Improve Your Lag Putting Techniques for Better Golf Scores

Lag Putting Techniques: Have you ever stood over a long putt, feeling your heart beat faster? You know that both your score and your pride depend on this shot. Golfers at every level struggle with mastering lag putting to cut down on three-putts and lower their scores. It’s about keeping calm under pressure and tweaking your game in small, key ways.

Joe Hallett, a top golf teacher from Pinehurst Resort, offers a simple yet effective method: look at the hole when you practice your strokes. This gives you instant feedback on your effort, stroke size, and pace¹. His advice turns putting from a guessing game into a more exact task. By focusing on controlling your distance, you can get the ball close enough to easily finish in one more stroke².

Hallett advises to “miss on the high side” to keep your ball closer to the hole if you miss¹. He suggests practicing with alignment sticks and trying two-putting from over 30 feet away. These strategies help sharpen your lag putting and improve your chances on the green¹. By following these tips, golfers can greatly reduce their three-putts and shoot lower scores.

Key Takeaways

Looking at the hole during practice strokes can help you understand the effort, stroke size, and pace needed for successful lag putts¹.
Focusing on distance control can reduce pressure on subsequent putts and lead to better scores².
“Missing on the high side” helps keep the ball closer to the hole after a miss¹.
Using alignment sticks and practicing two-putting from outside 30 feet are effective drills for improving lag putting¹.
Effective lag putting techniques are crucial for eliminating three-putts and improving your overall golf score².

Understanding the Importance of Lag Putting

Lag putting is key in golf, aiming to get the ball close to the hole. This method helps avoid tough putts and sets up easy tap-ins. By doing so, it cuts down on three-putts, which can ruin your scorecard.

The Definition of Lag Putting

Lag putting means making long putts end close to the hole. It’s crucial for cutting down on three-putts, especially with tricky putts like uphill, downhill, or breaking ones. A Twitter poll by The Grateful Golfer shows many players use lag putting in a game³. Players use different styles in lag putting. Some are bold, while others are careful, especially with harder putts³.

The Impact on Your Golf Score

Lag putting greatly affects amateur golfers’ scores. Golfers often three-putt on many holes, adding extra strokes. For putts within 2 feet, the success rate is about 98% for most, showing the value of getting lag putts close⁴.

For 3-foot putts, the average success is near 90%⁴. The chances drop for longer putts—around 50% from 5-6 feet and 35% from 8-9 feet. This highlights the need for practice to improve accuracy⁴.

Working on 20 to 60-foot putts can help lower three-putts and boost scores for amateur golfers⁴. Regular practice improves reading greens and judging putt speed, especially where breaks are likely.

Getting good at lag putting is essential for a better scorecard. It makes golf rounds more enjoyable and successful.

Lag Putting Techniques

Mastering lag putting can make your golf score much better. It helps avoid those unwanted three-putts. We’ll talk about things like controlling how far you hit the ball, keeping your putter moving right, and getting the speed of your putts consistent. It’s also about reading the greens well. These skills are key to getting better at lag putting and being more reliable on the greens.

Distance Control

Being good at controlling putt distance is key for lag putting. You want your ball to end up close to the hole to make the next putt easy. This cuts down on the chance of three-putting. Looking at the hole while practicing your strokes can help you understand how hard to hit the ball. This is really useful for long putts, where getting the distance right matters a lot¹.

Proper Putter Path and Pendulum Stroke

Having a steady putter path and using a pendulum stroke will make your ball roll where you want it to. Keep your putter moving straight to stay accurate. Try to miss on the high side of the hole. This keeps the ball closer on misses¹.

Consistent Tempo

Keep the same tempo for all putts, no matter the distance. Changing your tempo can mess up your control. Stick to one rhythm to get better at judging distances. This will make your outcomes on the green more predictable.

Green Reading Skills

Learn to read the greens to know how the ball will roll. Look at the contours and changes in the ground. Understanding these can help you line up your putts better. Try to two-putt with all three golf balls from over 30 feet. Aim to make one of those to finish your practice strong¹.

FAQ

What is lag putting?

Lag putting is when you hit long-distance putts closely to the hole. It aims for easy tap-ins. This practice helps avoid three-putts.

How can I improve my distance control for lag putting?

To improve distance control, practice gauging putt strength. GOLF Top 100 Teacher Joe Hallett suggests practicing strokes while looking at the hole. This helps feel the needed effort.

What role does the proper putter path and pendulum stroke play in lag putting?

The right putter path and pendulum stroke create a reliable ball roll. This technique ensures distance control and accuracy for better lag putting.

How does consistent tempo affect lag putting?

Keeping a steady tempo is key for putt distance control. A uniform pace for all putts leads to predictable outcomes and better green consistency.

Why are green reading skills important in lag putting?

Reading the green is crucial for understanding slopes and breaks. Knowing the green’s layout helps predict the ball’s path, improving your putt.

What drills can I use to practice lag putting?

For better lag putting, align a stick at the hole’s back and practice two-putting from afar. Follow by walking away after successful long putts to build confidence.

How does lag putting prevent three-putts?

Lag putting reduces the chance of missing follow-up putts by leaving the ball near the hole. It sets up simpler second putts, cutting down on total putts and avoiding adding strokes.

What is the significance of focusing on the high side when putting?

Aiming high means your miss is likely to end up closer to the hole, setting up an easier next shot.

How does understanding green speed enhance lag putting?

Knowing how green speed varies allows you to adjust your putt strength. Observing and adapting to speed changes boosts your lag putting game.

Why is a proper golf grip vital for successful lag putting?

A correct grip ensures a smooth, repeatable swing. It avoids grip errors, enabling controlled and successful putts.