Still Looking for the Perfect Putting Technique? Stop Overthinking It and Try This Instead. 

I’ve been coaching for thirty years. I’ve worked with everyone from total beginners to a major champion. And I’ve learned that anyone can master the perfect putting technique with three simple strategies:

Two drills and one feel.

Now, a well-rounded putting practice will involve more than these three strategies, but if you at least take the time to practice these drills and learn this feel, you’ll sharpen your technique instantly and overcome the biggest mistakes amateur golfers make on the green.

The best part? You can learn it all in a matter of minutes and practice it just as quickly.

Let’s jump in.

Perfect Putting Technique: Key Points

• You can improve the quality of your contact by drilling putts while balanced only on your lead foot (Lead Foot Only Drill).
• To improve your touch and feel, drill putts holding the putter in your trail hand only (Trail Hand Only Drill).
• When you’re making putts out on the course, make sure the butt end of the putter continues to move forward through impact. This helps you avoid accidentally adding loft—the number one mistake amateur golfers make.

Putting Drill #1: Lead Foot Only Drill

What it improves: Contact

How to do it: 

1. Instead of taking your regular putting stance, position your lead foot in line with the golf ball.
2. Balance all your weight on the lead foot, resting the toe of your trail foot on the ground behind you for support. (You can lift the trail foot if you prefer, but I typically recommend using it as a kickstand for the sake of safety and stability.)
3. Hit some putts from this position.

How Does This Improve Your Putting Contact?

Have you ever been told to keep your head still in your putts? Or that you “keep coming out of the putt”?

It’s an extremely common error—one that’s guaranteed to kill your contact and have you chasing the ball all over the green.

To make matters worse, it’s not always easy to recognize when you’re doing it.

The Lead Foot Only Drill trains you out of this unconscious habit by removing the option of head movement. When you’re balanced on one foot, any unnecessary movement is going to knock you over. Your body knows this instinctively, which means it’s going to stay calm and steady without you having to think about it.

Make this drill a regular part of your practice routine, and steadiness will become your new unconscious habit. 

Putting Drill #2: Trail Hand Only Drill

What it improves: Touch and feel/distance control

How to do it:

1. Get set up to the golf ball.
2. Hold the putter in your trail hand only.
3. Put your lead hand in your pocket.
4. Roll some putts.

How Does This Improve Your Putting Distance Control?

Your trail hand is your dominant hand—the hand that’s more sensitive to the nuances of speed and cadence. The movements you make with this hand will always be more controlled and more precise. That’s why it’s the one you’d use to sign a contract or throw a football.

In this drill, we take the lead hand out of the equation so you can experience what it’s like when your putter is powered exclusively by your dominant hand. It might feel awkward at first, but it won’t be long before you notice improvement in your distance control.

Practice this drill regularly, and you’ll be able to tap into that natural control when you’ve got both hands on the putter. 

How Do I Find the Perfect Putting Technique on the Course?

You’re now equipped with some great practice drills, but what about when you’re in an actual round? How can you ensure the perfect putting technique out on the course?

I’ve got one feel I teach all my students:

In every putt, I want you to feel the butt end of the putter continuing to move forward through impact.

If you notice it starting to move back through impact, you know you’re adding loft. That’s what causes the ball to hop and skip.

It also happens to be the biggest mistake amateur golfers make. That’s why I teach this feel to everyone. (It’s also why we designed our amateur-friendly G-Track putter with 2° of loft instead of the traditional 3-4°.)

Statistically speaking, if you’re struggling with your putting, odds are high that this error is the reason. Focus on keeping the butt end of your putter moving forward through impact, and you’ll see an instant, massive improvement in your putting. 

Perfect Putting Technique: A Recap

Add these quick and easy strategies to your putting practice for quick results:

• Practice the Lead Foot Only Drill to improve your putting contact
• Practice the Trail Hand Only Drill to improve your distance control
• Keep the butt end of your putter moving forward through impact to avoid adding loft

Want to go deeper?

Discover My Full Score-Slashing Putting System

Once you see how much your putting improves with these simple strategies, you’ll realize the truth about putting instruction:

The golf industry has made it way more complicated than it has to be.

That’s why I wrote The Easy Break: A Radically Simple System for Better Putting, Chipping, and Bunker Play.

In this bestseller, I unveil my best short game secrets, including a one-of-a-kind system for conquering the green. It’s easier than any strategy you’ve tried before, it taps into your natural body movement, and it’s way more effective than the complicated putting techniques you’ve been using.

If you’re ready to unlock a new level in your short game, grab your copy of The Easy Break here.

And if you already read the Easy Break, leave us a review! This helps us get in front of more golfers like you to help them play better golf too!

About the Instructor

I’m PGA Teaching Professional Todd Kolb—a four-time Golf Digest Best-in-State Instructor, Amazon Best-selling Author, and Minnesota PGA Teacher of the Year. I’ve worked with students of all ages and skill levels in my 30 years of coaching, from first-timers to an LPGA major champion. I’m also the Director of Instruction for VLS Golf and USGolfTV.

My work with VLS Golf and USGolfTV revolves around helping the everyday golfer cut through overcomplicated traditional instruction to find solutions that actually work for them.