Putting: Dime Time Game

The dime time game is an inexpensive and accurate way to evaluate and keep track of your start line accuracy when putting. Let’s take a look and compare it to several other options.

The most important part of this game and others like it is to evaluate your putting skills and record your progress.

The idea is that you place a dime 2 feet away from your starting point. Then attempt to putt the golf ball over the dime.

It’s that simple.

If you roll the ball over the dime, you are hitting your intended start line. This means you have a good chance of making putts.

Old Duffer Golf image of the dime time game setup — Note: Gates can be difficult
The Dime Time game is easier to setup

The Game

The dime time game consists of 25 putts. No hole required.

The goal is to putt your golf ball over the dime 20 out of 25 times.

Station 1: Five straight putts / flat surface. Total of 6 feet. (2 feet from the ball to the dime plus another 4 feet)

Station 2: Five straight putts / flat surface. Total of 15 feet. (2 feet from ball to the dime and another 13 feet)

Station 3: Five breaking putts / left to right gentle break -1% or 2% grade. Total of 10 feet (2 feet from ball to dime and another 8 feet) You don’t want it to break so much in the first 2 feet that you miss the dime because of the break.

Station 4: Five breaking putts / right to left gentle break – 1% or 2% grade. Total of 10 feet (2 feet from ball to dime and another 8 feet) You don’t want it to break so much in the first 2 feet that you miss the dime because of the break.

Station 5: Five straight putts / downhill. Total of 3 feet. (2 feet from ball to dime plus another 1 foot)

Dime Time Game printable directions and score sheet.

I want to give the credit for this game or drill to James Sieckmann. I would also recommend his books. They are “Your Putting Solution” and “Your Short Game Solution.”

The books are available online. They are not that long, easy to read and easy to understand.

How to set up Dime Time

You don’t need to putt to a hole. I used a target hole I bought from Eyeline Golf or a PuttOUT pressure putting trainer. You could also use a golf tee for an end point.

Mark a starting point on the green and mark the location of the dime. Do this to save the locations. You could use ball markers for this off to the side. I did measure the distances with a tape measure.

You do want to try and get the ball to the hole.

It’s just my observation that hitting the dime with the golf ball most likely will throw the ball offline.

Other options than using a dime. You could use a dime sized ball marker. Dime size = .705 in or 17.9 mm

I like the ball marker because the ball will roll over it. It still may have an affect on the roll.

Old Duffer Golf image of the measurement of a dime — I like the ball marker better outside

Conclusion

I’ll be honest… I wasn’t convinced this would work.

However, I have a 6 foot PuttOUT mat and gave it a try.

I placed a dime at 1 foot, 18 inches and then 2 feet.

I was able to hit the dime no problem. So, I removed two of the dimes and stuck with the one at two feet.

I tried about 5 putts and was able to roll the ball over the dime.

I removed the dime.

Then, I made about 7 or 8 six footers in a row without the dime. Wow!!!

It works like an intermediate aim point.

The more you do this, you start to see the line better.

I would suggest repeating this practice regularly.

Hitting the dime from two feet away gives you a great chance of making putts of up to 12 feet away.

However, let’s not forget using the correct pace, predicting the correct start line and green reading.

That’s another story.

The following image has 3 dimes on the mat. I wanted to try one foot, 18 inches and 2 feet.

Why? I normally use putting gates. You don’t put them 2 feet away. Gates are harder to putt thru as you move them farther away.

As it turns out, 2 feet is a good distance for the dime location.

I found it fairly easy to hit the dime at 2 feet.

You could try 1 foot or 18 inches if you are having trouble and work your way up to 2 feet.

Old Duffer Golf image of using dimes for putting start line training — You really only need one dime at 2 feet

Options for start line practice

I prefer using a putting mirror for start line drills.

In fact, I will set up a putting mirror with a putter gate and ball gate.

This combines several skills at once without over complicating things.

The following video is similar to what I practice at least once a month. They are PRO level options, but take a lot of time to set up.

3 Tour Level Putting Drills You NEED To Try by Cameron McCormick

More info and photos

I’ve included this stuff to go along with the Cameron McCormick video. These are some accessories I currently have tried.

Mirror options

You could setup 5 mirrors for start line practice.

It takes time to setup 5 mirrors, putter gates and ball gates.

I use The Perfect Putter true roller to set up the putts which saves time.

Here is a link to my review for The Perfect Putter

Old Duffer Golf image of putting mirrors — I have two small PuttOUT mirrors
Only one shown

I have several mirrors that can be setup for eyeline practice, putter gates and ball gates.

Top left is no longer available, but will be replaced soon. Its from PuttOUT. It came with an adjustable putter gate, ball gate and 6 foot mat.
The upper right is a small PuttOUT mirror that I take to the practice green almost every time. I have two of these.
The lower left mirror is a small two piece Eyeline setup. it has a second piece for shoulder setup.
The bottom right is my go to for shoulder alignment. It is a large two piece mirror with shoulder alignment.

Image below: I wanted to put the small combo mirror from Eyeline in my bag and try it for a season to see if it would break. It has not. I will do a review down the road.