion: Practice with Purpose

Improving your distance control is not about finding a magic putting stroke; it's about developing feel through purposeful practice.

The Pace Control Challenge drill provides a structured, engaging way to hone your touch on the greens. Make it a regular part of your practice routine, keep track of your scores, and watch as your distance control - and your overall scoring - improves dramatically.

Ready to take your putting and your overall game to the next level? Contact me today to book a lesson and let's work on a personalized plan to help you achieve your golfing goals.