Improving your lag putting is essential for lowering your golf score, and one of the best ways to do so is by developing your feel and distance control. This can help you leave your first putts inside a makeable distance, reduce three-putts, and increase your chances of making long birdie putts. In a recent post by Chris Como, a GOLF Top 100 Teacher, a drill from Xander Schauffele’s putting coach, Derek Uyeda, was shared. This drill, called the “Eyes Closed Time Drill”, focuses on improving lag putting skills.
The “Eyes Closed Time Drill” is a simple yet effective way to enhance your lag putting abilities. The first step is to set up to a 30-foot putt with your eyes open to ensure consistent center-face contact, which is crucial for lag putting success. Once you have established this consistency, close your eyes and hit the same 30-footer. Try to predict where the ball will come to rest after hitting the putt. This drill helps you understand the length of your stroke and the speed of the putt, improving your feel on the greens.
The eyes-closed technique works because it can help you determine how long the ball will be in motion based on the length of your stroke. By mastering when your putts will stop, you can increase the likelihood of leaving them within a few feet of the hole. This drill also calibrates your perception, training your feel versus the reality of what is happening on the green. This calibration can help you trust your feel and stop guessing on long putts, leading to a more confident stroke and solid contact every time.
By incorporating the “Eyes Closed Time Drill” into your practice routine, you can become a better lag putter and improve your chances of making more two-putts, and even one-putts. This drill is tour-trusted and recommended by putting experts like Derek Uyeda, helping golfers of all levels refine their lag putting skills. When you understand the importance of feel and distance control in lag putting, you can make significant improvements in your putting performance and overall golf game. So next time you hit the course, give this drill a try to see how it can enhance your putting abilities.
In conclusion, lag putting is a crucial aspect of golf that can greatly impact your overall score. By working on your feel and distance control using drills like the “Eyes Closed Time Drill”, you can become a more confident and consistent lag putter. The insights and techniques shared by putting experts like Derek Uyeda can help you refine your skills and make more successful putts on the greens. With practice and dedication to improving your lag putting, you can see significant advancements in your golf game and lower your scores on the course. So take the time to implement these valuable tips and drills into your practice routine to see positive results in your putting performance.
