A really essential skill to score well is controlling the distance to the greens and get your first goal close enough to enter.
Distance control starts with solid technique and a simple principle: back length should be the primary controller of distance, with as few moving parts as possible. Your head and lower body should remain still until the stroke is over.
Here are some of my favorite exercises to help improve your distance control.
Place the balls three feet from the hole, starting short and gradually coming back. The only goal is to roll the ball the right distance and end up close to the cup. Don’t worry about breaking or aiming – just focus on speed.
If you fail to roll the ball the correct distance, stay at that spot until you succeed before turning back. As the distance increases, train yourself to extend your back a little. This exercise teaches you how to make precise adjustments to the length of your back.
2. Shot put at 10, 20, 30 and 40 feet
Place targets at each of these distances on a relatively flat section of the green. I like to use scope sticks to clearly define each target. Easy putt at any distance, focusing on matching stroke size with stroke length.
This drill also allows you to calibrate the length of your back, which can immediately translate into better distance control on the course. Remember to add length for uphill shots and subtract length for downhill ones.
3. Back-to-back training
This is one of my favorites because it forces you to adjust your swing for changing conditions – even when the length of the putt remains the same.
Choose two holes on the practice green that create opposite conditions (up/down or sideways). Throw shots back and forth between them, aiming to do two or better a certain number of times in a row – start with five and build from there. If you shoot three shots, the count resets to zero.
4. Putting eyes closed
To improve the feel, hit a target with your eyes closed. On the shot, decide whether you think the ball will end up near or over the target. Then open your eyes and evaluate the result.
This drill strengthens your speed awareness and helps develop instinctive distance control over time.
5. Draw game
This workout works great as a two-person competition. Play match-play around the green with the goal of landing the first shot within three feet of the hole – about the length of your putter.
If your first shot does not end up within that range, pull the ball a shot length from the hole and re-shot. This game rewards great speed control and reduces pressure on the second shot.
Whether you’re working through drills or competing with a partner, time spent on the practice green pays off. Few skills translate into lower scores more directly than controlling your distance to the greens.
