Key Takeaways
- Inconsistent putting distances often lead to frustrating three-putts.
- Effective lag putting drills are fundamental for significantly improving your putting game and achieving better scores.
- For longer putts, mastering distance control (pace) is arguably more critical than perfecting the line.
- Drills like the Ladder, Gate, and Putt Past the Hole are crucial for building consistent speed and feel.
- Utilizing the best putting aids for distance can significantly enhance your practice and accelerate learning.
Are inconsistent putting distances costing you valuable strokes and leading to frustrating three-putts on the golf course? Many golfers face this challenge. You hit a great drive, reach the green in good shape, only to mess up a long putt by hitting it too far or leaving it miles short. This can be truly frustrating.
The good news is that effective lag putting drills are the cornerstone of significantly improving your putting game and achieving better scores. Mastering the art of hitting longer putts close to the hole, without necessarily sinking them, is a game-changer. This comprehensive guide will delve into practical drills for consistent putting speed, offer actionable tips on how to improve putting distance control, and review the best putting aids for distance to enhance your practice.
By adopting these proven methods, you can expect to achieve greater consistency and confidence on the greens. You will also dramatically reduce your chances of a three-putt avoidance, ultimately leading to more confident and lower-scoring rounds. Imagine tapping in for par more often, instead of grinding out another bogey! It all starts with learning to control your putting distance.
The Crucial Role of Distance Control in Putting
For longer putts, mastering your putting distance, or pace control, is arguably more critical than perfecting the line. Think about it: if your ball doesn’t follow the exact line you picked, but it stops just a few inches from the hole, you’ll still have an easy tap-in. You’ve avoided a difficult second putt and saved yourself frustration. This is why understanding how to improve putting distance control is so important.
If you hit a long putt with perfect line but the wrong speed, it might zoom past the hole by several feet or stop halfway there. Either way, you’re left with another long putt, making a three-putt much more likely. Misjudging the correct putting distance is a primary cause of those frustrating three-putts. Because of this, it is a fundamental skill that serious golfers must master to lower their scores consistently. Achieving three-putt avoidance starts with getting your first putt close.
“Lag putting,” by definition, refers to the strategy of hitting a long putt with the goal not necessarily to make it but to get the ball close enough to the hole for a manageable second putt. This means hitting it with just the right speed so it finishes within an easy “tap-in” range, usually within a foot or two of the cup. It’s about precision in pace, not just perfect aim. This skill helps you manage the green, especially on longer putts where sinking the ball in one stroke is less likely.
Essential Lag Putting Drills to Master Distance Control
To truly master your putting stroke and gain confidence over long putts, you need to practice with purpose. These lag putting drills are specifically designed to target and significantly improve your ability to judge and control the distance your golf ball travels. Each drill builds a different part of your putting skill, helping you to understand precisely how to improve putting distance control.
The “Ladder” Drill
This drill is fantastic for building a consistent feel for different putting lengths. It helps you calibrate your stroke for various distances.
- Description: To set up the “Ladder” drill, find a flat area on the practice green. Place markers, like golf tees, coins, or even small golf balls, at fixed and increasing distances from your starting point. A common setup is to place markers at 5 feet, then 10 feet, 15 feet, and finally 20 feet away from where you will be putting. You can even extend this to 25 or 30 feet for a greater challenge. The idea is to create a clear “ladder” of distances.
- Execution: Begin by putting from your starting point towards the first marker (5 feet). Your goal is to hit the ball with just enough speed so it stops right at, or just barely past, the marker. Don’t worry about the hole yet; focus only on the distance. Once you feel comfortable hitting the 5-foot mark consistently, move on to the 10-foot marker, then the 15-foot, and so on. Repeat this process for each distance multiple times, perhaps 5-10 putts per marker. Pay close attention to the feel of your stroke for each length.
