Lag putting is the art of controlling distance on long putts, aiming to leave the ball close enough for an easy follow-up. Unlike short putts, the goal here isn’t to sink the ball but to avoid three-putts by prioritizing distance control. Here’s what you need to know:
- Why It Matters: Three-putts can ruin your score. By consistently leaving long putts within 5 feet of the hole, you set yourself up for simple two-putts.
- Key Skills: Distance control is everything. A smooth, repeatable stroke with proper rhythm is essential.
- Common Challenges: Green speeds, slopes, and conditions vary widely. Misjudging these factors often leads to poor results.
- Practice Strategies: Use drills like the circle drill and ladder drill to refine speed control. Track your putts per round to measure progress.
Mastering lag putting helps lower your score by reducing mistakes and building confidence in your short game. Let’s break it down step by step.
Basic Lag Putting Fundamentals
How to Control Distance
Mastering distance control is the cornerstone of effective lag putting. Here’s a reality check: professional golfers only make about 50% of their putts from 8 feet, while golfers shooting in the 90s see that number drop to just 27% from the same distance. This stark contrast underscores why controlling distance is often more practical than trying to sink every long putt.
The key to consistent distance control lies in developing a smooth tempo and rhythm for a repeatable stroke. Think of your backstroke length as your guide – it works much like a golf swing: a longer backswing translates to a longer roll.
"Putting is one of the shots in golf that must be methodized. You must not leave it up to the whims of the individual." – Paul Runyan
Start by using your stance as a reference to determine your backstroke length. Practice gauging how far the ball rolls with each stroke, and physically walk off the distance to build a mental map for both short and long putts.
Hitting the ball with the center of the putter face is another critical factor in distance control. Even minor mishits can cause significant changes in distance, so focus on maintaining a steady stroke rhythm instead of relying solely on force adjustments.
For a helpful rhythm, try the "ya-la-bam" technique: say "ya" as you start the backswing, "la" during the transition, and "bam" at the moment of impact. This simple audio cue can help you synchronize your backswing length and swing speed.
Remember, speed influences accuracy in ways you might not expect. Golf strategist Scott Fawcett points out, "The more speed the ball is carrying, it actually makes the hole smaller. The conventional wisdom of ‘banging putts in’ isn’t all it is cracked up to be."
Once you’ve got distance control down, shift your focus to aligning your stance and grip for a smooth, consistent stroke.
Correct Stance and Grip
A strong stance is the foundation of reliable lag putting. Start by positioning yourself with a balanced stance, keeping your shoulders relaxed and your lower body stable. Your weight should rest slightly on the balls of your feet, creating a solid base for your stroke.
Make sure your eyes are directly over the ball – this helps you judge both the line and distance more accurately.
When it comes to grip, stick with something comfortable and controlled. Whether you prefer a standard grip, low-hand left, or reverse overlap, keep your grip pressure light and your arms relaxed. This helps you guide the putter without adding tension that could disrupt your stroke.
Your posture should naturally support a smooth, pendulum-like motion. Stand tall enough to let your arms hang freely, and bend forward just enough to position your eyes over the ball. This creates the proper spine angle for consistent contact and distance control.
With your stance and grip dialed in, you’re ready to focus on creating a smooth, pendulum-style stroke.
Creating a Smooth Pendulum Stroke
The pendulum stroke is your go-to technique for improving lag putting. This approach keeps the stroke arc consistent, leading to predictable results on long putts.
"Under pressure, and any other time, a shoulder-controlled, pendulum-type stroke is going to produce more consistent results. And that’s the name of the game." – Ernie Els
To execute this stroke, engage your core and let the movement flow through your shoulders. Avoid relying on your hands or wrists. Instead, picture your arms, hands, and putter as a single unit – a triangle that moves together as one.
Maintain this triangle throughout the stroke, letting your shoulders drive the motion while your hands lightly hold the putter. Let gravity do the work, allowing the putter to naturally accelerate along its arc and glide through impact. This eliminates the urge to guide the ball and builds trust in your pendulum motion.
Focus on a steady rhythm and let the ball meet the putter head as it swings. Finish with a smooth, unforced follow-through. This method delivers the most consistent distance control, helping you improve your lag putting game.
Lag Putting Drills and Practice Methods
Match Your Stroke Length to Distance
Learning to adjust your stroke length for different distances is key to mastering lag putting.
Start by keeping a steady rhythm for every putt. Use a simple "1-2" count for your backswing and "1" for your follow-through, ensuring the tempo stays the same no matter the distance. The only thing that changes is the length of your stroke.
To fine-tune this, use your body as a guide. For example, on a 20-foot putt, bring your backswing to the instep of your trail foot. For a 30-foot putt, extend it to your ankle, and for 40 feet, go as far as your calf. These physical checkpoints create a consistent system that works on any green.
If you’re playing on faster greens, don’t slow down your stroke. Instead, shorten your backswing while sticking to the "1-2-1" rhythm. Practice this method by starting with 20-foot putts and gradually increasing the distance. Over time, these reference points will feel natural.
