Train While You Play: How to Improve Your Putting During A Round of Golf

You just spent an hour on the putting green before your morning round, and the only thing it did was make you sweat. You still can’t drop that elusive 5-footer and want to know why.

The single biggest reason you aren’t getting better on the green is because of the way you approach playing golf versus practicing golf. Instead of thinking practice time and playing time are two distinct models of success, you need to adopt the mindset of train while you play. 

If you can master the train-while-you-play approach to golf, you will consistently make more putts. The idea of train-while-you-play really ties into our own putter, the Optimum. Designed as a dual-function putter, it allows you to train while you play better than anything else on the market.

How to Implement On-Course Putting Training

At the core of the train while you play movement, the goal is to use your time on the course to enhance your skill on the green. The best way to do this is to try our multi-use putter, the Optimum. With its industry-defying easy alignment system, coupled with its ability to replicate consistent putts, you won’t need to do any extra training.

If you can’t or don’t use our putter, don’t worry, I can still teach you some real steps you can take to become a better putter.

My first recommendation when trying to train while you play on the course would be to try focusing on one putting skill per round. For example, one day focus on alignment. The next day, focus on distance control. Finally, on the last day, focus on reading greens. If you will take the time to focus on one of these skills every time you play golf, you won’t need to spend hours a week on the practice green.

Alignment, distance control, and reading greens are the three most vital putting skills to learn. When using these skills to train while you play, make sure you only focus on or actively train one aspect of putting per round. Trying to multitask putting skills will not help you improve because we want to eliminate variables rather than add them.

Drills You Can Perform During Your Round

When it comes to training while you play, you must take it seriously. This isn’t some get-good-quick scheme, but it is a surefire way to improve your putting skill in a real way.

One of the most helpful ways you can take advantage of downtime is when others are playing their ball. While they take their sweet time putting a 2 footer, you could already be practicing your own putt. Maybe you could set up a quick putt to a tee on the green while others are putting. Just be sure not to bother them.

Another great idea is to take two golf balls with you when you play. This will allow you to take a practice roll and then a real roll at the hole. The practice putt you never count, but the power of getting even one more look at a real-life putt will help you immensely on the green.

Finally, there are also simple mind challenges you could take on during each round. Say for example you have a long 50-foot putt that you really just try to lag in to about 5 feet. Well, challenge yourself to make a successful lag putt, and if you don’t, then try to examine why.

How to Track Your Progress on the Green

Now that we have learned some tools for how to better train while you play, let’s look at some key statistics that can help. Tracking stats such as putts per hole, number of 3-putts, and distance of first putt can go a long way in helping you focus on both your strengths and flaws. 

Beyond stats, you need to self-evaluate after every round so that you can both track and feel your progress as it happens. 

The best way to successfully track your progress is to set small challenge goals for yourself based on some of your stats. Maybe you want to avoid 3-putting more than twice. Maybe you want to decrease your putts per hole by any number. The goals are up to you, but make sure they are achievable.

How Train While You Play Benefits You Long-Term

As with any skill you are trying to learn, it can feel like a burden to overcome your current skill gap. But I think if you can successfully navigate the train while you play approach, then you will be well on your way to improving immensely. 

If you could just get 1% better at putting every time you step on the course, you will be a master in no time. An added benefit of training on the course is that you will feel more prepared when you start playing more seriously and maybe in some tournaments. 

Once you have that confidence and a level of consistent improvement, you will notice results in real-time, which is an exciting proposition.

Learning how to train while you play could completely change your putting game in no time. No longer do you have to spend hours on the putting green putting the same 2-foot putt. Instead, you can practice on the course in real-time with real-time feedback. 

Of course, if you’re looking to accelerate all of this, and never have to practice putting for hours on end, then I recommend trying out our putter, the Optimum. It was specifically designed to have the dual function of conforming to the rules of golf while also being a great train while you play putter.