Putting. It’s the moment of truth in disc golf. Whether you’re a beginner aiming to finish out the hole or a seasoned player fighting for a birdie, the strokes you save on the putting green are the most crucial to lowering your score. Yet, many players neglect focused putting practice, often settling for a few casual throws before a round.
This long-form guide provides you with actionable, high-pressure disc golf putting drills designed to build consistency, refine your technique, and forge a rock-solid mental game. Grab your stack of putters, find a practice basket, and let’s get to work!
The Foundation: Before You Drill
Before diving into the drills, ensure you have these elements dialed in. Consistency is key, and it starts with your personal routine.
• Develop a Consistent Routine: This is your psychological anchor. It should include your stance (staggered, straddle, inline), your grip, your look at the target, and your pre-putt motion. Actionable Step: Write down your ideal 5-step routine (e.g., Check wind, Set feet, Grip/Load, Visualise chain hit, Release) and execute it before every practice putt.
• Use Practice Putters: Have a dedicated set of 5-10 putters of the same mold and weight that you use on the course. This builds reliable muscle memory.
• Establish Your Range: Know your comfortable make percentage. Most players aim for 90-100% inside 15 feet, 60-80% at 20-25 feet, and so on. Your drills should challenge your lower-percentage zones.
Accuracy & Consistency Drills (Inside the Circle)
These drills focus on the critical putts within the 33-foot circle (Circle 1).
1. The 10/10 Gauntlet
This drill focuses on pressure and consistency from your most reliable range.
• Goal: Make 10 putts in a row from your comfortable “tap-in” distance (e.g., 10 feet).
• Actionable Steps:
1. Place your marker at 10 feet from the basket.
2. Take a stack of 10 putters.
3. Putt all 10 discs, strictly following your pre-putt routine for each shot.
4. The Rule: If you miss even one putt, you must collect your discs and start the count over from zero (0/10).
5. Once you successfully complete the 10/10, move back to 15 feet and repeat.
2. The Robbie C “Up/Stay/Down” Drill (The Flipping Game)
A great drill for dynamic distance control and adapting to pressure. This works well with just two putters.
• Goal: Incrementally increase your reliable putting range.
• Actionable Steps:
1. Start at 10 feet. Use two putters.
2. Putt both discs.
3. Make 2/2: Move one step back and continue.
4. Make 1/2: Stay at the current distance and putt again.
5. Make 0/2: Move one step forward and continue.
6. The drill ends when you reach a set distance (e.g., 30 feet) or when a set time limit is reached (e.g., 30 minutes). Track your farthest successful move-back distance.
3. Around the Clock (Form Focus)
This drill trains you to hit the chains from various angles and distances, simulating actual course putts.
• Goal: Develop comfort and consistency on putts that aren’t perfectly straight-on.
• Actionable Steps:
1. Place markers at three different distances (e.g., 15, 20, 25 feet).
2. At each distance, place a marker at the center, then a marker 5 feet to the left and 5 feet to the right of the center line. This creates six spots.
3. Putt one disc from each of the six spots, strictly focusing on hitting your intended line and maintaining your form.
4. The Rule: Your score for a set is the number of putts made (Max 6). Repeat until you hit a perfect score of 6/6 from your 15-foot set.
Power & Distance Drills (Circle 2 Edge)
These drills help you extend your consistent range out to the edge of Circle 2 (33 to 66 feet).
4. The ‘Stall’ or ‘Air Bounce’ Drill (Long Range Form)
This drill isolates the push/spin required for longer putts without worrying about distance.
• Goal: Practice the flight shape needed to land long putts softly in the chains.
• Actionable Steps:
1. Move to a long distance, such as 45-55 feet.
2. Focus on throwing a “stall putt”—a putt with enough nose-up angle and height to glide toward the basket, losing speed just as it reaches the chains.
3. Putt 5 discs, with the goal of having the disc stop in the chains or fall directly under the basket (a ‘dead putt’).
4. Miss Focus: If you miss high, focus on a flatter release. If you miss short, add more leg drive and height. The critical element is the air bounce or stall angle.
5. The “No Straddle” Drill (Focus on Weight Transfer)
This drill forces you to rely entirely on your weight shift and snap, which is essential for longer putts.
• Goal: Maximise power generation through leg drive and weight transfer (for staggered stance) or a strong hip push (for straddle).
• Actionable Steps:
1. Stand at 30-35 feet.
2. Putt 10 discs, but do not let your back foot move after the putt (for staggered) or do not lean your chest toward the basket (for straddle).
3. Force yourself to generate all the necessary power from the upward and forward drive of your legs and core.
4. The Rule: If you fall forward or your foot slides, stop, reset, and repeat the throw until you can generate the power while staying balanced.
Mental Game Drills (Pressure Simulation)
The true test of a putter is performing under pressure.
6. “Game Putt” Simulation
Stop practicing stacks of putts in a row. Force yourself to execute one perfect shot.
• Goal: Replicate the feeling of a single, crucial putt on the course.
• Actionable Steps:
1. Randomly select a distance (e.g., 20 feet) and a stance (staggered or straddle).
2. Treat this single putt like it’s for the tournament win. Execute your full routine perfectly.
3. Putt one disc.
4. Regardless of the outcome, immediately collect the disc, walk away from the basket (e.g., 20 steps), and repeat with a different distance/stance.
5. The Rule: Only one putt per setup. This forces a mental reset and full commitment to every throw.
7. Putter HORSE
Turn practice into a fun, competitive game that adds consequence to a miss.
• Goal: Build confidence and precision while dealing with consequences.
• Actionable Steps:
1. Play against a friend (or against a “ghost player” who makes every shot).
2. Player 1 calls a shot (distance, stance, target spot on the chains, etc.). If they make it, Player 2 must try to match it. If Player 2 misses, they get a letter (H-O-R-S-E).
3. If Player 1 misses, the turn passes to Player 2 to call a shot.
4. The Rule: The game ends when a player spells HORSE. The competitive pressure simulates a tournament environment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Q: What is the ideal number of putters for practice?
A: A stack of 5 to 10 putters of the same mold is ideal. This lets you get a significant number of repetitions before needing to walk and collect discs, which breaks focus. For high-pressure drills, using just 1 or 2 putters helps simulate a real round.
Q: Should I always aim for the center pole?
A: Not necessarily. Aiming for a specific chain link or pole section can help with focus and reduce the chance of ‘chain-outs’ or ‘spit-outs.’ Many pros advocate for picking a low, specific link on the chains (a “bullseye”) or an area on the pole to aim for.
Q: Why do I putt well in practice but poorly on the course?
