The 5 Most Overlooked Practice Drills That Will Lower Your Scores
Hidden Practice Drills That Will Slash Your Golf Score
Improving your golf game isnât just about hitting monster drives or perfect approach shots. Sure, we all want to feel like Tiger on the tee, but the real key to lowering your score lies in the little thingsâthe details that most golfers overlook. Itâs the chipping from the fringe, the putting from the short-range, and the practice drills youâre not doing.
If you're over 50 and want to shave strokes off your score (without breaking a sweat trying to out-drive your buddies), this guide is your new best friend.
In this post, weâre going to explore some of the most overlooked practice drills that can really help lower your scores. These drills are easy to integrate into your game, wonât take hours of your time, and, most importantly, are designed to give you that low score you've been chasing.
Letâs dive in and get your game in shape.
Topics Covered in This Guide
1. The 3-Feet Putting Drill: Mastering the Short Putt
Weâve all been thereâstanding over a 3-footer with everything riding on it, feeling the pressure of making a simple putt. Yet, even seasoned golfers often miss these short putts. Why? Because they don't practice them enough! Mastering the 3-foot putt will save you strokes and boost your confidence on the green.
Why Practice It?
Short putts are often the easiest to miss, and they can have a huge impact on your score. By practicing 3-footers, youâll start to develop a reliable stroke that can turn those nervy moments into birdie opportunities.
How to Do It:
Set up several balls about 3 feet from the hole in a straight line.
Make sure your feet, hips, and shoulders are square to the target.
Focus on a smooth, consistent stroke and make sure your putter face stays square.
Make 10 putts in a row from each spot.
If you miss one, start over.
Once youâve made 10 in a row, move to a new location, such as a 90-degree angle to the hole.
Pro Tip: When you start making these consistently, mix it up by adding some pressureâtry putting them with your eyes closed or while focusing on your breathing. The more you practice these, the more automatic your short putts will become.
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2. The 30-Yard Chip Shot Drill: Perfecting Your Chip Game
A great short game is the secret weapon to lowering your scores, and one of the most critical shots is the 30-yard chip. Many golfers neglect this essential distance, but practicing it will help you stop relying on a single long-range putt after you miss the green.
Why Practice It?
The 30-yard chip shot gives you a reliable shot for when youâre off the green and just out of putting range. With a little practice, youâll learn to control your distance and develop a softer touch around the hole.
How to Do It:
Grab your lob wedge or pitching wedge and head to an area where you can chip from about 30 yards.
Place several balls in a line so you can repeat the shot consistently.
Focus on making clean contact, using a pendulum-like swing.
Try to land the ball just past the fringe and let it roll to the hole.
Aim to hit at least 8 out of 10 chips within a 3-foot circle of the hole.
Pro Tip: Donât just aim for the hole; try practicing different types of chips, such as low, running chips or high, soft chips. The more variety you have, the more prepared you'll be on course!
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3. The Tee-to-Green Routine: Putting Your Full Swing Together
Most golfers practice their drives but donât pay enough attention to the in-between shotsâthose critical second and third shots that often determine your score. Itâs time to focus on more than just your driver! This drill helps you practice from tee to green and smooths out any awkward transitions between clubs.
Why Practice It?
This drill simulates actual course play and teaches you to go from one shot to the next with smooth transitions, ensuring you're not caught off guard by changes in club selection.
How to Do It:
Choose 5 different clubs that span your bag, from driver to wedge.
Set up a "course" by creating imaginary hole targets around the range (e.g., a 100-yard shot, 150 yards, etc.).
Start with the driver and hit a shot that you would typically use on a par 4.
Move to a mid-iron, then a wedge, and finish with a short chip shot to the "green."
Repeat this drill several times, working through the clubs.
Focus on staying relaxed and taking smooth swings, with an emphasis on the full swing transition.
Pro Tip:Â The goal here is to simulate a round of golf, so try to maintain your course strategy. Hit a variety of shots that youâd use in real play (e.g., aim for fairways, not just the longest drives). Itâll make your game feel more natural and fluid.
4. The Impact Bag Drill: Fine-Tuning Your Impact Position
Most golfers think about the impact zone when theyâre at the range, but often they don't consciously work on improving it. The impact bag drill helps you focus on your contact position and ensures that you're making solid contact with every shot. This drill is perfect for improving consistency and accuracy with every club.
Why Practice It?
Improving your impact position leads to cleaner strikes, which translates to better distance control and accuracy. Solid contact is the key to lower scores.
How to Do It:
Grab an impact bag (or make your own with a pillow or similar item).
Set the bag in front of you on the ground at the same angle as youâd set up to the ball.
Take a few practice swings, focusing on driving the club through the bag as if you were making contact with the ball.
Pay close attention to your wrist angles, body alignment, and weight shift during impact.
After a few swings, step back and assess your positioning. Did your hands stay ahead of the clubhead? Are you finishing with the proper weight distribution?
Pro Tip:Â This drill is all about developing solid, confident contact. Keep working on it until you consistently hit the bag with a clean strike. Once youâve done this a few times, take it to the course and notice how your ball striking improves.
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5. The Lag Putting Drill: Long Putts Made Simple
Lag putting is something many golfers donât practice enough, but itâs essential for improving your scoresâespecially when it comes to leaving yourself with an easy tap-in after a long putt. The key is controlling your distance and avoiding three-putts.
Why Practice It?
Lag putting is all about distance control. By mastering this drill, you'll be able to leave yourself with short, manageable second puttsâgiving you a much better chance to avoid those dreaded three-putts.
How to Do It:
Start by setting up a target on the green, about 25 feet away from where you're standing.
Putt toward the target and aim to get the ball within a 3-foot radius of the hole.
Repeat this drill from different lengths (25, 30, and 40 feet).
Focus on keeping your stroke smooth and not trying to "force" the ball into the hole.
Count how many putts it takes to get the ball within your target area.
Pro Tip:Â Practice this drill regularly to improve your feel for long putts. Even though youâre not aiming for the hole, treating these as ârealâ putts will improve your overall putting consistency.
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Stop Missing Out on These Game-Changing Practice Drills
Improving your golf game doesnât always require working on the flashy stuff. Sometimes, itâs the overlooked drills that really make the difference.
By dedicating time to mastering short putts, improving your chip shots, focusing on your full swing routine, refining your impact position, and practicing lag putting, youâll be well on your way to lowering your scores.
Remember, the best golfers arenât necessarily the ones with the longest drivesâtheyâre the ones who can execute these foundational skills with consistency and confidence. So get out there and work on these drillsâyour scorecard will thank you.
To better golf,
Matt Stephens
Inventor and Co-Founder, Pyramid Golf