The Ultimate Guide to Lag Putting in Golf

Lag putting is the secret weapon every golfer needs in their arsenal. It’s a skill that can instantly transform your game, save you from frustrating three-putts, and drastically lower your score. While regular putting is all about making the putt, lag putting is the art of getting those long-distance putts to end up close to the hole. This guide will walk you through the essential techniques, drills, and mental strategies you need to master this crucial skill and improve your overall game.

What Is Lag Putting?

Lag putting is the ability to hit long-distance putts with the right speed and feel so they end up near the hole. Think of it this way: instead of trying to sink a 50-foot putt, your main goal is to get the ball within a three-foot circle of the cup. This takes the pressure off, knowing that even if it doesn’t go in, you’ll be left with a short, manageable second putt. This is a crucial distinction from regular putting, where the primary objective is to sink every ball, regardless of the distance. Statistically, the farther you are from the hole, the less likely you are to make the putt, so focusing on distance control is a smart strategy.

Mastering this skill is vital for reducing strokes. High-handicap golfers often average around 36 putts per round, sometimes even more. In contrast, professional golfers consistently average in the mid- to high-20s. A significant part of this difference comes down to their ability to avoid three-putts. By becoming a better lag putter, you’ll immediately shave strokes off your game, improve your handicap, and reduce the frustration that comes with putting.

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Key Techniques for Effective Lag Putting

Lag putting might seem intimidating, but with the right techniques, it’s easier than you think. A solid foundation in grip, stance, and stroke mechanics is essential for consistency.

Grip and Stance

Your grip and stance are the foundation of a consistent putting stroke. A proper setup ensures balance and control, preventing unwanted movement during the putt.

• Grip Pressure: Your grip pressure needs to be consistent every single time you putt. It doesn’t matter if it’s a four out of ten or an eight out of ten on a pressure scale; what’s important is that you grip the putter the same way for every putt. Depending on your grip type, one hand might be gripping a little harder than the other, but as long as your top hand on the grip has good pressure, the other hand can be placed wherever you prefer. A repeatable grip is a key factor in consistent putting. To learn more about which putter grip is right for you read this article from My Golf Spy, click here.
• Stance: The recommended stance for a putt is about shoulder-width apart, ensuring you feel balanced but not squatting down. Some people even prefer their feet closer together. Just like with other golf swings, your feet, hips, and shoulders should be aligned and pointing toward the target. Most putters have a line or a series of dots to help you align the putter with the ball, which helps you aim at your target. Remember, balance is key; you don’t want to sway at all while putting.

Distance Control

Reading the distance of a long putt can feel like a guessing game, but there are a few simple tips that can make a big difference.

• Judging Distance: One helpful tip is to “walk off the putt.” You don’t have to take forever, but walking from your ball to the hole gives you a better sense of the distance. Another great tip is to take a couple of practice strokes while looking at the hole, not the ball. And perhaps the most impactful tip is to create a mental image of the hole in your mind as you look down at your ball. Holding that picture in your head as you hit the putt gives you a much better sense of how far you need to hit it. This is one of the best things you can do to get your putts closer to the hole.
• Practice and Feel: It’s extremely important to practice putting, especially lag putting. Putting is arguably the most important part of your golf game, and trying to play without a feel for the greens is a recipe for a high score. Practice allows you to get a feel for how to hit certain distances and how a putt will react on a given green. The more you practice, the easier and better it will get.

Stroke Mechanics

The putting stroke is one of the simplest motions in sports, yet many people overcomplicate it. The key is to keep it simple and smooth.

• Putting Stroke Overview: The putting stroke is as simple as setting up with a balanced stance, allowing your arms to hang comfortably away from your body, and rocking your shoulders back and forth. Some people use their hands and wrists a little, and that’s okay, as long as it gives them good results. What truly matters is getting the ball started on your intended line.
• Pendulum Motion: A smooth, pendulum-like motion is essential for a consistent putting stroke. You want your shoulders to do most of the work, and avoid moving your wrists or elbows too much. Think of the motion of a metronome or a grandfather clock; it’s easy and consistent.