- Benefit: This drill “trains the muscle memory and feel necessary for accurate distance control.” It directly helps you learn how to improve putting distance control by connecting the feeling of your stroke with the distance the ball travels. By repeatedly hitting specific distances, your brain and body learn to adjust the power of your stroke instinctively. This translates into much better pace judgments when you are out on the golf course, leading to fewer long putts that fly past the hole or fall short. It’s about building a consistent internal “speedometer” for your putter.
The “Gate” Drill
The “Gate” drill helps you focus on starting your ball on the right line with the right speed, ensuring a solid roll.
- Description: For the “Gate” drill, you’ll need two tees or any small, thin objects like pencils. Place these two objects on the green about 6 to 12 inches in front of your golf ball, making a “gate” that is just slightly wider than your golf ball. The idea is for your golf ball to pass through this gate as it starts rolling towards the hole. You can set up this gate at various distances from the hole, perhaps 10 feet, 20 feet, or even 30 feet away, to practice different lag putts.
- Execution: The objective of this drill is not just to aim for the hole, but specifically to roll the ball smoothly through the narrow “gate” you’ve created. This forces you to make a precise, controlled stroke. Focus on maintaining a steady putter path and accelerating smoothly through the ball, ensuring it rolls straight through the gate. If your putter face is not square, or your stroke isn’t smooth, the ball will hit one of the tees.
- Benefit: This drill helps develop a more consistent stroke path, which is crucial for starting your ball on your intended line. More importantly for lag putting, it promotes better speed and distance judgment by focusing on rolling the ball to and through a specific target zone (the gate) with control. By successfully navigating the gate, you confirm that you’ve delivered a square face and a consistent speed at impact, which are key ingredients for predictable distance control on the golf course.
The “Clock” Drill (from distance)
This drill adds a layer of complexity by introducing different angles, helping you adapt to the varied challenges of a real golf course.
- Description: Imagine the hole as the center of a clock. Place multiple golf balls around the hole at various “clock” positions. Instead of close-up putts, perform this drill from a longer lag putting distance, for example, 20 to 30 feet away from the hole. You might place balls at 3 o’clock, 6 o’clock, 9 o’clock, and 12 o’clock positions relative to the hole, all at the same long distance. You can even add positions like 1, 2, 4, 5, etc., to make it more comprehensive.
- Execution: The goal is to putt each ball as close as possible to the hole from these varying angles and distances. You’ll move from one “clock” position to the next, taking one putt from each spot before moving to the next ball. For each putt, assess the slope and break from that specific angle. Focus on finding the right speed and line to get the ball within a tap-in range.
- Benefit: This drill develops your distance control from different angles and helps players adapt to slight variations in green contour or break. On a real course, you rarely get a perfectly flat, straight putt. This drill forces you to read the subtle slopes and adjust your speed and pace accordingly for each putt. It significantly improves your overall feel and intuition for how different lag putts will react on varied greens, making you more adaptable and confident regardless of where your ball lands on the green.
Drills for Consistent Putting Speed and Rhythm
While knowing the distance is vital, having a consistent putting stroke and a smooth rhythm is just as important for truly great lag putting. Your swing tempo and the speed of your putter head are core components of these effective drills for consistent putting speed.
The “Putt Past the Hole” Drill
This drill directly tackles one of the most common putting mistakes: leaving the ball short of the hole.
- Description: The “Putt Past the Hole” drill is simple yet incredibly effective. For every putt you practice, especially those longer lag putts, instruct yourself to hit the ball so it consistently rolls past the hole by a fixed, small margin. Aim for about 12 inches, or one foot, past the cup. Place a tee or marker about a foot behind the hole if it helps you visualize this target zone.
- Execution: The key here is to truly commit to the stroke required to get the ball past the hole. Many golfers, especially on longer putts, get nervous about hitting it too far and end up decelerating or leaving the ball well short. With this drill, you are deliberately training yourself to be aggressive enough to ensure the ball reaches the hole. Focus on a smooth, confident stroke that has enough power to carry the ball beyond the target.
- Benefit: This helps build confidence with a firmer, more positive stroke. It instills a habit to avoid leaving the ball short, which is a common cause of missed long putts and, therefore, frustrating three-putts. By training yourself to always get the ball to the hole, you give every putt a chance to go in and guarantee it won’t be short. This is a key component of building drills for consistent putting speed because it teaches you to complete your stroke and achieve optimal roll.
