If you’re like most golfers, you’d rather play a round than practice. And if you do actually practice, it usually consists of bombing drivers on the range and not actually working on your game.

Sound familiar?

 

While we understand the fun of acting like the long drive champion on the range, we both know that “Drive for show, putt for dough” saying is true.

 

Putting is one of the most important parts of golf and often overlooked by weekend golfers, but respected by single digit players.

That's why we designed the revolutionary putting mat called Birdie Maker.

And even if you are one of the few dedicated practice putters, we found a way to make practice way more fun with these Birdie Maker putting drills. Now you can compete with friends, show off your putting skills and actually improve the most important part of your game.

3 Birdie Maker Putting Drills To Play Your Best Golf

Drill #1: Alignment Game

Begin by putting towards the big yellow hole in between the two smaller yellow holes. Start by hitting three putts, beginning from the shortest distance first. The goal is to hit the ball through the target with optimal speed and come to rest in the black Birdie Maker Zone you get a point. If it ends up short or rolls off the putting mat, you don’t receive any points. Work your way up from 4 to 6 and finally end at the 9-foot mark.

 

In this drill, you want to work on your aim and alignment by always using the ball position guide. This will allow you to position the golf ball in the same spot on every single putt. It will also help take any variables out of putting and make it automatic once you take your skills to the course. You can also use the edge of the mat to align your hips, shoulders, and knees so they are parallel to your target.

 

And don’t forget to take advantage of the “Putting T” which will help you aim perfectly at the yellow target. Regardless of the shape or style of your putter, the “Putting T” was created to ensure you’re always lining up precisely to the target. 

The second Birdie Maker putting drill begins where the previous drill leaves off. Next to the yellow cup are two “Putting T’s” where you will begin.

 

Using three balls, putt each ball to each of the three Black Speed Zones.

●      Easy: The first putt should go the shortest distance to the first speed zone. If your ball ends up in the speed zone, you get a point. 

●      Intermediate: The second putt is two feet longer and needs to come to rest in the corresponding second speed zone. Anything outside the zone is zero points but if it stays in, two points.

●      Expert: On the third putt, try to have the ball come to rest in the small black zone but still remain on the mat. If it rolls off the putting matt completely, no points. But if it stays on the matt and in the zone, you get three points.

Starting on the white line to the side of 9FT letter, putt two balls to see how close you can get to each of the small yellow circles. The yellow circles are half the size of the regulation black and yellow hole. The objective is to think “Aim small, miss small.”  This is the ultimate challenge of both conquering your speed and aim together.

 

Try this for several rounds with a friend or compete with yourself. Zero points for coming up short, one point for making it to the hole or long, but staying on the mat and two points for ending up on one of the smaller circles.

Bonus Putting Game: The Birdie Maker Game Version of 21

 

If you’ve done any putting games with your buddies on the putting green in the past, I’m sure you’ve played 21 before. 21 is one of the most popular games played by golfers on the putting green and great for placing wagers.

 

This game consists of 7 total putts and has an aggregate point system between the drills we just covered.

Here’s how it works:

 

1.) Aim and Alignment Game: 3 putts from 3 different distances

Goal: Have each putt come to rest in the black area.

●      4 foot putt = 4 points

●      6 foot putt = 6 points

●      9 foot putt = 9 points

 

2.) Speed Game: 3 putts to 3 different black zones

Goal: Have the putts end up in each of the three black speed zones.

●      Closest, large zone = 4 points

●      Middle zone= 6 points

●      Farthest, smallest zone = 9 points

3.) Aim Small, Miss Small Game: 1 putt

Goal: Have the putt end up on the small yellow circles.

●      If the ball stops on yellow circle = 7 points

●      Closest to the yellow circle = 4 points

Keep repeating these drills until the first person gets to 21 and must win by at least two points.

 

As you can see, there are plenty of ways to use the Birdie Maker to improve your game and have fun with your friends or even practicing solo. Try to do these drills on a regular basis to help improve your speed and consistency on the greens.

 

Before you know it, you might have the confidence of Tiger Woods walking putts into the hole like he did at the 2000 PGA Championship.