In the first part of our three-part deployment series, we researched how block stations practice can help golfers develop basic putting skills. Through controlled environments and immediate feedback, players can build awareness of setup, alignment, face control, stroke mechanics and speed control with block practice. But while these stations are valuable for skill acquisition, they don’t fully prepare players for the challenges they encounter on the golf course.
Golf is seldom played twice from the same place. Each putt presents a unique challengewith different distances, slopes, green speeds and visual perspectives. Performing successfully in these ever-changing conditions requires more than technical skill, it also requires adaptability.
This is where transfer training comes into play. This type of practice bridges the gap between skill development and course performance by putting variability, decision making and problem solving into practice. Instead of repeating the same shot over and over again, golfers are challenged to apply their skills to ever-changing situations.
This is why having practice helping to use this training is so important. It’s where your goal goes from executing a move perfectly to producing a successful result under different conditions.
Below are some drills that I like my players to use for training the transfer to the green.
Station 1: Random distance speed control
In this station (above, left), you can see a series of discs positioned at different distances between the golfer and the target. Instead of just focusing on making shots, the goal is to control the speed and finish each ball within a certain area. This task encourages flexibility and develops the ability to calibrate speed over multiple distances.
The objective of the drill is for a ball to come to rest between each pair of discs. Golfers can also choose to gauge their performance by tracking how many balls are needed to successfully complete the challenge.
Station 2: Green Reading
One of the most challenging aspects of putting is learning how much a putt will bend as it travels to the hole. Many golfers struggle not because they hit poor shots, but because they consistently misjudge the amount of rest. Transfer training provides an opportunity to develop this skill by creating tasks that require players to read, anticipate and respond to changing green conditions.
At this station (see photo shown above, right), a marker is placed on the target tee line between the golfer and the hole. Rather than focusing on whether the ball is holed, the golfer’s objective is to roll the ball directly over the marker while allowing the slope of the green to move the ball toward the target. The marker serves as a visual representation of the golfer’s reading.
Every putt requires the player to estimate the slope, determine an appropriate starting line, and execute a putt that matches that prediction. If the ball misses the marker, either the read or the execution was incorrect. If the ball rolls over the marker but misses the hole, the golfer receives valuable information about the accuracy of the predicted break. The score provides immediate feedback on both read quality and stroke quality.
This exercise demonstrates how a simple objective can transform practice from repetitive execution into a decision-making exercise. Instead of constantly hitting putts to the hole, players are challenged to make a prediction, test that prediction, and adjust based on the outcome. This process closely mirrors what happens during the actual game, where every shot requires a new read and a new decision.
Block practice involves repeating the same skill or movement in a stable, controlled environment to build familiarity and technique. While block practice helps golfers develop skills, transfer training teaches them how to apply those skills to changing environments. By putting variability, decision-making and problem-solving into practice, golfers learn to adapt to the demands of the course rather than simply repeating a swing.
As players become more adept at transferring their skills to new situations, they are ready for the final stage of development: performance training. In this phase, skills are tested under pressure, consequence and competition, creating practice environments that closely resemble real game conditions.
