Putting · Tip
See the Speed Before You Hit a Lag Putt
Part of our putting programs for three-putts, missing short putts. Build a program with it
Great lag putting starts in your head. See the speed. Walk the length of the putt. Feel if it's uphill or downhill. Then picture the ball rolling and slowing to a stop near the hole. Make practice strokes while looking at the hole. Match your stroke to the speed you pictured. Then commit and roll it. Some players even look at the hole on short putts to keep the stroke reactive.
Step by step
- Walk the putt to feel the slope.
- Picture the ball dying near the hole.
- Practice while looking at the hole.
- Match your stroke to that picture.
- Commit and roll it.
Why it works
Distance control on long putts depends on how far you swing the putter and how fast it moves through the ball. Your eyes and body judge distance better when you look at the target while you rehearse the stroke. Walking the putt and picturing the roll gives your brain a clear speed to match, so the stroke is not a guess.
Common mistakes
- You rush the walk and skip feeling the slope.Walk the full length at an easy pace and notice any rise or fall under your feet.
- You take practice strokes while staring at the ball.Look at the hole during each practice stroke so your body links the swing size to the distance.
- You picture the line but not how the ball slows and stops.See the ball losing speed and dying near the hole before you set up.
How you'll know it's working
- Your first putts finish within a short distance of the hole, past or short, with few long misses.
- Your three-putts drop because the second putt is short and simple.
- Your actual stroke feels the same size as your practice strokes.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Start with a 20-foot putt on a flat, straight spot and use only the practice strokes while looking at the hole.
Harder: Move to a long putt with a slope change and hold yourself to one walk, one picture and one set of practice strokes before you roll it.
Common questions
How do you judge distance on a long putt?
Walk the putt to feel the slope, then make practice strokes while looking at the hole. Match your real stroke to that practice feel.
Why do I keep three-putting from long range?
Most three-putts come from poor speed on the first putt, not a bad line. Focus on seeing the ball stop near the hole and rolling it at that speed.
