Improving putting skills is a key area of focus for junior golfers, and it doesn’t have to be all serious business. With the right mix of fun drills and creativity, young players can enhance their putting skills while enjoying the process. Here’s how to get junior golfers more proficient in putting, all while keeping things fun and engaging.
1. The “Putt-Putt Challenge”
Make putting practice feel like a game by creating a fun “putt-putt” course at the practice green or even in the backyard. Use household items like cones, cups, or objects to create obstacles, like mini golf. Junior golfers can work on different distances and angles, navigating around these objects to sink putts. You can set up a point system for hitting certain targets or sinking a putt in fewer strokes. This turns practice into a fun competition and can help build confidence on the greens.
2. “Around the World” Putting Drill
A classic drill that’s both fun and effective is the “Around the World” challenge. Set up a circle of balls around the hole at various distances (e.g., 3 feet, 5 feet, 7 feet). The goal is to make each putt in succession, moving from one ball to the next without missing. If a player misses, they have to start over. To add a twist, make it a timed challenge where players have to complete the circle in a set amount of time. This drill helps juniors improve consistency and concentration under pressure.
3. The “Hula Hoop” Drill
To focus on alignment and accuracy, place a hula hoop (or any similar circular object) around the hole. The challenge is for the junior golfer to putt the ball into the hoop, not just the hole itself. This helps them visualize a specific target area and encourages precision in their putting stroke. You can add a twist by moving the hoop around to different positions on the green, simulating different hole locations during a round of golf.
4. Putting with a Twist: Blindfolded Putting
For a fun and challenging twist on traditional putting, have junior golfers practice putting while blindfolded (with supervision for safety, of course). This drill removes the reliance on visual cues and forces players to develop a better feel for the distance and pace of their putts. They will focus more on their technique and trust their instincts. It’s a great way to build confidence, especially when they start sinking putts without relying on their eyes!
5. The “Obstacle Course” Putting Challenge
Set up a fun obstacle course using various objects (such as books, cones, and small toys) to create putting challenges. Junior golfers must navigate around these obstacles while making putts. This drill simulates tricky course situations and helps juniors develop their ability to adjust to different conditions, like curves or slopes, on the green. It’s also an exciting way to keep them engaged while learning how to handle challenging putting scenarios.
6. Putting Relay Race
Turn putting into a team activity with a relay race. Set up multiple holes or targets on the green, each at varying distances. Divide junior golfers into teams, and each player must putt to a different target. The first team to finish all their putts wins. This is not only a fun way to build putting skills but also encourages teamwork, friendly competition, and good sportsmanship.
7. The “Clock” Drill
This drill helps juniors practice putting from different angles and distances. Imagine the hole is the center of a clock, with markers at 3, 6, 9, and 12 o’clock, at distances like 3 feet, 5 feet, and 7 feet. The golfer must make a putt from each of these spots, working their way around the clock. This drill helps golfers learn to putt from various angles and distances while improving their accuracy and consistency.
8. The “Speed Putting” Game
Putting isn’t just about accuracy—it’s also about controlling the speed of the ball. Create a fun game where junior golfers try to putt a ball to stop within a designated “speed zone,” a set distance from the hole. This teaches them how to gauge the right speed for their putts and helps develop better control on long putts. You can add levels of difficulty, with the zone becoming smaller as they improve.
9. Positive Reinforcement & Rewards
To keep junior golfers motivated, offer small rewards for accomplishing certain goals, such as sinking a set number of putts in a row, completing a drill without missing, or making it through the “Around the World” challenge. Rewards can be anything from a fun treat to a sticker or badge that tracks their progress. Positive reinforcement encourages them to keep working on their putting while making practice more enjoyable.
10. Fun Putting Games with Friends
Lastly, let junior golfers practice their putting with friends. Creating friendly competitions, like who can sink the most putts in a row or who can finish a challenging putting course the fastest, can make practice sessions feel like a social event. Peer support and healthy competition will not only make them excited to improve but will also teach them how to deal with the pressure of performing in a competitive environment.
By incorporating these fun and creative drills into their practice routine, junior golfers will stay engaged, improve their putting skills, and have a great time while doing so. The key is to make practice enjoyable, so they’ll continue to develop their skills and maintain a love for the game.