The “Metronome” Drill
Rhythm is often overlooked but plays a huge role in consistent putting. The “Metronome” drill brings this crucial element into your practice.
- Description: A metronome is a device that makes a regular, ticking sound. You can use a physical metronome or, more conveniently, a free metronome app available on almost any smartphone. Set the metronome to a specific beats per minute (BPM).
- Execution: Your goal is to putt with a rhythm that matches the metronome’s beat. For example, you might try a rhythm where the first click is the start of your backstroke, the second click is the moment your putter strikes the ball (impact), and the third click is the end of your follow-through. Or, you can simply use a steady beat for the entire stroke, ensuring your backswing and follow-through take a consistent amount of time. Experiment with different tempos, perhaps starting around 60-70 BPM and going up to 90 BPM, to find what feels most natural and consistent for your stroke.
- Benefit: This trains a consistent tempo and stroke speed, which is crucial for reliable distance control regardless of putt length. When your rhythm is consistent, the force you apply to the ball becomes much more predictable. A consistent tempo helps you produce consistent speed, meaning if you make the same length of stroke with the same rhythm, the ball will travel the same distance every time. This drill builds reliability and repeatability into your putting stroke, making it one of the best drills for consistent putting speed.
The “Feel” Drill (Eyes Closed/Back to Hole)
This drill helps you develop your natural touch and intuition for putting speed and distance, without relying on your eyes.
- Description: This drill removes your visual cues, forcing you to rely on your “feel.” You can practice putting to varying distances (e.g., 10 feet, 20 feet, 30 feet) with your eyes closed, or by first looking at the hole, then turning your back to it before making your stroke. You can even combine them: look, turn, close eyes, putt!
- Execution: After assessing the distance to your target, close your eyes or turn your back to the hole. Focus purely on the sensation of your stroke. How much backswing feels right for this distance? How much acceleration do you need? Listen to the sound of the ball hitting the putter face and rolling on the green. Try to guess where the ball will end up before opening your eyes or turning around.
- Benefit: This enhances your feel for how much force is needed to reach different distances. By removing visual feedback, your brain is forced to process the subtle sensations of your body and the stroke. This develops a better internal sense of distance and pace, improving your intuitive feel for putting. This is vital for how to improve putting distance control because often on the course, you’ll need to rely on instinct and feel, especially on breaking putts or in tricky situations. It trains your body to recognize the right amount of effort for any given putt, making your distance control more natural and less reliant on conscious thought.
Beyond Drills: Tips for Enhanced Putting Distance Control
While specific drills are powerful tools, there are also broader strategies and aspects of your game that, when polished, will greatly enhance your putting distance control. These tips complement your practice and help you apply your improved skills on the golf course.
Green Reading
Understanding the green is the first step to successful putting. It’s not just about finding the line; it’s about predicting how the ball will behave.
- Detail: Understanding the slope and speed of the greens is crucial for proper pace control. An uphill putt will require more pace and a firmer stroke to reach the hole, as gravity works against the ball. Conversely, a downhill putt will need much less pace, as gravity will help pull the ball towards the hole. If you hit a downhill putt too hard, it can roll many feet past the cup.
You also need to consider the “grain” of the grass – which way the grass blades are growing. Putting against the grain will slow the ball down, requiring a harder stroke. Putting with the grain will speed it up, so you need less power.
A thorough green read helps you anticipate precisely how the ball will break (curve) and slow down as it approaches the hole. This enables you to make better speed judgments. Before you even touch your putter, walk around your ball and the hole. Look at the putt from behind the ball, from behind the hole, and even from the side. Imagine the ball’s entire path from where it starts to where it drops into the hole. Visualize how it will roll, how it will slow down as it goes uphill, or how it will pick up speed downhill. This mental picture is key to selecting the right power for your stroke.
