As the well-known saying goes “Drive for show, putt for dough” the most successful golfers are those who are able to hole the most putts. However, the short winter days can make it difficult for you to practice your putting outside. But don’t worry, I’ve got you covered!

Here are four simple drills you can practice without having to leave the comfort of your own home, all you need is a strip of carpet and a putter!

The coin drill
Practice putting to a coin, narrowing your focus on a smaller object will make the hole appear bigger next time you step out on to the course.

Use a line on the ball
Using a golf ball line marker, draw a line around the ball. Then line the ball up with your intended target. Your aim is to get the line rolling end over end. It sounds easy, but it can be pretty tricky! If you struggle to do this, it is a good indication that your path and clubface are not doing what they should be.

Practice with a mirror
Putting mirrors are a great training aid, which allows you to check whether your eyes are over the ball and your alignment is correct. Some mirrors have holes for tee pegs, these are useful for working on your putter path.

Build a good base
During the putting stroke, you should aim to keep your lower body as still as possible. Therefore, practice hitting putts with your “derriere” up against a wall, this will give you a real sense of what’s happening with your lower half. Don’t aim at a target, focus on learning the movement first.

Practice these drills to improve your confidence and focus on correct putting mechanics, so you don’t have to do as much thinking next time you're out on the course. If you have any questions or would like help improving your game come and speak to the team at The Golf Academy.