David’s Golf Drills · putting
Adaptive putting
Let the app choose a changing mix of pace and aim tasks. Hit three putts at each target, record which one got it first, and use the next challenge to keep practice purposeful.
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Putting mat with configured markings; putter; balls; tee
About 10–20 minutes; no fixed length
A varied mix of pace and aim
Why mix pace and aim in one putting session
A ball can start on the intended line and still finish at the wrong distance. It can also have reasonable pace while missing the target to one side. Repeating only one kind of putt can leave the other skill untested. Adaptive putting alternates distance-zone and aim challenges so both parts of the task receive attention.
The app chooses challenges in response to your recorded results. You are not following a fixed ladder or promising to master every distance before moving on. The aim is to spend time on a changing mix of targets that reflects what you are getting and missing.
Each challenge allows three putts, which makes this a forgiving way to work on a task before moving to a stricter single-ball test. The important detail is that the app records which putt first achieved the target. A first-putt success and a third-putt rescue should not become the same memory when you review the session.
Set up the mat before chasing a score
In Advanced settings, configure the printed zones and aim distances that exist on your mat. Those settings are shared by the putting drills. Do not assume that your mat has the same zone numbers or markings as another model. A correct setup makes the target descriptions usable.
For aim tasks, stand the tee upside down in the hole. Place the ball at the stated distance and start position. With you standing side-on in a normal putting stance, the app’s top edge is the edge farthest from your feet; bottom is nearest your feet. At 3, 6, and 10 feet, the configured tasks can use the top dotted line, center line, or bottom dotted line.
For distance tasks, start the ball at the center of the hole and roll it away so it stops inside the named zone. You are deliberately using the mat in the opposite direction from the aim task. Read the target before placing the ball rather than assuming that every challenge starts at the distance marker.
How a three-putt challenge works
- Read the new target
Check whether the challenge is Aim or Distance. For Aim, use the given distance and starting line. For Distance, start at the center of the hole and roll toward the displayed zone.
- Hit all three putts
The challenge is one target and three attempts. Observe which attempt first succeeds; even when the first succeeds, finish the three putts before entering the challenge result.
- Log the first success
Tap 1st, 2nd, or 3rd for the first putt that got the target. If none did, tap Didn’t get it. For example, a miss followed by a success is 2nd, regardless of the third ball.
- Take the next challenge
The app uses your results to select another task. The default success target is 70%, adjustable from 30% to 90% in Advanced settings. That is an app challenge setting, not a professional benchmark.
- Finish and review
Most sessions can fit into 10–20 minutes, but there is no required duration. Compare first-putt success as well as eventual success, and notice whether aim or distance tasks need more attention.
How to roll the two kinds of target
For a distance zone, rehearse a comfortable stroke length before hitting. Observe whether the ball stops short of the near boundary, inside the zone, or beyond it. Avoid using the hole-facing habit when the task is to roll away from the hole toward a zone.
For an aim challenge, set the putter face and align to the target from the stated start position. Putts from the top or bottom line are a different setup from a center-line putt. Take time to aim rather than moving the ball to the center because it is easier.
A flat indoor mat is useful for pace and start-line repetition, but it does not reproduce every outdoor slope or green speed. After indoor practice, test the stroke and pace on a real putting green. The app’s mat score is feedback about the practiced task, not a guaranteed make percentage on the course.
Bonus targets and hands-free entry
On the standard setup, bonus zones and the 10-foot aim target appear after four successful challenges in a row. Missing a bonus does not break that run. Treat the bonus as a harder variation that rewards consistency, rather than comparing it directly with an ordinary task.
If Hands-free is available in your browser, the app can announce the target while you say “first,” “second,” “third,” or “no.” Check that it recorded the intended result. The on-screen buttons are the fallback when speech recognition is unsupported or cannot hear clearly.
When to move to the single-ball putting drills
Three attempts allow you to calibrate within a challenge. That is useful during learning, but a course putt is usually a first-attempt task. Aim putting and Distance putting record one ball per target and preserve a more detailed miss direction or pace result.
Use Adaptive putting for a varied practice session when you want the app to choose the mix. Use Aim putting when you want to inspect start-line and holing patterns, or Distance putting when short-and-long control is the main question. Their scores describe different formats, so do not compare their success rates as if the tasks were identical.
Frequently asked questions
Should I enter the number of putts made?
No. Enter the first putt that succeeded: 1st, 2nd, or 3rd. If none succeeded, choose Didn’t get it.
Are the zone settings shared?
Yes. Configure the mat once in Advanced settings; the putting drills use that shared setup.
Does 70% mean a target first-putt make rate?
It is the default adaptive challenge success setting. A three-attempt challenge is a different task from a single-putt test, so do not treat that setting as a course make-rate benchmark.