Pre-Shot Routine
A consistent pre-shot routine brings calm and focus to your putting, directly impacting your distance control.
- Detail: Developing a consistent routine before each putt is vital for confidence and accuracy. This routine should be a series of precise steps that you follow every single time. It should begin with assessing the distance to the hole, getting a clear read of the break (how much the ball will curve), and then visualizing the ball rolling perfectly into the hole. Take a few practice strokes that mimic the actual stroke you plan to make – both in length and speed. Finally, step up to the ball, take a breath, and commit fully to a confident stroke. Don’t second-guess yourself once you’re over the ball. A consistent routine reduces indecision and tension that can lead to poor distance control, ensuring you are prepared mentally and physically for every putt. It helps you reproduce the good feelings you developed in your practice drills.
Stroke Length vs. Force
This is a fundamental concept for consistent putting and is key to how to improve putting distance control.
- Detail: Many new golfers think they need to hit the ball harder for longer putts and softer for shorter ones. However, consistency in distance control primarily comes from varying the length of your putting stroke (both your backswing and your follow-through), rather than applying more or less erratic force. For a longer putt, you will naturally have a longer backswing and a longer follow-through. For a shorter putt, your backswing and follow-through will be much shorter. The speed of your putter head should remain relatively consistent – you want a smooth acceleration through the ball, not a jerky hit.
A longer stroke typically equates to more distance, while a shorter stroke covers less. “A smooth, repeatable stroke length adjustment translates into better distance management.” Avoid “hitting” at the ball, which often causes deceleration or inconsistent contact. Instead, focus on a smooth, pendulum-like swing where the putter head accelerates naturally through impact. This ensures a consistent roll and makes your distance control far more predictable. Think of it like a pendulum on a clock: the longer the swing, the faster the pendulum head moves, and the more energy it has. The same applies to your putter.
Leveraging the Best Putting Aids for Distance Improvement
While the drills and tips are the core of improving your lag putting, certain tools can significantly enhance your practice. Various best putting aids for distance can reinforce key principles of lag putting and distance control, helping you get the most out of your practice time and making learning easier and faster. These aids provide instant feedback, allowing you to correct mistakes quickly.
Putting Mats with Measured Distances
Practice doesn’t always have to happen on the green. Putting mats offer convenience and structured practice.
- Description: Many indoor putting mats are designed with marked distances printed directly onto them. These markings can include common putting lengths like 3 feet, 6 feet, 9 feet, and sometimes even longer distances up to 10 or 12 feet. They often have targets or holes at the end.
- Benefit: These mats “allow repeatable practice at set distances, replicating the Ladder Drill indoors.” This is incredibly useful for consistent practice, regardless of the weather outside. You can practice hitting precise distances from the comfort of your home, building that crucial muscle memory and feel for varying stroke lengths. The marked distances provide clear targets, giving you immediate visual feedback on your distance control without needing to measure manually. They are great for training the precise force needed for each length.
Putting Gates and Rails
For refining your stroke path and ensuring a consistent roll, putting gates are a simple but effective tool.
- Description: Putting gates are small physical barriers, often made of plastic or metal, that you place on the green or a putting mat. They create a narrow path for your putter head to travel through, or a small arch for the ball to roll under. Putting rails are longer versions that guide your putter back and through along a straight line.
- Benefit: These aids “help develop a smooth, straight roll, encouraging consistent stroke path and speed.” By forcing your putter or ball through a defined space, they provide immediate feedback. If your putter path is off, or you hit the ball off-center, you’ll hit the gate, letting you know you need to adjust. This consistency in stroke path and face angle at impact is foundational for repeatable distance. If your ball isn’t starting on its intended line, it’s very hard to judge speed correctly.
Laser Putting Aids
For pinpoint feedback on your alignment and stroke, laser aids are a modern solution.
- Description: Laser putting aids are small devices that attach to your putter or stand near your ball. They project a laser line onto the green, showing your intended line or the path of your putter head. Some advanced models can even show if your putter face is square at impact.
