These 2 putting drills ensure your practice translates to the course

In Part I of our three-part putting series, we explored how block-practice stations can help golfers develop the fundamental skills of putting. Through controlled environments and immediate feedback, players can build awareness of their setup, alignment, face control, stroke mechanics, and speed control with block practice. But while these stations are valuable for skill acquisition, they do not fully prepare golfers for the challenges they encounter on the golf course.

Golf is rarely played from the same spot twice. Every putt presents a unique challenge, with varying distances, slopes, green speeds, and visual perspectives. Performing successfully in these constantly changing conditions requires more than technical proficiency, it also requires adaptability.

This is where transfer training comes into play. This type of practice bridges the gap between skill development and on-course performance by introducing variability, decision-making, and problem-solving into practice. Rather than repeating the same putt over and over, golfers are challenged to apply their skills in constantly changing situations.

That’s why having practice that helps utilize this training is so important. It’s where your objective shifts from executing a movement perfectly to producing a successful outcome under a variety of conditions.

Below are a couple of drills I like my players to use for transfer training on the putting green.

Station 1: Random distance speed control

In this station (above, left), you can see a series of discs positioned at varying distances between the golfer and the target. Rather than focusing solely on making putts, the goal is to control speed and finish each ball within a designated zone. This task encourages adaptability and develops the ability to calibrate speed across multiple distances.

The objective of the drill is to have one ball come to rest between each pair of discs. Golfers may also choose to benchmark their performance by tracking how many balls are required to successfully complete the challenge.

Station 2: Green reading

One of the most challenging aspects of putting is learning how much a putt will curve as it travels toward the hole. Many golfers struggle not because they make poor strokes, but because they consistently misjudge the amount of break. Transfer training provides an opportunity to develop this skill by creating tasks that require players to read, predict, and respond to changing green conditions.

In this station (see featured photo above, right), a marker is placed on the intended starting line between the golfer and the hole. Rather than focusing on whether the ball is holed, the golfer’s objective is to roll the ball directly over the marker while allowing the slope of the green to move the ball toward the target. The marker serves as a visual representation of the golfer’s read.

Each putt requires the player to evaluate the slope, determine an appropriate starting line, and execute a putt that matches that prediction. If the ball misses the marker, either the read or the execution was incorrect. If the ball rolls over the marker but misses the hole, the golfer receives valuable information about the accuracy of the predicted break. The result provides immediate feedback on both the quality of the read and the quality of the stroke.

This drill demonstrates how a simple target can transform putting practice from repetitive execution into a decision-making exercise. Instead of repeatedly hitting putts toward the hole, golfers are challenged to make a prediction, test that prediction, and adjust based on the outcome. This process closely mirrors what occurs during actual play, where every putt requires a new read and a new decision.

Block practice involves repeating the same skill or movement in a consistent, controlled environment to build familiarity and technique. While block practice helps golfers develop skills, transfer training teaches them how to apply those skills in changing environments. By introducing variability, decision-making, and problem-solving into practice, golfers learn to adapt to the demands of the course rather than simply repeat a movement.

As players become more proficient at transferring their skills to new situations, they are ready for the final stage of development: performance training. In this stage, skills are tested under pressure, consequence, and competition, creating practice environments that closely resemble real playing conditions.