Mastering the Art of Long Putting
As I stand over my ball, 45 feet from the pin, I can’t help but feel a twinge of anxiety. Lag putting has always been my Achilles’ heel, the bane of my golfing existence. But not today. Today, I’m determined to conquer those treacherous long putts and kiss those three-putts goodbye once and for all.
You see, I used to be just like many of you out there – resigned to the fact that I was destined to forever struggle with distance control on the greens. But then I stumbled upon a few game-changing tips that have completely transformed my putting stroke. And now, I’m excited to share them with you, my fellow Eagle Ridge Golf Club members. [1]
The Importance of Eyeing the Hole
The first and arguably most crucial piece of advice comes straight from GOLF’s Top 100 Teacher, Joe Hallett. He emphasizes the importance of looking at the hole as you take your practice strokes before a long putt. [1] This simple adjustment allows your eyes and brain to provide vital feedback on the speed and stroke length required.
“That will give you the feel of how much effort do I need, what size stroke do I need, what is the pace or quickness of my stroke,” Hallett explains. “And then the first thing you gotta do is go, ‘I got to copy that.'” [1]
I’ve got to admit, when I first heard this tip, I was skeptical. But the very next time I played, I put it into practice, and the results were nothing short of astounding. Suddenly, those 40-footers that used to roll woefully short or careen past the hole were finding their way to within a few feet. It was as if my eyes and brain had formed an unbreakable bond, guiding my putter with laser-like precision.
Mastering the “High Side” Approach
Hallett’s second piece of sage advice is to always err on the high side when it comes to lag putting. [1] As he explains, “If you miss low, your ball will roll farther away. If you miss high, it will only drift closer to the hole.” [1]
To reinforce this concept, Hallett suggests placing an alignment stick on the back end of the hole, with the length of it pointing toward you. The goal, he says, is to never let your ball hit the stick before it reaches the cup. [1]
I’ve been practicing this drill religiously, and the results have been nothing short of transformative. Instead of those gut-wrenching three-putts, I’m consistently leaving myself with manageable second putts – the kind that even a putting novice like myself can confidently knock in.
Putting to the Hole, Not Just Close
But here’s the thing – I’ve realized that my previous approach to lag putting was all wrong. I used to be preoccupied with simply getting the ball close, rather than actually trying to hole the putt. [2] After all, what’s the point of leaving yourself a tap-in if you can’t even do that consistently?
As one of my fellow Eagle Ridge members eloquently put it, “Quit trying to hit the 30 footer close and instead try to make it. Over time you will improve. I’ll be honest, I don’t know any low handicap players who practice lag putting and are actively trying to hit it inside 3 feet.” [2]
It’s a mindset shift, to be sure, but one that has paid dividends for me. By focusing on making the putt, rather than just getting it close, I’ve found that my distance control has improved dramatically. And you know what they say – the more you aim for the hole, the more you’ll find the bottom of the cup.
Putting It All Together
Of course, mastering the art of lag putting isn’t something that happens overnight. It’s a process, a journey filled with ups and downs, triumphs and setbacks. But with the right techniques and a positive mindset, I’m confident that we can all become better lag putters and shave valuable strokes off our scores at Eagle Ridge.
So the next time you find yourself faced with a daunting long putt, remember these three key tips: [1][2]
- Look at the hole as you take your practice strokes to get a feel for the speed and stroke length.
- Aim to leave your putt on the high side, using an alignment stick as a visual aid.
- Forget about getting it close – focus on making the putt, not just two-putting.
With a little bit of practice and a whole lot of determination, I know that we can all become masters of the long putt here at Eagle Ridge. So let’s get out there, embrace the challenge, and watch those three-putts become a thing of the past.
[1] Knowledge from https://golf.com/instruction/putting/simple-effective-improve-lag-putting-immediately/
[2] Knowledge from https://www.reddit.com/r/golf/comments/ub155q/best_tips_for_lag_putting/
