My Golf Putting Warm-Up to Mentally Prepare You for Success
Golf Putting Warm-Up to Mentally Prepare You for Success
Ah, putting. The art of sinking those short (or sometimes not-so-short) putts that can make or break your round. But before you start launching balls at the hole with reckless abandon, a proper putting warm-up routine is crucial for building confidence and dialing in your stroke. This process goes beyond just physical mechanics – it's about training your mind for success on the green.
This blog takes inspiration from this video featuring myself guiding students Taylor and Jesse through their putting practice routine. Let's break down the steps below and explore how you can incorporate them into your own golf putting warm-up to elevate your putting game, both physically and mentally.
Step 1: Start on the Mat, Then Ditch It for Reality
Your warm-up begins with technique work on a putting mat, a great way to refine your stroke. But don't rely solely on its perfect surface! Transition to the actual green for step 2, where you'll hit balls through tees to adapt to real-world putting challenges. This builds a more well-rounded putting skillset for success on the course.
You've likely used a putting mat at some point, providing a smooth, consistent surface for perfecting your stroke. While mats have their place, relying solely on them can create a false sense of security. Real greens have imperfections, slopes, and grain that can subtly affect your putt.
This step encourages ditching the mat and moving to the actual putting green for your warm-up. Here, you'll focus on pure technique, hitting balls through tees (more on that later). This forces you to hone your stroke for the green's specific conditions, building a more well-rounded putting skillset.
Step 3: Extending Your Technique (Mimicking Longer Putts)
Now that you've warmed up your technique with shorter putts in your golf putting warm-up, it's time to expand your focus. While the previous step focused on replicating a smooth stroke through tees, here's the twist: imagine you're hitting a longer putt, like a 40-footer.
The purpose of this step is to practice applying your solid technique to longer distances. By visualizing a longer putt while maintaining the same controlled stroke you honed earlier, you're essentially training your body memory for those pressure situations on the course. Here, feel – the delicate touch needed for distance control – becomes crucial.
Step 4: Transitioning to Putting Games (Making it Fun!)
Practice doesn't have to be a chore. After dedicating time to solid technique work in your golf putting warm-up, it's time to inject some fun and competition into your routine. Introduce putting games that challenge your accuracy, and distance control, simulate pressure, and even a bit of creativity. Here are some ideas:
- The 2 Gates Drill: Mastering Your Putting Mechanics (Simple Guide) This drill is a fantastic way to warm up and focus on your putting mechanics during the first part of your practice session. It's perfect for golfers of all levels!
Here's what you'll need:
Two tees A golf ball Setting Up the Drill:
Place two tees on the putting green. You'll need one tee for the ball and one for the "path" of your putter. This tee will help you visualize the ideal path your putter head should take throughout your swing. Place the ball on the putting green. You can start with shorter putts (3-5 feet) and gradually increase the distance as you get comfortable with the drill.
- String Drill: Mastering Putting Distance Control (Simple Guide) The "String" drill is a catchy name for a practice routine that challenges you to ‘string’ two putts together while helping you master putting distance control during your practice session.
How to Play String: What You'll Need:
Putting green Golf ball Setting Up:
Choose a starting point on the putting green.
Decide on your "string" length. This refers to the number of consecutive two-putts you want to achieve. Start with a manageable goal like 3-5 two-putts in a row and gradually increase the difficulty as you improve.
5/25 Putting Challenge: Test Your Distance Control (Simple Guide)
The 15/25 putting challenge is a fun and engaging way to test your skills during the third phase of your golf putting warm-up. It's perfect for golfers like Aiden in the video, who want to see how their distance control translates into real putting scenarios. This drill can also be a great addition to a dedicated practice session outside of your warm-up routine.
Here's how to play 15/25:
What You'll Need:
Putting green, golf ball, and five tees
Setting Up:
Choose a starting point on the putting green. Place five tees at various distances from the starting point. Traditionally, these distances are 3 feet, 6 feet, 9 feet, 12 feet, and 15 feet. However, you can adjust them based on your skill level to make the challenge appropriate for your current putting ability.
Set Your Goal:
In the 15/25 format, the goal is to sink 15 out of 25 putts. This translates to:
- 3 feet: Aim for 5 out of 5 putts (perfect score)
- 6 feet: Aim for 4 out of 5 putts
- 9 feet: Aim for 3 out of 5 putts
- 12 feet: Aim for 2 out of 5 putts
- 15 feet: Aim for 1 out of 5 putts
This challenge is a great way to assess your putting and identify areas for improvement in your warm-up routine.
15/15/15 Putting Drill: Conquering Pressure (Simple Guide)
The 15/15/15 putting drill, just like its catchy name suggests, is a fantastic way to introduce pressure into your warm-up routine. It's perfect for golfers like Aiden in the video who want to build confidence under pressure, simulating the feeling of crucial putts on the course. This drill can also be a great addition to a dedicated practice session focused on building mental toughness, separate from your warm-up.
Here's how to play 15/15/15:
What You'll Need:
Putting green, golf ball and five tees with numbers written on them
Setting Up:
Choose a starting point on the putting green. Place five tees at various distances around the green. Traditionally, these distances can include a mix of short putts (3 feet), medium putts (5 feet), and longer putts (7.5 feet). You can adjust the distances based on your skill level.
Adding Pressure:
Write a number on each tee. This number represents the order in which you'll attempt the putt. Don't worry about putt difficulty corresponding with the number – the challenge lies in the overall number of successful putts. This random order adds an element of surprise, mimicking the unpredictable nature of pressure situations on the course during your golf putting warm-up.
By incorporating this drill, you'll be training your mind to stay focused and execute your putting stroke effectively, even under pressure.
You can watch the full video of these being demonstrated by my student Aidan to help you.
Step 5: Potential for Further Refinement
These videos hint at the possibility of returning to technique work after putting games in your warm-up routine. This can be a great strategy if you feel your stroke has gotten sloppy during the more competitive games. A few focused technique drills can help you regain control and feel before heading out onto the course.
Mental Toughness: Staying Sharp Throughout Your Round
Remember, a well-rounded golf putting warm-up isn't just about physical mechanics. It's also about building mental toughness to stay sharp throughout your round. Here are some additional tips:
- Visualization: Throughout your warm-up, incorporate visualization exercises. See yourself confidently sinking putts of varying distances and under pressure.
- Maintain Focus: Train your mind to stay focused during your warm-up routine. This will carry over to the course, where distractions can be plentiful.
- Positive Self-Talk: Use positive self-talk throughout your warm-up. Remind yourself of your strengths and abilities as a putter.
By incorporating these mental strategies, you'll prime your mind for success on the green.
Want to Sink More Putts and Lower Your Scores?
This blog post has equipped you with a step-by-step golf putting warm-up routine to build a strong foundation for success on the green. But mastering putting goes beyond just warming up. Imagine confidently stepping up to any putt, feeling in control, and sinking it consistently.
The Score Better Video Program dives deep into all aspects of putting, from technique and green reading to building unshakeable mental strategies. Learn proven methods to:
- Develop a smooth, repeatable putting stroke
- Master distance control for lag putts and tap-ins alike
- Conquer pressure and putt with confidence under game conditions
Stop leaving strokes on the green! Get the Score Better Video Program today and take your putting game to the next level.
For a complete demonstration of the putting drills mentioned in this blog, watch a full video featuring my student Aidan. In the video, you'll see these drills come to life and gain a deeper understanding of how to incorporate them into your own practice routine.
