Marcel Siem, a three-time DP World Tour winner, recently shared a drill on the tour’s social-media channels to help players avoid three-putts. The drill involves putting from 6 meters, 7 meters, and 8 meters, with the goal of finishing each ball either ahead of a marker in front of the hole, before an alignment stick behind the hole, or in the cup. Siem emphasizes the importance of not leaving putts short and developing touch on the greens. The drill is simple to set up and focuses on getting to gimme range, where most golfers can hole putts consistently.
When it comes to three-putting, the name of the game is avoiding them at all costs. Even for professional golfers, making putts from distance is less likely than taking three putts to get in the hole. Data from 2021 shows that the likelihood of three-putting at just 33 feet is greater than the likelihood of making birdie, even among the best players in the world. Scratch players three-putt less than five-handicaps, and the likelihood of three-putting increases as players move farther from the hole.
Recreational golfers across different skill levels have varying probabilities of three-putting, with higher handicaps more likely to three-putt. At closer distances to the hole, the likelihood of three-putting decreases, but as players move farther from the cup, the risk of three-putting increases significantly. Distance control is crucial in minimizing the likelihood of three-putting, as improving distance control will help reduce front-to-back dispersion on the greens.
Siem’s drill emphasizes the importance of developing touch and confidence on the greens to avoid three-putts. By focusing on getting to gimme range and practicing from varying distances, players can improve their putting performance and decrease the risk of three-putting. Regardless of skill level, avoiding three-putts should be a top priority for golfers looking to lower their scores and improve their overall game. By implementing drills like Siem’s and focusing on distance control, players can become more consistent and efficient on the greens.
