Get Better at Putting, Chipping & More with these Golf Drills

Practice, as they say, makes perfect. And while that’s true of many areas in life, it’s especially true when it comes to golf. Quality golf clubs are important. But without honed skills, they’ll only take you so far.

After all, golf is a game of strategy and finesse (and lots of frustration). If you want to improve your golf game, you’ll need to put in the effort. And that means practice, practice, practice.

Mastery doesn’t come overnight; it’s the fruit of persistence and a deep understanding of the game’s subtleties. And plenty of golf drills. Drills are the building blocks of skill development, transforming weaknesses into strengths and giving you the ability to fine-tune each aspect of your game. 

In this guide, we’re going to look at a variety of essential drills, each crafted to hone specific parts of your game. From the precision of putting to the power of your drive, we’ll cover exercises that promise to bring you closer to golf mastery.

So grab your clubs, and let’s get started. You’ve got a swing to perfect.

Putting Drills

You’ll attempt more putts in your golf career than any other swing. That’s why mastering the art of putting is a game-changer when it comes to improving your score. 

But it’s not easy. It requires a blend of precision, control, and consistency. Three things that aren’t always easy to come by.

Fortunately, it is attainable through dedicated practice and the best putting drills. So, let’s explore two effective golf drills designed to sharpen your skills on the putting green.

The Coin Drill

Aiming for precision? The Coin Drill is your bread and butter. 

Place a coin about six feet away from you. Drop a ball and take your putter in hand. 

Your goal is simple. Strike the ball so that it rolls over the coin. 

This drill teaches you to focus on a smaller target, enhancing your control and precision. Pay attention to your stroke and follow through, ensuring a straight path towards the coin. Practice this drill regularly, and you’ll find your putting accuracy on the rise. It’s a great way to train your eyes and club to work in harmony.

One of the best things about this drill is that you can do it on the practice green – or in your living room while binging your favorite show.

The Gate Drill

Accuracy is key in putting. And the Gate Drill is designed to perfect it. 

Set up two tees in the ground just wider than your putter head. Then, place the ball between them. The objective is to putt the ball through the ‘gate’ without hitting the tees. 

This drill encourages a straight putting stroke and is excellent for identifying any issues in your stroke path. Focus on keeping your putter face square at impact and follow through towards your target. With consistent practice, you’ll notice a significant improvement in your putting accuracy.

Chipping Drills

Big drives get all the “Oohs” and “Aahs.” Putts win games. But chipping? It doesn’t get much love. 

And yet, chipping is a crucial aspect of your golf game. It’s the bridge between your approach and a hole-winning putt. Perfecting your chipping game can save you valuable strokes. 

These drills are designed to enhance your consistency and distance control when chipping.

The Towel Drill

For a chip shot, consistency is key, and the Towel Drill is a fantastic way to improve on this front. So, how do you do it? 

Lay a towel on the green, about a club’s length away from the edge. The aim is to land your chips on the towel. By doing so, you’ll develop a more consistent and reliable contact with the ball. 

This drill encourages you to focus on hitting down and through the ball, developing a cleaner, crisper chip shot. The immediate feedback of whether your ball lands on the towel helps in making quick adjustments and allows you to improve your touch around the greens. 

As you progress, try moving the towel farther away to challenge yourself and refine your control.

The Ladder Drill

Distance control in chipping can mean the difference between a tap-in putt and a hail mary. The Ladder Drill is excellent for honing this pivotal skill. 

Place clubs on the ground, creating ‘rungs’ at regular intervals from where you’re chipping. The goal is to land the ball at each ‘rung’ consecutively, challenging yourself to control the distance of each chip. 

Start with the closest ‘rung’ and work your way out, focusing on the length of your backswing and follow-through to control the distance. 

Iron Play Drills

Mastering your irons is a critical component of golf. But it requires an incredible degree of control and consistency – along with the right swing mechanics. 

The following drills are designed to enhance your iron play, helping you hit straighter, more accurate shots on the fairway.

The Alignment Rod Drill

Proper alignment and a correct swing path are fundamental for accurate iron shots. The Alignment Rod Drill is a straightforward way to practice this. 

Place an alignment rod (or golf club) on the ground, parallel to your target line. Set up another rod perpendicular to the first, aligning it with your feet. This setup provides a visual guide, ensuring that your feet, hips, and shoulders are properly aligned. It also allows you to make sure that your swing follows the proper path. 

Focus on making swings that follow the parallel rod, ensuring your club is moving along the correct path. This drill promotes muscle memory for proper alignment and swing path, hopefully leading to more consistent, accurate iron shots.

The Divot Drill

Ball striking is paramount in iron play, and the Divot Drill focuses on creating consistent, well-placed divots. Why? Because taking a divot (after the ball has been hit) is a sign of a well balanced shot.

So, to practice this skill, try out this divot drill.

Place a tee three or four inches in front of the ball. The goal is to strike both the ball and the tee with a single shot. While you may not take a divot, ensuring the divot starts where the ball was and not before. 

This drill encourages a descending strike, which is key for solid iron shots. Focus on hitting down on the ball and making sure your divot is in the right place. Consistent practice will lead to cleaner ball striking and more control over your iron shots.

Driver Drills

Unleashing a powerful, accurate drive sets the tone for a successful hole. One bad slice or shank and it can throw off your entire game.

To maximize your potential off the tee, you’ll want to practice skills that will help keep your ball soaring straight and far. These two golf drills are squarely aimed at bolstering your driving game.

The Tee Drill

Every golfer’s dream is the ability to step up to the tee and absolutely crush that first shot – hole after hole after hole. The Tee Drill is designed to make your first shots more powerful and consistent.

So, how do you do it?

Place a tee in the ground without a ball and take your driver stance. Set up and aim to swing so that you just clip the top of the tee with your driver. Then, do it again. And again. And again. Until you’re driven mad.

This drill promotes a smooth, level swing, encouraging you to hit the ball with the center of the clubface – key for maximizing distance and control. 

Focus on maintaining a balanced stance and follow through with your swing, ensuring you clip the top of the tee each time. You’ll notice a significant improvement in your shot consistency and power, laying the foundation for successful tee shots.

The Two-Ball Drill

Stability and balance are paramount in a powerful drive, and the Two-Ball Drill is perfect for enhancing both of these aspects of your game. 

Place two golf balls side-by-side and tee them up together. Aim to hit the outside ball without touching the inside one. 

This drill forces you to maintain stability and balance throughout your swing. Wobble or sway even slightly, and you’ll end up taking out both balls. 

Focus on a steady backswing and a controlled downswing, ensuring your body stays balanced and your swing path remains straight. With practice, this drill will lead to more stable and powerful drives, giving you greater control and confidence off the tee.

Conclusion

Throughout this guide, we’ve explored a variety of drills, each designed to work on very specific aspects of your golf game. From the precision of putting to the power of your drive, these exercises provide a holistic approach to improvement. 

Incorporating these drills into your regular practice routine is key to unlocking their full potential.. 

Remember, golf is a journey, and the long-term benefits of steady practice and commitment to these drills will undoubtedly lead to a more controlled, confident, and enjoyable experience on the course. 

So stay patient and persistent.

And after you’ve honed you skills, don’t forget to check out our online store for great deals on quality used clubs.