Here's a nice putting game I created to focus on short-putt skills. I call it the "report card" game because it tests your putting skills over a critical range of distances and assigns a "grade" of up to 100 points. The game requires a minimum of 20 putts between 2 and 8 feet, and is always completed in no more than 48 putts, so it usually lasts between 10 and 20 minutes. The "report card" can be played alone or with competitors, and can be played either on the practice green or on a moderate-sized carpet
indoors.
How to Play
The game requires putts from distances out from the hole of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 feet. On the practice green, find a quiet hole and set a line of seven tee pegs out from the hole at 1-foot intervals from 2 feet to 8 feet. At all stations past 2 feet, the player has the opportunity to make 15 points either by sinking up to three five-point putts in a row, or upon any miss among these three, switching to a series of five one-point putts. The only exception is at the 2-foot station, where the player has only two possible five-point putts or five one-point putts, for a maximum of 10 points at 2 feet.
A miss of any five-point putt automatically switches the player to only the one-point putts. Then the player takes five putts and counts the ones that go in as one point each. These putts don't have to be made all in a row. The player completes all available putts and then advances to the next station. Here's the scheme:
| Distance | 5-point putts in a row + 5 1-point tries | Points |
| 2 feet | 2 in a row
OR
0-1 5-pt putts + 5 1-pt tries | 0-10 |
| 3 feet | 3 in a row
OR
0-2 5-pt putts in a row + 5 1-pt tries | 0-15 |
| 4 feet | 3 in a row
OR
0-2 5-pt putts in a row + 5 1-pt tries | 0-15 |
| 5 feet | 3 in a row
OR
0-2 5-pt putts in a row + 5 1-pt tries | 0-15 |
| 6 feet | 3 in a row
OR
0-2 5-pt putts in a row + 5 1-pt tries | 0-15 |
| 7 feet | 3 in a row
OR
0-2 5-pt putts in a row + 5 1-pt tries | 0-15 |
| 8 feet | 3 in a row
OR
0-2 5-pt putts in a row + 5 1-pt tries | 0-15 |
| Totals | 20 putts
OR
35-48 putts | 0-100 pts |
The easiest way to score 100 points is to sink two at 2 feet, and then three in a row at each station thereafter out to 8 feet. That's 20 putts for five points each. The hard way to score 100 points is to make all but the last of the five-pointers and then make all five of the one-pointers at each station. That's 48 putts, with 65 points coming from 13 five-pointers and 35 points coming from 35 one-pointers. Of course, it's possible to score zero. It helps to think of letter grades on the "report card" like
A: 90-100, B: 80-89, C: 70-79; D: 60-69; F: under 60.
Why Play?
This game addresses a critical range in putting. Most golfers are able to sink 95% or better of 2-foot putts, but only 50% or less a mere four feet later at the 6-foot range, and the make-percentage declines even further out to the 8-foot range to about 30%. That's a drop-off of nearly two-thirds of all putting skill over six short feet. Outside this range, the decline continues, but at a much more moderate rate.
The game places a healthy premium on making a steady progression of putts all in a row from increasing lengths, and misses of these five-pointers is penalized heaviest the earlier in the series the player misses. In a series of three five-pointers, a miss of the first one leaves only a possible 5 points; a miss of the second one leaves only a maximum of 10 points for that station. The opportunity for full recovery after a miss to attain the maximum points for the station comes only when the last available five-pointer is missed, and then the player has to sink FIVE in a row to recover fully from the miss. And the series of five one-pointers acts as added practice occasioned by a miss at that distance.
By advancing through this series of distances, the player soon discovers his or her "sure-thing" range and has a practice mechanism to extend it outward, perhaps several feet. And the game also teaches the level of caution and exactitude needed to make putts in the 4 to 8-foot range. Another benefit is it teaches how the concentration tends to wander, and what sort of focus and concentration is required and works best to keep a string of sinks going.
Many people have heard about Tour players practicing short putts by sinking 25 in a row at 3 feet, then 25 in a row from 4 feet, etc., out to say 8 feet - and having to start all over again at the beginning upon ANY miss, even the 25th putt at 8 feet after making 149 putts in a row! Forget that! While one might applaud the level of commitment and seriousness in such a practice routine, hardly anyone OTHER than a pro has the time for it. The "report card" game is similar, in that it covers the same distances and involves considerable pressure to make putts in a row, but it has a definite ending in a reasonable time and has a readily understandable "score."
Don't be surprised if you start out scoring in the 30s or 40s your first couple of tries. This game is TOUGH! But if you persist, you should find scores in the 70s and 80s come soon enough, although the "A" report card of 90+ points will remain an extremely elusive challenge.
Make This Part of Your Game
This is a good game for idle putting practice or even for a pre-game warmup session. If you want to try three or four tests in a row, you'll probably need about one hour. The game readily lends itself to solo or competitive practice, and can be played indoors at any time of day or season of the year. If you can get your "report card" up to the "B" level or better, it will surely translate into greater confidence on the course and lower scores for the real game. Conquer this 2-to-8 foot range and make yourself proud of your short putting skills!
