Why Traditional Putting Practice Is Holding You Back—and How to Train on the Course Instead

Sometimes, holing a 5-foot putt is one of the most difficult things to replicate on a golf course. Other times, it is a consistent putting stroke. In both scenarios, I can feel your frustration regarding inconsistent putting. 

How do you practice? Do you practice traditionally or on the course? Most people would answer that they practice traditionally. But why? Because that’s what you’ve always done?

What if I told you that when it comes to putting, you would be better off practicing on the course rather than traditionally on the putting green? 

Traditional practice may not be as effective as you think. Training while you play on the course can sometimes lead to better results.

The Problem with Traditional Putting Practice

Most of the time, putting practice is done on a putting green for hours on end, putting the same 3 putts over and over. That feels like a waste of time to me. Rather than spending hour after hour on a simulated surface, why not get out on the course and train while you play? To get better at putting, you need to be exposed to unfamiliar putts in unexpected places. You cannot replicate this on the practice green.

In addition to the scenarios you get put in, pressure is a massive factor in becoming a better putter. The problem is there is no pressure on the putting green. This is part of the reason it is so difficult to translate your practice success to the course.

By putting on the practice green over and over, you tend to neglect the skills you need to be a great putter. Specifically, the ability to read the green properly is even now taken for granted. Putting is about adapting, and you can’t adapt if you don’t put yourself in situations that warrant adaptation.

Benefits of Training on the Course

Becoming a better putter is all about replicating real-life scenarios during practice. To do that, you need to be trained on the course as much as you can. By training on the course, you will mirror actual playing conditions and situations, which you would never even think of while on the practice green.

Also, how you have to use all your putting skills at once to make a successful putt on the course is a great way to become a better putter. Being able to take the skills you have, such as green reading, alignment, and distance control, and implement them together in a high-pressure situation gives you a much better practice session than anything you could find on the green.

How to Train on the Course Effectively

Part of training effectively is having the correct plan and the correct tools. To get the most out of training while you play, I suggest using our putter, the Optimum. Using our putter will allow you to have both an actual competitive putter and a training tool on the course at the same time. Our putter trains you while you play. And the best part is you don’t have to spend any extra time practicing.

Of course, taking advantage of downtime on the green is the best way to have an efficient practice session on the course. If you are playing with another person or a group, make sure to use any extra downtime you have to re-read a green or even take a second shot at a putt. The options are endless.

While practicing on the course, make sure to record your performance so you can measure your growth as a putter. If you can practice with intention every time you step on the course, then you can easily become a better putter. 

Why Train While You Play Is a Game-Changer

So why practice on the course? The best argument for training while you play is that it leads to better skill retention and overall performance. The reason for this is because you are taking all of your skills and combining them to see how good you really are. Anyone can stand 3 feet away and make 100 putts by simply replicating a stroke.

But how many people can successfully read a green, align correctly, and stroke the ball with the correct distance in mind? Not as many. And that’s where our train while you play initiative comes in.

Traditional practice will only get you so far. To take the next step, start training on the course.