4 Practice Drills for Lag Putting

Practicing lag putting doesn’t have to be boring. Incorporating varied drills into your routine will help you improve faster and develop a better feel for the greens.

The Ladder Drill

This drill is designed to help you develop your distance control.

• How to do it: Hit a ball about 10 feet away. Then, grab another ball and hit it just past the first one. Keep repeating this, hitting each new ball just a little farther than the previous one, creating a “ladder” of golf balls.
• Benefits: This drill helps you calibrate your swing speed for different distances, which is extremely beneficial on the course. It helps you avoid hitting a 60-foot putt 45 feet, or a 45-foot putt 60 feet, which will immediately save you strokes. This is especially helpful for new golfers.

The Zone Drill

The Zone Drill is all about focusing on your accuracy at varying distances.

• How to set up: Find a long putt, anywhere from 40 to 90 feet. Use tees, towels, or other markers to create three circular zones around the hole. Zone 1 is a three-foot circle around the hole (3 points), Zone 2 is a five-foot circle (2 points), and Zone 3 is an eight to ten-foot circle (1 point). Hit three golf balls from the same distance and see how many points you can score.
• Focus: The key here is to practice with varying distances. If you practice the same shot repeatedly, your brain disengages, and you don’t learn as effectively. Varying your target and distance is the best way to improve quickly.

Target Practice

This drill helps you develop a feel for different distances in a single session.

• Setting up targets: Choose a starting point about 35 feet from the hole. Drop a ball, then walk back 5-8 feet and drop another one. Repeat this three or four times, so you have balls at varying distances. Start with the closest ball and work your way back, trying to hit each putt as close to the hole as possible.
• Visualization: As mentioned before, a key part of this drill is visualizing the putt. Take a mental picture of the hole, and hold that image in your mind as you look down at the ball. Tiger Woods often talks about this process, and it’s a big reason why he’s considered one of the best putters of all time. He’s an expert at visualizing where the putt needs to travel to go in the hole.

The Throwing Drill

This is an abstract but effective drill for improving your feel for the putt.

• How to perform it: Set two to four balls anywhere from 45 to 90 feet from the hole. Instead of putting, pick up the first ball and toss it underhand toward the hole. This helps you get a sense of the break and the speed of the green without a club in your hand. Then, with your second ball, you can hit the putt.
• Why it works: Most people are naturally good at tossing an object to a target, but struggle with putting. This drill helps your brain connect the physical motion of putting with a more familiar motion. It also helps you understand the simplicity of the putting stroke and how far the ball will roll once it lands.

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Common Mistakes to Avoid When Lag Putting

Even with the best techniques and drills, some common mistakes can derail your lag putting efforts. Being aware of these can help you avoid them and stay on track.

• Overthinking the Putt: Putting isn’t a complicated task, but mental pressure can make it feel that way. The less you think about your stroke and the more you focus on the target, the better. Overthinking your mechanics will drastically reduce your chances of a good putt. Instead, focus on the hole and the target, and trust your stroke.
• Ignoring the Break: A simple way to avoid this is to spend at least 15 minutes on the putting green before your round. Hit long putts, short putts, uphill, and downhill to get a feel for the speed and break of the greens. There are many methods for reading greens, but we have personally found the Aimpoint method to be extremely helpful. It involves using your feet to feel the slope and then holding up your fingers to determine the break. To learn more about the Aimpoint method, read this article.
• Inconsistent Stroke: Consistency is key. There are so many variables on the green—speed, break, slope—that you want to remove the variable of an inconsistent stroke. Practice your stroke at home for a few minutes each day. Be patient with yourself, and remember that a patient golfer is a good golfer. Practice how you play, using one ball as often as possible and going through your full routine.

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Conclusion

Lag putting is an incredibly important skill that can significantly lower your scores and make your time on the course more enjoyable. By implementing the techniques, drills, and mental strategies we’ve discussed, you’ll get a better feel for the greens, improve your distance control, and reduce the number of putts you take in a round.

So, put in the time and effort, and you’ll see results. Practice with a purpose, using these drills and tips to improve smarter, not just harder. We’d love to hear about your experience with lag putting, so feel free to send us an email.