when reading the green on a long lag putt, how do u judge speed and the correct line? Is there any advice you guys could give to get rid the dreaded 3 putt? spot putting works but speed is a huge issue for me. Maybe this question sounds rather elementary to some of you and now that i think about it, maybe lag putting just comes with practise...butif theres any advice you could give; it would be much appreciated. Thanks
When I lag putt, if it's long enough that there's a huge chance I'll miss (i.e. 40+ foot putts), I basically just get down for about a second or two, inspect the basic slope of the green, account for it, and just get up there and hit the ball. I find it works very well for me... if I strike the ball correctly. Oftentimes I get it within 1-3 feet, which is great for me.
when reading the green on a long lag putt, how do u judge speed and the correct line? Is there any advice you guys could give to get rid the dreaded 3 putt? spot putting works but speed is a huge issue for me. Maybe this question sounds rather elementary to some of you and now that i think about it, maybe lag putting just comes with practise...butif theres any advice you could give; it would be much appreciated. Thanks
Nothing beats practice. I find that not being so target oriented on long putts (40+ feet) helps me get it close. The line on long putts is a guess and Speed is the key. I practice by hitting a few long putts across the practice green and trying to stop them on the fringe.
On long lag putts, I tend to look more at the break of the last 1/3rd of the putt. That will affect more of the putt than the break of the 1st 1/3-2/3 will.
On long lag putts, I tend to look more at the break of the last 1/3rd of the putt. That will affect more of the putt than the break of the 1st 1/3-2/3 will.
Great sound advice right there. I follow the same guidelines, for long lag putts, and off the fringe 7 iron chips onto a lot of green.
Great sound advice right there. I follow the same guidelines, for long lag putts, and off the fringe 7 iron chips onto a lot of green.
to add to that I make sure I leave it on the high side of the hole so when ti si going very slow and breaking a lot it is breaking towards the hole instead of away from it
I always go thru the same routine on long putts...
First I walk to the hole and stand behind it looking back toward the ball.
I try to determine as precisely as I can where "straight uphill" or "straight downhill" are, i.e. from which direction the ball would be rolling straight into the hole with no break.
I stand facing that direction and, as was mentioned before, look at the last third of the putt (unless it's extreme break) and try to imagine the speed the ball must go in order to roll straight in at the end...keeping in mind whether I have a backstop or dropoff behind the hole.
When I leave the hole I slide to the side of the hole the ball will be breaking from and look back at the ball and pick a spot, a specific spike mark, leaf, discoloration...some specific target and try to imagine the speed the ball must be going in order to hit that spot, take the break, and roll straight in the hole.
Then I walk back to the ball along that line, taking care not to step in anyone else's, and take note of the grain (more important around the hole esp. on bermuda, not asimportant on bent or poa) and any anomalies/potential obstacles, and then stand behind the ball facing the intermediate target I picked out.
At this point speed is the most important thing...but we've made it a little easier by making our target closer...just try to hit the intermediate target with the right speed for the ball to travel that last little bit to the hole with the right pace. More agressive on uphill putts and easy does it on downhillers.
To sum up
Read the putt from both sides of the hole
Make the putt shorter by picking an intermediate target...even if its a straight putt
Be decisive, putt to that point and take what it gives you
Be decisive, trust yourself and it will give you good things
copperhack87,
obviously you have to practice, but you have to practice correctly. When my students are having trouble with distance control it is from one or two things or both. If you come up short mostly your stroke is too short or you are not accelerating correctly or both. If you go by too much your stroke is too long or you are over accelerating or both. Now what to do. Bend over like putting and toss a ball to the hole. You will probably get it closer than you do putting. As you keep tossing and rolling the ball to the hole, feel how your arm is accelerating. That is your natural rhythm and acceleration. Now putt the ball trying to repeat the same rhythm and acceleration. Once you are accelerating consistently, adjust the length of your stroke accordingly. Once you get the right stroke working putt from 30 feet until you can get the ball inside a putter length 18 in a row. That will give you a bench mark stroke from 30 feet. When you play if the putt is longer than 30 feet, use a slighty longer stroke, shorter than 30 feet use a slightly shorter stroke. I like for the back swing and follow through to be about equal length.
Let me know if this helps,
Oh, another tip. ALWAYS USE THE SAME EXACT TYPE OF BALL. if you use a prov1x you can also use a nike one black, and a black hx tour. they willl have pretty much the same feel coming off the putter face. dont switch between different types. If you where to switch back and forth from prov1 to prov1x. you would not have the same feel or distance control on short game or putting.
Oh, another tip. ALWAYS USE THE SAME EXACT TYPE OF BALL. if you use a prov1x you can also use a nike one black, and a black hx tour. they willl have pretty much the same feel coming off the putter face. dont switch between different types. If you where to switch back and forth from prov1 to prov1x. you would not have the same feel or distance control on short game or putting.
Same goes for playing a premium ball, and then playing a wal-mart ball. . .
January 12th, 2005, 07:46 PM
Ultra-Long Lag Putting
I find that not being so target oriented on long putts (40+ feet) helps me get it close. The line on long putts is a guess and Speed is the key. I practice by hitting a few long putts across the practice green and trying to stop them on the fringe. 
Shade
You're makin' too much sense! 
Linear Mode
Similar Threads
