Maximizing Your Strokes Gained: Putting Across Handicap Levels

Welcome to Shaving Strokes, where we examine the key insights, learnings, and challenges faced by amateur golfers like you. In this article, we explore the factors that contribute to lowering your scores and keeping them consistent. Whether it’s maximizing distance off the tee, improving precision in approach shots, or enhancing your short game, the quest for improvement begins with analyzing data.

In today’s Shaving Strokes lesson, we turn to respected golf instructor and GOLF Teacher to Watch, Chris George. George sheds light on the disparities in Strokes Gained: Putting across various handicap levels, revealing a narrower gap between players than expected.


The chart above emphasizes the marginal 8-stroke difference in Strokes Gained: Putting among handicap levels, according to Chris George’s findings.

The Impact of Putts Per Round

Remarkably, the average number of putts per round differentiates a player with a handicap of 94+ from someone consistently shooting around 70. This statistic might come as a surprise to many mid- to high-handicappers who often struggle with 3-putt avoidance, resulting in frustrating scorecard additions. Conversely, better-handicapped players exhibit impressive ball control within three feet of the hole, demonstrating more precise putting skills.

Analyzing Putts from Different Distances

While overall putt tracking is undoubtedly valuable during a round, it is essential to delve deeper into specific distances to identify areas in need of improvement. Mid- to high-handicappers can benefit from allocating more practice time to putting, a neglected aspect for many. Our recommendation is to dedicate an hour to putting practice, with a focus on putts within 8 feet (38 minutes), putts between 9-20 feet (14 minutes), and putts longer than 20 feet (8 minutes).

A closer look at low-handicapped players who consistently shoot 80 or lower reveals their emphasis on two critical areas of putting: green-reading and distance control. By honing these skills through dedicated practice, they significantly improve their Strokes Gained: Putting.

The Ladder Drill for Improved Distance Control

An effective training drill to elevate your Strokes Gained: Putting is the ladder drill. Find a slightly uphill putt with a gentle break and designate a starting spot with a coin. Place your first disk 10 feet away from the cup, followed by four additional disks two feet apart.

The ladder drill consists of four zones:

1. Zone 1: 10-12 feet
2. Zone 2: 12-14 feet
3. Zone 3: 14-16 feet
4. Zone 4: 16-18 feet

To improve your distance control, hit 5 putts to each distance and keep score of how many balls stop in each zone. The objective is to have all 5 balls stop within each zone consistently. Once you achieve this, move back 5 feet and repeat the process.

Mastering Speed Control and Adaptability

Once you establish a baseline speed with the ladder drill, you can advance your training by focusing on speed control. Challenge yourself by hitting a 10-foot uphill putt followed by a 10-foot downhill putt. The variations in required force, despite traveling the same distance, highlight the importance of adapting your speed profile to putt length and slope characteristics.

An additional exercise involves placing 7 balls randomly around the hole within 12 feet. The objective is to sink as many one-putts as possible while experiencing the differences in backstroke length. Consistently enhancing speed control equips you to convert more one-putts and boosts your success rate from inside 8 feet. Remember to practice speed drills from various distance categories to develop a reliable sense of force required.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

How do I improve my Strokes Gained: Putting?

To enhance your Strokes Gained: Putting, focus on honing your distance control and speed profile. Allocate ample practice time to putts inside 8 feet, putts between 9-20 feet, and longer putts above 20 feet. Utilize training drills like the ladder drill to develop consistent distance control, and challenge yourself with speed control exercises.

What are the key areas low-handicapped players excel in?

Low-handicapped players often excel in green-reading and putting distance control. Their consistent success is a result of rigorous practice and emphasis on these crucial aspects of putting. By dedicating time to improving these areas, you can close the gap in Strokes Gained: Putting.

How can the ladder drill help my distance control?

The ladder drill enhances distance control by guiding your putts within specific zones. By regularly practicing with this drill, you’ll develop a better sense of putt length and consistently land within the targeted zones. This precision translates into improved Strokes Gained: Putting.

Why is speed control important in putting?

Speed control is vital to adapt to putt length and slope characteristics efficiently. By practicing with different uphill and downhill putts, you’ll cultivate a keener sense of the amount of force required for each situation. This adaptability significantly contributes to your overall putting proficiency and Strokes Gained: Putting.

Remember, putting is a fundamental aspect of the game that can significantly impact your overall performance. By investing a dedicated effort into honing your Strokes Gained: Putting skills, you set yourself up for considerable score reductions. Good luck!