Practice start line and pace separately. Use a short, nearly straight putt to check the initial roll, then longer putts to learn where the ball stops. A missed hole does not tell you which skill failed.

Choose the skill before the drill

PGA instruction describes gate drills for start-line practice and ladder-style drills for distance control. PGA: Putting Drills. The two short sets below are SLGP practice suggestions rather than a scoring prediction.

Choose a practice green where you can work without blocking other golfers. On a carpet, judge start direction and repeatability rather than assuming the pace will transfer directly to grass.

Putting Line and Pace Practice: Start through a gap, Change the distance, Record where it stops.

Set one: a short start-line check

  1. Find a short, nearly straight putt and select a starting line.
  2. Place two small markers just wider than a ball on that line, clear of the putter.
  3. Roll five putts through the gap without steering the follow-through.
  4. Count clean starts separately from holed putts. Widen the gap if it encourages a tense stroke.

Set two: a distance ladder

Choose three different distances to a clear finishing zone. Roll one ball from each distance, then repeat the sequence twice. Record short, in the zone or long. Changing distances helps you choose a pace before each stroke instead of repeating one motion automatically.

If starts are reliable but stopping distances scatter, spend the next session on pace. If short starts miss both sides, check setup and face control. For a broader introduction, read putting tips for beginners, or discuss the pattern with Stubbs.