Lag Putting

[Sandpiper3]

Well, to be honest, this is really about my once again sh*t tourney round.... thx in most part, to my AMAZING lag putting... I had 5 putts outside of 30 ft., and only 1 of them ended up in a 2 putt, and none of them touched inside of 8 ft..... So, any tips for my lagging (other then the 2 and a half hours i worked on it into the night after my round today) to help me out to hold 2nd for tomorrow?

[ezra76]

Sorry to hear about the bad day.

As you know it's all mental. Things I've been working on to avoid 3 putts:
When lagging uphill, keep my weight more forward, harder forward press and try to put it 3ft. past the hole if I miss. I also try to use a few practice strokes and really extend my follow-through, then get over it and hit it, not spending a lot of time thinking about it and then leave it way short.
Downhill, I try to let my follow-through stroke take it there, avoiding a huge back-stroke.
Hard breaking putts from long distance, I try to miss on the "Pro side". Meaning on a L to R putt I want to miss left side and behind it.

Try to be confident, put a good stroke on it and do all your thinking before you get over it. If you're still thinking about the speed as you're taking the putter head back.... that's just asking for a 18ft. putt from 32ft.

Good luck.

[Adam Pettman]

In your opinion what is lag putting, leaving yourself an easy uphill putt or being anywhere within 3 feet of the hole.
I don't get lag putting so I just aim at the hole if it goes in I'm happy, if it doesn't it shouldn't be to far away.

[Pa Jayhawk]

I use my own style for lag putts. Put the ball at your front foot, lean into it and act as though you are "chip" putting, delofting the putter face to 0*. It gives me much better speed control, as I would always leave lag putts short. May be worth a shot.

[JEFF4i]

Always always always, leave yourself an uphill for the 2nd putt. Short downhill putts are killer.

[Pa Jayhawk]

Originally Posted by JEFF4i

Always always always, leave yourself an uphill for the 2nd putt. Short downhill putts are killer.

I keep hearing, and have always wanted to ask. Does this mean coming up short on the 1st putt, whether it be from speed or break? I only ask this because smart course management would tell me that if you are familiar with the green, it is your approach shot that should leave you with an uphill putt. Once you are on the green or chipping, never up never in, if you consistently leave yourself with a downhill putt that is not makable, then speed would be more of a concern.

[JEFF4i]

Well, this is for lag putting. Which essentially means you've no intention of making it in one. The easiest putts on the course are uphill, because speed and line are a little more flexible.

[Pa Jayhawk]

Originally Posted by JEFF4i

Well, this is for lag putting. Which essentially means you've no intention of making it in one. The easiest putts on the course are uphill, because speed and line are a little more flexible.

This makes for an interesting concept, and I certainly agree that an uphill putt is desirable. Although mentally I think you would be setting yourself up for 3 putt more times than not, no matter what position you view a lag putt from. To think you can regulate the speed and accuracy of a lag putt to the degree that you leave yourself with a gimmee would lead me to question, with such accuracy you can likely sink a portion or regulate to a makable down or sidehill putt. If you insist on being a foot short, in what likelyhood would that turn into 4-6 feet short. If you miss a putt that breaks in the end to the bottom of the cup, in what likelyhood will that continue to 4-6 feet.

From my experience in watching people on the green, what I usually see is that most amatuer consistently come up short on uphill lag putts, long on downhill lag putts, and miss the majority of breaking putts to the bottom of the hole in not reading enough break. Which in all likelyhood will end up below the hole in the majority of cases. I think compounding that with trying to be below the hole would end in more 3 putts in all likelyhood. I understand an uphill putt is desirable, although I think running the ball just past the hole, or trying to drop it in the top of the cup is even better. Again, the ball will never go in if left short, and in all likelyhood will not go in if you try to rim it in the bottom of the cup on a breaker. Even a downhill putt could lead to disaster. I think concentrating on and perfecting speed, and trying to sink every putt will lead to a better putting average. Although this is just my opinion, I think you can either regulate the speed and position of a putt to get within range for a second putt, or you can't, compounding the difficulty of trying to place the putt for someone who doubts being able to sink the putt sounds unrealistic.

edit 1 - in the same sense, I don't know how many matches I have been in where a person says they only need to 2 putt from maybe 10-15 feet, and end up leaving in 5-6 feet short, just trying to get it close, in fear of running it to far past the hole. Where on a normal 10-15 foot putt, the same person will 2-putt or better more than 95% of the time if they just try to sink the putt.