Once you’ve calibrated your stroke, the next step is tailoring your approach to the unique contours of each green.
How to Read Greens for Lag Putts
Effective lag putting starts with controlling speed and understanding the break.
"Reading greens is more than just seeing the line, it’s about feeling speed and understanding slope. Train your distance control first, then layer in your reads." – Britt Olizarowicz, Golf Professional
Pay special attention to the final few feet leading to the hole. These subtle slopes often determine how your ball finishes.
Use your feet to sense the terrain as you approach the ball and walk around the hole. Your feet can detect slight inclines and declines that your eyes might overlook. Grain direction is another factor to consider. Putt with the grain for a faster roll or against it to slow the ball down and allow for more break.
For a visual aid, imagine how water would flow across the green to identify natural slopes and drainage patterns. Another hands-on method is tossing balls underhand on the practice green to observe how they roll and break. Finally, try heads-up putting – keep your focus on the target instead of the ball – to sharpen your feel for distance and the green’s overall dynamics.
Common Lag Putting Mistakes to Avoid
Most Common Lag Putting Errors
One of the biggest challenges in lag putting is poor distance control, which often leads to frustrating three-putts and higher scores. Many golfers either hit the ball too hard or leave it embarrassingly short, struggling to find that perfect balance of force. This issue usually comes down to a lack of feel for the green and its varying speeds.
Another common problem is overthinking technique, which can rob you of your natural touch and ability to judge distance effectively.
Then there’s misreading green conditions – failing to account for subtle slopes, grain direction, or even weather influences. These details can make or break your putt.
Inconsistent stroke quality is another roadblock to success. If your stroke isn’t smooth and centered, maintaining reliable distance control becomes nearly impossible.
Lastly, playing too conservatively can backfire. While it might seem safe, it often leaves you with tougher second putts that could have been avoided with a more confident approach.
How to Fix These Mistakes
If you’re tired of three-putting and want to lower your scores, the key is focused practice that targets these common issues.
- Sharpen your distance control. Set up drills that challenge your ability to stop the ball within a specific range. For instance, the circle drill – aiming to land putts within a 3-foot radius of your target – can work wonders for your speed control.
- Develop a better feel with blindfold putting drills. By taking vision out of the equation, you’re forced to rely on touch and instinct. Start with short putts, then gradually increase the distance as your confidence grows.
- Focus on a smooth, repeatable stroke. Aim for a pendulum-like motion, ensuring you strike the center of the putter face with consistent timing. This will help you maintain better distance control across varying putts.
- Hone your green reading skills. Spend extra time analyzing the slope and surface before each putt. Use your feet to feel subtle inclines and observe weight shifts as you walk around the ball. Practicing from different angles will also improve your ability to judge green conditions accurately.
- Practice on greens with different speeds. Simulating the variety you’ll face during actual rounds can prepare you to adapt quickly to changing conditions.
- Be confident with distance control. Get comfortable with putts that roll 2 feet past the hole. This approach reduces the risk of leaving putts short, which often leads to tricky second attempts.
Measuring Progress and Practice Routines
Track Your Putting Stats
Start by keeping track of your total putts per round to establish a baseline for your performance. Pay close attention to how often you three-putt during each round – this specific stat reveals a lot about your lag putting efficiency.
Go a step further by recording the distance of each lag putt and noting how far the ball stops from the hole. Then, calculate what percentage of your lag putts end up within your target zone. A good benchmark? Aim to get 80% of your lag putts within 3 feet of the hole.
Use professional and recreational benchmarks to measure your progress and refine your distance control. Alignment aids can also help ensure your ball starts on target. Consistently nailing both direction and distance control is key to cutting down on three-putts. By tracking these stats, you can create more focused practice sessions to address your weaknesses.
Create a Lag Putting Practice Plan
Once you’ve identified the areas where you’re falling short, it’s time to build a practice plan tailored to your needs. A structured routine designed around your specific gaps can make a big difference in your lag putting performance.
Simulate real playing conditions during practice by working on greens with varying speeds and practicing in different weather scenarios. This variety helps you adapt more easily during actual rounds.
Incorporate drills like the Circle Drill, ladder drills, and the Fringe Drill to sharpen your speed control. For added variety, try a systematic approach with multiple stations. Under Par Performance Golf suggests setting up three stations with balls placed at 40, 50, and 60 feet from the hole. Use 10 balls total – three at each distance, with a final ball at 50 feet – and repeat the routine three times (30 putts total). Focus solely on speed control rather than trying to sink every putt.
Before heading out for a round, warm up with a pre-round speed drill. In August 2022, Josh Berhow of GOLF.com shared a drill where you line up four balls at distances of 6, 12, 18, and 24 feet, focusing only on speed control. This simple routine helped him avoid any three-putts during his round.
To mimic the pressure of actual gameplay, include target games in your practice. Set score goals to challenge yourself, which can improve your performance when it really matters and reduce three-putts during competitive rounds.
