THE JUNIOR GOLF GUIDE
Daily Drills · Putting · Speed Control

The Putting Footprint — Speed Matters

Every putt leaves a footprint. Can you make yours smaller?

Discover how far your putts finish short, long, left, and right—and challenge yourself to tighten the pattern.

The Putting Footprint — Speed Matters illustrated drill diagram showing putting dispersion and four steps

Most young golfers can see whether a putt missed left or right. It is much harder to judge how consistently they control distance. This drill makes both dimensions visible and measurable.

10 golf balls
10 ball markers
1 measuring tape
Suggested starting putt: 6–12 ft

What you'll need

  • Putter and ten golf balls
  • A bag of flat ball markers
  • Measuring tape
  • A practice green and one chosen starting spot

Choose a putt that is appropriate for your child's ability. Keep the same starting spot for all ten attempts. Use a relatively level putt at first, then introduce more break.

How to play

  1. Choose one hole and mark a single starting position.
  2. Have your junior golfer putt ten balls, trying to hole each one.
  3. After each ball stops, place a flat marker where it finished, then clear the ball before the next putt.
  4. After all ten putts, study the shape of the markers around the cup.
  5. Measure the full short-to-long spread and the full left-to-right spread.
  6. Record both numbers, discuss the pattern, and try another set of ten.
See the evidence

What the markers reveal

Overhead view of ball markers showing the spread of ten putts around the cup
1 · See the pattern. Each marker shows where a putt finished.
Tape measure laid across the green to measure one direction of putting dispersion
2 · Measure the width. Record the left-to-right spread.
Tape measure aligned with the line of the putt to measure distance dispersion
3 · Measure the length. Record the short-to-long spread.

The lesson: distance control is a skill

Compare the two measurements. On many attempts, the short-to-long pattern will be larger than the left-to-right pattern. That helps your junior golfer understand why choosing a line is only part of putting: the ball must also arrive with the right pace.

Too many short? The ball never reaches the cup, so it cannot fall in. Too many long? Faster putts have less effective capture width at the hole and can leave a challenging comeback putt. The goal is a smaller overall spread with a controlled finishing speed.

The 50/50 checkpoint: For this drill, aim for a balanced mix of putts finishing short and long, rather than a consistent bias in one direction. Treat it as a learning diagnostic—not a rule for every putt on the course. Holed putts can be tracked separately.

Watch: The Putting Footprint — Speed Matters

See how ten putts reveal your speed tendencies—and how to measure the footprint they leave behind.

Original on-green demonstration showing how the markers and tape measure make putting dispersion visible.

Track your progress

After each ten-putt set, record:

  • Starting distance and green conditions
  • Number holed
  • Short-to-long spread (inches)
  • Left-to-right spread (inches)
  • Number short versus long (excluding holed putts)

Challenge: Repeat the drill on another day and see whether you can shrink the long-axis spread without sacrificing your putting line.

Coaching tip for parents

Let your junior golfer describe the pattern before offering advice. Ask:

  • “Which direction had the bigger spread?”
  • “Did more putts finish short or long?”
  • “What change could help you control distance?”

Celebrate noticing and learning—not just making putts. For younger players, use fewer balls and a shorter putt before working up to ten.

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Make the spread smaller.

Great putting is not just about finding the right line. It is about matching that line with the right speed.