Golfing Tips: How to Master Control Speed While Making Those Difficult Putts?

In the golfing world, putting is often referred to as an “art.” And let’s be honest, it’s a skill that can make or break your game. As the 15X major winner Tiger Woods says, “there’s no one way to it,” but one thing’s for sure – when you miss a shot, technical thoughts can get tangled up in your head! And why not?

According to reports putting is accountable for nearly 40% of all strokes in a typical round. It’s often the deciding factor between winning and losing. And players who can consistently make putts under pressure gain a significant edge over their competitors. Take #1, Scottie Scheffler, for instance. Scheffler’s decision to change his gripping style after analyzing his past performance stats paid off in a big way. We saw this firsthand at the Hero World Challenge last year, where Scheffler took home the win for the second time.

Putting tips from the world no. 1 – AKA Scottie Scheffler!

According to PGA Tour professional Scottie Scheffler, “When you’re not performing as well as you should at something, the typical solution is to try harder.” However, he notes that trying too hard can sometimes negatively impact your golf game. “I think it goes a little deeper than that. At times last year, I definitely tried too hard with my putting,” Scheffler shared with Golf Digest.

Realizing this, he focused on relaxing and freeing himself up last year. He worked with coach Phil Kenyon to fine-tune the technical aspects of his stroke, and then he found ways to apply them naturally.

Interestingly, this led to some impressive changes, such as abandoning the line on his golf ball. But that’s not all! The 28-year-old made a change to his putter that made it easier for him to aim without the line. He revealed that he uses a Chapstick as a makeshift target for a practice drill.

Using a Chapstick drill to improve speed

After analyzing the loopholes in his strokes, Scottie Scheffler made a shift in his game following a chapstick drill. Here’s how it goes: 

He’ll toss the chapstick onto the green, close his eyes, and try to put to it. Then, he’ll repeat the process. Easy peasy! As Scheffler explained, “It’s just a good way to just kind of get more engaged in my feel, be more outward with things, not focus so much on what’s going on down there.”

He’s not worried about precision or perfection, he’s just focusing on developing his feel and freedom on the greens. And the best part? Scheffler finds it entertaining! “It’s just me doing some speed control…it’s kind of entertaining,” he said with a smile. But we’re not done yet! We’ve got another drill to make up the score well. 

Another tip: Practicing the golf version of Leapfrog

Golf Putting Speed Drills are a great way to improve your consistency and control. One game to try is the golf version of Leapfrog. Instead of vaulting yourself over another person, the goal is to send each golf ball past the previous one and see how far you can get. Sounds simple, right?

Here’s how to set it up: place a mark at your start line, a second mark 3 feet from your start line, and a third mark 15 feet from your start line. Then, hit your first putt as close as possible, yet past the 3-foot mark. Mark where the ball finishes. Hit your next putt as close as possible, yet past your first putt. Mark where it finishes. Repeat this process until you leave your next putt short of the previous one or past the 15-foot mark.

The goal is to see how many putts you can leapfrog within 3-15 feet and build on that number as you improve. This drill helps you develop better control of the ball and gauge the right amount of force you need for a specific speed. Give it a try and see how far you can leapfrog your putts!

Using texture tricks to improve putting speed

In putting, texture refers to the sensation of the ball rolling off the face of the putter. To develop your texture, try practicing with 15-foot putts. Hit three to four balls, and focus on finding the one that feels like it’s rolling smoothly and simply. Once you’ve got that sensation, you can start to repeat it.

But how do you get that smooth roll? One trick is to use a golf ball line marker. This will help you see the ball rolling end over end, giving you a better sense of texture. Just ask Denny McCarthy, one of the best putters on Tour – he’s a master of rolling the ball!

After that, hit a five-foot putt with your eyes closed. Yep, you read that right! This will help you focus on the sensation of the putter moving through your hands, rather than worrying about the outcome. It’s all about developing smooth hands and a consistent stroke.

Another great exercise is to practice rolling putts with a wedge. Lift the blade of the wedge up to the belly of the ball, and focus on rolling it smoothly. This will help you develop the texture you need to become a great putter.

The ultimate hack: think backswing and follow through as equals

According to Phil Kenyon, most golfers lose it on the course because of the speed while putting. But one of the easiest ways to get hold of it is by thinking of your backswing and follow-through as equal in length. Many golfers struggle with speed control because they have slow and short backswings, which forces them to accelerate through impact to get the ball to the hole.

This throws off their rhythm and tempo, making it easy to leave putts short or send them sailing past the hole. By focusing on equal-length backswings and follow-throughs, you’ll develop a more consistent timing and tempo. Try counting “one, two” in your mind as you swing, and maintain that same tempo even as you increase the length of your swing for longer putts. With practice, this simple adjustment will help you master speed control and sink more putts with confidence!