How to practice putting in winter? 3 simple drills to get you ready for the new season
The winter simulator season is a great time to work on technique and rebuild your swing. We mainly train long shots then, because it's easy to turn on the "no putting" or automatic putting option on simulators. Unfortunately, as a result... we often omit one of the most important elements of our game.
And yet, it is on the green where we lose the most strokes.
The best golfers spend a lot of time in winter not only working on long shot technique, but also on regular putting practice. We also want to make sure that you are ready to play in the first spring tournaments – confident, precise, and effective.
That's why we have prepared 3 simple putting drills for you that you can do at home, at the club, or on any putting mat.
In each of them, we use accessories that you can find on our website: www.epicgolf.pl
Drill 1: Straight ball start – "tee gate" + putting mirror
One of the key elements of putting is for the ball to start perfectly straight towards the intended target.
For this drill, you need:
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a putting mirror
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an alignment stick
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two tees
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a few balls
How to set up?
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Place the mirror on a mat or carpet.
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At your feet, parallel to the line on the mirror, place an alignment stick — this will align your body parallel to the target.
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In front of the mirror (ideally towards the target), place two tees, slightly wider apart than a ball (to start, it can be much wider to make it easier).
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Place the ball on the mirror and try to putt it through the tee gate.
When it becomes too easy, narrow the gate or move it further from the mirror — until you feel you need to concentrate to get the ball perfectly between the tees.
Add pressure!
Task: make 3, 5, or 10 putts in a row, hitting through the gate.
You'll see that the last attempts will resemble putting on the 18th hole for a personal best — and that's precisely the point!
Drill 2: Accuracy – hitting tees (perfect for a duo)
This drill is best done with two people. You will train accuracy, and the extra competition builds great pressure.
You need:
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10 tees (5 black and 5 white — you can paint the tips).
How to play?
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Set up 10 tees one meter in front of you (or further), so they stand stably upright.
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One player chooses white tees, the other black.
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Take turns indicating which specific tee you want to hit.
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The first to hit all 5 of their tees wins!
This is great concentration training.
If you hit "your" tee, even by accident — it doesn't count. You must place it back where it stood.
By practicing hitting such small targets as a tee, a regular hole later seems huge — and it's much easier to make putts under pressure.
Drill 3: Distance control – "ball stopping zones"
For this drill, you only need:
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a mat or carpet
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two strings (or lines marked with tees / chalk marker)
How to set up the drill?
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Place the first line about 1-2 meters in front of you
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Place the second line further away — it can be 3, 4, 5 meters or more.
(If you have trouble with long putts, set a greater distance. If with short putts – shorten it.)
Version 1 – precise distances
You have three balls:
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First ball: stop it just past the first line.
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Second: must be further than the first, but still within the zone.
- Third: even further, but also between the lines.
Count how many balls you can fit in this zone!
Version 2 – competition
Practice in pairs and see who can fit more balls in the zone between the lines.
This is a great simulation of playing under pressure — exactly what awaits you on the greens.
Train with Epic Golf
In winter, it's very easy to focus only on practicing long shots, especially when playing mainly on simulators. But it's putting that often determines our scores. By regularly practicing these three simple drills:
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you will improve your ball start,
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increase your accuracy,
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improve your distance control,
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and you will be much more confident on the greens when the season arrives.
Practice smart, enjoy golf, and get ready for the best season of your life! ⛳🔥
