Hello, Daily Duffer readers! Sarah Chen here, and I’m thrilled to share some insights that I know will dramatically improve your putting game. We’ve all been there, standing over a long, winding putt, feeling a mix of hope and dread. But what if I told you that you could transform those anxious moments into confident strokes, consistently leaving yourself easy tap-ins? That’s the power of mastering lag putting.
For over 15 years, I’ve had the privilege of working with golfers of all levels, from tour professionals to enthusiastic weekend players. And one thing I’ve learned is that while everyone wants to sink every putt, the real game-changer for your scorecard on longer putts isn’t necessarily making them; it’s getting them close. This is the art of lag putting.
What is Lag Putting, and Why Does it Matter so Much?
Lag putting is the ability to hit your longer putts – typically anything over 20 feet – with the perfect speed to nestle the ball into what I call the “safety zone.” Think of this as a three-foot circle around the hole. If you can consistently get your ball into that zone, you’re looking at a stress-free second putt, or even a bonus make. It’s about taking the pressure off those dreaded three-footers coming back after missing a long one.
As the source article rightly points out,
“Lag putting is the unsung hero of the low-handicap game. It isn’t about the glory of hearing the ball drop; it’s about the sophisticated art of speed control. It is the ability to cozy the ball into a “safety zone”—a three-foot circle around the hole—leaving you an effortless tap-in.”
I couldn’t agree more. This subtle yet powerful skill is arguably the fastest way to shave strokes off your scorecard without even touching your full swing mechanics. Think about it: how many times has a three-putt ruined a perfectly good hole? How many times have you felt the momentum drain from your round after leaving a long putt miles short or sending it screaming past the hole?
Mastering lag putting offers three profound benefits:
- Stress Reduction: Knowing you can consistently leave a long putt within tap-in range removes the pressure from your chipping and approach shots.
- Eliminating Three-Putts: As stated in the source article, “The difference between a 79 and an 85 often comes down to three or four holes where a long first putt left a nerve-wracking six-footer coming back.” This is so true!
- Building Momentum: Consistently getting long putts close builds confidence. Conversely, there’s nothing more frustrating than “giving away” strokes on the green.
It’s about controlling speed above all else. On those long putts, speed is infinitely more important than line. You can misread a break by a foot or two, but if your speed is spot on, you’ll still have an easy clean-up. Get the line perfect but your speed wrong by ten feet, and you’re in trouble.
Train Your Feel: Drills for Distance Control
The key to mastering lag putting isn’t about rigid mechanics; it’s about developing an incredible sense of “feel.” You want to train your subconscious to understand how much power is needed for any given distance. Here are two fantastic drills I use with my students that will help you achieve this.
Drill 1: The “Look at the Hole” Drill
Many golfers get so caught up in the ball that they lose sight of the target. This drill helps you reconnect your hands to your eyes, translating visual information directly into stroke feel. It’s a powerful way to tap into your natural instincts.
“This forces your subconscious to translate the distance you see into the feel in your hands. You’ll be shocked at how much more intuitive your distance control becomes.”
The Setup: Place three golf balls at varying distances from a single hole – for example, at 30, 40, and 50 feet.
The Execution:
- Address your first ball as you normally would, getting comfortable over it.
- Once you’re settled, turn your head and look directly at the hole.
- Critically, *do not look back at the ball*. Keep your eyes fixed on the target.
- Make your putting stroke while looking at the hole.
- Repeat this for all three balls.
The Goal: Your goal is to get all three balls within that three-foot safety zone. This drill might feel awkward at first because it breaks a common habit, but trust me, it rapidly improves your ability to feel the distance.
Drill 2: The “Leapfrog Challenge”
This is a brilliant drill for developing “incremental feel” – understanding precisely how much more effort is needed for slightly longer distances. You don’t even need a hole for this one, making it perfect for any flat stretch of putting green.
The Setup: Find a flat, unobstructed area of the green, approximately 30 feet in length.
The Execution:
- Hit your first ball about 10 feet away from you. This is your starting point.
- Hit your second ball. The rule is it must stop *past* the first ball, but as close to it as possible.
- Hit your third ball. It must stop *past* the second ball, but again, as close as possible.
- Continue this process, “stacking” balls in a line, each one just barely passing the previous one.
The Goal: See how many balls you can stack before running out of green or, more importantly, before a ball stops short of the previous one or rolls off the green. This drill hones your touch and teaches you the subtle differences in stroke required for just a few extra inches of roll.
Trust Your Feel, Transform Your Game
The journey to becoming a master lag putter is one of developing feel and trust. It’s about letting go of overthinking mechanics and allowing your body to respond to what your eyes see. When you shift your practice focus from solely “making” putts to consistently “lagging” them into the safety zone, you’ll discover a newfound confidence on the greens.
I encourage you to try these drills during your next practice session. Be patient with yourself, and celebrate the small victories. Each time you land a ball within that three-foot circle, you’re building a more consistent, less stressful, and ultimately, lower-scoring game. Happy putting!
