No More 3-Putts: The Simple Putting Drill That Actually Works

Three-putts are the easiest strokes to eliminate from your game. They don't require athletic ability, swing changes, or expensive equipment. They just need a bit of structured practice and better awareness of distance. Here's how I help golfers cut their three-putts down to near zero.

Three-Putts Are a Distance Problem, Not a Direction Problem

Here's what most golfers don't realise: three-putts almost always come from poor distance control on the first putt, not poor aim. If your first putt finishes within 3 feet of the hole, you'll make the second putt almost every time. But leave it 6-8 feet short or blast it 5 feet past, and suddenly you're looking at a tricky second putt under pressure.

The Gate Drill for Lag Putting

Set up two tees about 3 feet past the hole, roughly a putter-width apart. From 20, 30, and 40 feet, your goal is to get every putt past the hole but through the gate. This does two things: it trains you to always get the ball to the hole (most amateurs leave putts short), and it gives you a defined 'acceptable zone' for your speed. If you can consistently land in that 3-foot window, three-putts become almost impossible.

Feel vs Mechanics

I deliberately don't focus on putting mechanics with most golfers. Putting is a feel skill. Your brain is incredibly good at calibrating distance if you give it the right feedback. The problem is that most golfers never practise lag putting -they spend 10 minutes on the practice green rolling 4-footers and call it done. Spend 70% of your putting practice on putts over 20 feet. That's where the three-putts live.

The Pre-Round Routine That Saves Shots

Before your round, hit 10 putts from 30 feet. Don't aim at a hole -just pick a spot on the green and focus on speed. This calibrates your feel for the speed of the greens that day. Greens vary massively between courses and even between morning and afternoon. Five minutes of lag putting before you tee off is worth more than 30 minutes of hitting drivers on the range.

Watch the Drill in Action

The video below walks you through the full drill with real examples. If putting is the weak spot in your game, let's work on it together -book a session at Sandown in Esher where we have great putting greens to dial in your distance control.