How To Break 80 Putting Resources
If you’re looking to take your lag putting to the next level, structured learning resources can make a big difference. The Precision Putting Video Course from How To Break 80 offers detailed instruction aimed at improving your consistency and cutting down on three-putts.
This course dives deep into the technical aspects of lag putting – like stroke mechanics, green reading, and distance control. Its step-by-step format allows you to master the basics at your own pace before moving on to more advanced techniques. Plus, it includes specific drills and practice routines that complement what you’re already working on, giving you a clear path to improvement.
For golfers serious about consistently breaking 80, putting often makes all the difference. Consider this: PGA Tour pros three-putt about three times every 100 holes, while amateurs tend to three-putt far more often. The Precision Putting Video Course teaches the same principles of distance control and green reading that top players rely on.
Additionally, the How to Break 80 eBook offers practical advice on integrating improved lag putting into your overall scoring strategy. It helps you understand when to be aggressive and when to play it safe on lag putts, giving you a smarter approach to the game.
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Conclusion: Better Lag Putting for Lower Scores
Key Points to Remember
Getting better at lag putting boils down to a few core principles that can help you cut down on three-putts and improve your scores. The most critical skill? Speed control. Most three-putts happen because of poor distance judgment, not because you missed the line.
"The key to lag putting is having great speed. Yes, your line is important, but your dispersion from left to right will always be much tighter than your dispersion back to front. For this reason, it’s imperative you dial in your speed if you want to become a great lag putter".
To build a solid foundation, focus on the basics: a proper grip, stance, and alignment. A smooth pendulum stroke with consistent tempo is the secret to controlling distance. Keep your head steady through impact and aim for a fluid, rhythmic motion – this will set you up for success on long putts.
Drills like the circle drill are fantastic for honing your lag putting. They help you leave the ball close enough for a stress-free second putt, which is key to avoiding unnecessary strokes.
Your Next Steps
Now it’s time to put these fundamentals into action. Start by refining your pre-shot routine – pay attention to your process rather than just the result. Walking to the hole before each lag putt can give you a much better feel for the distance and slope, helping you improve your speed control.
Track your putts per round and work on specific drills to sharpen your skills. For instance, the "Tee Behind The Hole" drill and the ladder drill are excellent for improving distance control. The ladder drill involves starting at 15 feet and gradually moving back to 40+ feet, with the goal of leaving each putt within a short, manageable range.
"If you can eliminate three-putts by controlling your distance, you can quickly lower your handicap and score".
If you’re looking for more structured guidance, the Precision Putting Video Course from How To Break 80 is worth exploring. It covers everything from stroke mechanics to green reading and includes drills and practice routines to complement your on-course efforts.
Even the best players in the world aren’t immune to three-putts – PGA Tour pros average about three three-putts every 100 holes. But by mastering these lag putting basics and committing to regular practice, you can close the gap and see noticeable improvements in your game.
How to Practice Lag Putting! Stop 3-Putting!
FAQs
What are the best ways to practice lag putting and improve distance control?
How to Improve Your Lag Putting and Distance Control
If you want to get better at lag putting and fine-tune your distance control, try practicing drills that replicate real game scenarios. A simple yet effective exercise is to place balls at different distances – say 15, 20, 30, and 40 feet – and aim to stop each one within a three-foot circle around the hole. This helps you get a feel for the right pace and accuracy.
Another great drill involves practicing longer putts, like 50-footers, and focusing on landing the ball within a specific target zone. This not only helps you develop a smoother rhythm but also builds confidence for those challenging long putts. By making these drills a regular part of your practice routine, you’ll cut down on three-putts, improve your putting game, and likely see lower scores out on the course.
What are the most common lag putting mistakes, and how can I fix them?
Many golfers find lag putting challenging, often due to poor distance control, an unstable stance, or an uneven stroke rhythm. These problems can lead to missed long putts and dreaded three-putts, which can quickly derail a round.
To get better at lag putting, start by practicing longer putts to improve your sense of distance. Focus on keeping a steady stance and using a proper grip, aiming for a smooth, pendulum-like motion in your stroke. Instead of obsessing over the line on long putts, shift your attention to dialing in the right speed and rhythm. By consistently working on these basics, you’ll start to cut down on those frustrating three-putts.
How do green speed and slope impact lag putting, and what are the best strategies to adjust?
Green speed and slope are key factors in mastering lag putting. On faster greens, the ball travels farther with less effort, so managing the speed and length of your stroke is crucial to avoid overshooting. In contrast, slower greens require a firmer stroke to overcome the added friction.
Slopes add another layer of complexity. Steeper slopes demand careful attention to both aim and speed to keep the ball on its intended path. To handle these challenges, focus on honing your green-reading skills, maintaining a consistent stroke, and adjusting your technique based on the green’s characteristics. Incorporating drills that target speed and break control into your practice routine can make a big difference in reducing the risk of three-putts.