[JEFF4i]

Originally Posted by FKA Pa Jayhawk

This makes for an interesting concept, and I certainly agree that an uphill putt is desirable. Although mentally I think you would be setting yourself up for 3 putt more times than not, no matter what position you view a lag putt from. To think you can regulate the speed and accuracy of a lag putt to the degree that you leave yourself with a gimmee would lead me to question, with such accuracy you can likely sink a portion or regulate to a makable down or sidehill putt.

And an excellent point. I suppose what I was trying to say is go for it, but if you miss it, make sure you miss it to a safer side.

[thegambler]

Originally Posted by FKA Pa Jayhawk

I think concentrating on and perfecting speed, and trying to sink every putt will lead to a better putting average. Although this is just my opinion, I think you can either regulate the speed and position of a putt to get within range for a second putt, or you can't, compounding the difficulty of trying to place the putt for someone who doubts being able to sink the putt sounds unrealistic.

Get the word "lag" out of you mindset. Lag has to many negeative conotations to over come. Lag is a three letter word for not trying to make a put. How hard is it mentally to over come a poorly stoked "lag" put? How can you make a five footer if you are standing over a makable five footer still wondering why your lag put isn't inside 3 feet? Just like jayhawk said try and make every put.

[JEFF4i]

Gambler, to be quite honest you have to understand the time for a lag putt.

Honestly I still think it's wise to use lag putts. Never once should someone lag putt from 5 feet, and I don't think it was mentioned. However, if you are looking at a 25 foot putt, there are better choices.

My point is to go for it, however, play it safe. If you miss, what's the worst side to miss on? The best? Play it to the best, because no matter how good you are, most people don't make 25+ very often. Some do, but even then, you should want an easy second putt if you are faced with one.

Lag putting is an essential part of golf and more people practiced it then perhaps there wouldn't be nearly as many 3 putts

[thegambler]

Originally Posted by JEFF4i

Gambler, to be quite honest you have to understand the time for a lag putt.

Honestly I still think it's wise to use lag putts. Never once should someone lag putt from 5 feet, and I don't think it was mentioned. However, if you are looking at a 25 foot putt, there are better choices.

My point is to go for it, however, play it safe. If you miss, what's the worst side to miss on? The best? Play it to the best, because no matter how good you are, most people don't make 25+ very often. Some do, but even then, you should want an easy second putt if you are faced with one.

Lag putting is an essential part of golf and more people practiced it then perhaps there wouldn't be nearly as many 3 putts

My example was about the 5 footer was about the second putt not the original lag put. If your putting from 25 feet and leave it 5 feet away when you wanted to leave it 3 that is a lot of negativity to get out of your mind when trying to knockdown your five footer.

Of course there is a time and place for a lag put I just think the positivety that come from trying to make every putt.

[JEFF4i]

True, but I just find when I'm helping kids when they go for it, they get really aggresive or careful, and do the extremes of one another. Rather, go in with the mentality of a safe second putt regardless of make or miss, because some will go in.

[JoshinWA]

Dave Pelz, short game "guru" (self-proclaimed, perhaps) says that based on his scientific testing and analysis of all putts, the highest percentage is to try and master speed to ensure that putts will end 17" past the hole if they don't go in, and that you should typically play 2X the break you read if you are not a very strong putter. This should help you miss on the "pro" side of the cup, and you will plan to hit the ball firm enough to hold your line if you are actually trying to overshoot the cup a bit...

From my personal experience, I just try to get the ball to the hole and worry less about the exact line...

[Bravo]

A quick tip that you may want to try:

When I have a long putt, the first thing I do is get my line and set myself up on that line...obviously pick some sort of target to aim for if the putt has a meaningful break.

My distance tip is this: Once you are set up on your line.....your last action is to take a long 2-3 second look at the hole before you pull the trigger. The last thing you want to try to get into your brain, is the distance to the hole. Obviously through experience, our brains gradually learn how hard to hit the ball given the distance to be covered. So I take a long look at the hole and then promptly pull the trigger...

Another drill that has been written about and it works is to go to the practice green and put yourself about 25 feet away. Line up your ball in front of your putter and then look at the hole and putt.

That's right...putt while looking at the hole - not your putter.

Do this about 35 times and you will be surprised about how much it can help...

Its all about translating the distance to the hole into your brain so your brain can tell your shoulders how hard to swing your arms and hit the ball....