How to Lag Putt

In golf, putting can make the difference between making the cut at the tournament and drowning your sorrows on the 19th hole. Because of this, many players utilize something called a lag putt. This putt focuses on getting the ball near the cup and two putting, rather than whacking the ball all over the green and ruining your score card. Here's how to lag putt.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Putter
• Golf ball

1. Judge the distance, break and other conditions of the green. If you feel that you can make the putt in one, go for it. But if there are breaks you're having trouble reading, or if you have a 3-stroke lead and don't want to risk golf Armageddon on the course, use a lag putt.
2. Remove the cup from your mind. In golf, most people are focused on sinking the ball in the cup. With the lag putt, you are merely trying to get the ball in the area of the cup to leave yourself a nice short, easy second putt. By removing the cup from your mind, you can relax, as the area where the ball must land will seem like an ocean.
3. Line up your putt. There are a million different grips and putters out there. Utilize your normal putting routine and settle into your stance.
4. Strike the ball and watch it roll toward that space, which you predetermined. If you've played the lag putt correctly, it will land just a few feet from the hole.
5. Tap in your short putt and go onto the next hole. By playing it safe and two-putting from a long distance you have saved your golf score.

Tips & Warnings

• As a drill, cut 6 pieces of string, all about 2-feet long. Then lay that string about 2 feet apart on the green. Stand 50 feet away and practice putting the ball in between the string. Take the time to master getting the ball to stop precisely. Then move on to different distances and different areas of the green. With this exercise, you'll know how to lag putt next time you play golf.

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