- Benefit: These tools “provide visual feedback on stroke alignment and speed.” The laser line helps you see if your putter face is aimed correctly at your target. When you make your stroke, some lasers can show if your putter head stays on a consistent path or if you are accelerating smoothly through the ball. This visual confirmation is powerful. It allows you to immediately see if you are starting the ball on your intended line and if your stroke is consistent, both of which are critical for effective distance control and building a reliable putting stroke.
Alignment Mirrors
Alignment mirrors are classic aids that help ensure your setup is perfect before you even begin your stroke.
- Description: Alignment mirrors are flat, small mirrors with lines printed on their surface. You place them on the green or putting mat, and they allow you to check your eye position over the ball and the alignment of your putter face.
- Benefit: “While primarily for stroke mechanics, they indirectly support distance control by promoting a consistent stroke setup and path.”A consistent setup means your eyes are always in the same place over the ball, and your putter is aimed correctly. This consistency is foundational for a repeatable putting stroke. When your setup is sound, you can then focus solely on the length and speed of your stroke, knowing that your alignment is not an issue. A consistent stroke setup is the bedrock upon which effective distance control is built.
To truly benefit from these tools, remember to integrate them into your practice routine regularly. “Using these aids regularly helps ingrain the proper feel and mechanics needed for distance control and speed consistency.” They are not a magic fix but powerful complements to the dedicated drills you perform. They provide immediate feedback, helping you learn faster and build good habits that stick.
Conclusion: Putt with Confidence and Consistency
Mastering your putting distance is one of the most significant steps you can take to lower your golf scores. It transforms those frustrating three-putts into easy tap-ins and builds incredible confidence on the green. Dedicated and regular practice incorporating these effective lag putting drills and specialized drills for consistent putting speed is absolutely essential for truly mastering putting distance control.
Improving this fundamental skill is the direct path to avoiding costly three-putts and significantly lowering your overall golf scores. No longer will a long putt fill you with dread; instead, you’ll approach it with the quiet confidence that you can get it close.
We strongly urge you to actively implement these drills and tips into your regular practice sessions. Consider adding the best putting aids for distance discussed here to your training arsenal, as they can accelerate your learning and reinforce good habits.
By consistently applying these proven methods, golfers can build the confidence and consistency needed to sink more putts, achieve greater three-putt avoidance, and enjoy better results on the course. This comprehensive approach to lag putting emphasizes the primacy of speed and distance control over line at long ranges, offering practical drills and methods proven to enhance putting performance on the course. Get ready to watch your scores drop and your enjoyment of the game soar!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is lag putting?
A: Lag putting refers to the strategy of hitting a long putt with the goal not necessarily to make it, but to get the ball close enough to the hole for an easy, manageable second putt, typically within tap-in range (1-2 feet). It prioritizes precision in pace over perfect aim for long distances.
Q: Why is distance control more important than line for long putts?
A: For longer putts, if your ball is on the perfect line but has the wrong speed, it can end up far past or far short of the hole, leading to another difficult putt. If the ball is off-line but stops very close to the hole due to good speed, you’ll still have an easy tap-in. Good distance control dramatically reduces the likelihood of a three-putt.
Q: What are some effective drills to improve lag putting?
A: Highly effective drills include the “Ladder” drill (practicing different measured distances), the “Gate” drill (ensuring a straight roll), and the “Putt Past the Hole” drill (building confidence to avoid leaving putts short). The “Metronome” drill also helps build consistent rhythm and speed.
Q: How can putting aids help with distance control?
A: Putting aids like mats with measured distances, putting gates/rails, laser putting aids, and alignment mirrors provide immediate visual and tactile feedback. They help you train muscle memory, ensure consistent stroke paths, refine your aim, and build repeatable mechanics necessary for predictable distance control.
Q: Should I hit the ball harder for longer putts?
A: Rather than “hitting” harder, focus on varying the length of your putting stroke (both backswing and follow-through). A longer, smooth, pendulum-like stroke will naturally generate more speed and distance, while a shorter stroke will cover less ground. The key is consistent acceleration through impact, not a jerky force application.