Putting · Drill
Lag Into a Two-Foot Circle
Part of our putting programs for three-putts, reading greens. Build a program with it
A good lag turns a long putt into a tap-in. Speed and read both matter. Often a higher line with softer pace leaves the easiest second putt. Put four tees around a hole, about two feet out. Now you have a circle. Pick a long putt. Try to finish inside the circle. Get three in a row. Then move back and do it again.
The drill
- Ring the hole with tees two feet out.
- Pick a long putt.
- Try a higher line and softer pace.
- Get three in a row inside.
- Move back and repeat.
Why it works
On a long putt, distance control matters more than line, because most three-putts start with a first putt that finishes too far from the hole. A target circle gives you a wider, more realistic goal than the cup. A higher line with softer pace lets the ball slow down and drop into the break, so a miss tends to finish close. A firm putt on a low line gives you less room for error and often leaves a longer, harder return.
Common mistakes
- You aim only at the hole and ignore the circle.Pick your speed for the circle, and treat a made putt as a bonus.
- You hit the putt too firmly to avoid coming up short.Slow your pace until the ball would stop within a foot or two past the hole, and let it die near the cup.
- You count a ball that stops on the edge or outside the tees as a success.Count only balls that finish fully inside the circle, and restart your count of three after each miss.
How you'll know it's working
- Your misses finish short or long by a small margin, not by several feet.
- Your second putt is a tap-in on most holes.
- You get three in a row inside the circle from your starting distance before you move back.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Start from a shorter distance on a flat putt, or widen the circle by placing the tees a little farther from the hole.
Harder: Move to a longer putt with more slope, or tighten the circle so the tees sit closer to the hole.
Common questions
How do I stop three-putting?
Focus on getting your first putt close, not on making it. Practice finishing long putts inside a small circle around the hole so your second putt is short.
Should I aim for the hole on a long putt?
Aim at the hole for your line, but choose your pace for a stopping area around it. A softer pace on a slightly higher line usually leaves an easier second putt.
