Odds are your first putt on any green will be a lengthy one (unless you’re a card-carrying member of the PGA Tour). Your main concern should be distance control.
There are several ways you can handle it. In my experience, the best is to adjust the length of your backstroke. That is, make it longer. Doing so naturally fuels a faster forward stroke, giving you the force you need without having to think about it. (Keep in mind: The goal when lagging isn’t to jar the putt; it’s just to get the ball close enough to avoid a three-putt.)
The silver lining with this tack is that you’re limiting yourself to one variable — stroke length. Bonus: A longer backstroke almost automatically guards against coming up short.
A great way to practice this is to hit lag putts in both directions. By that, I mean lagging it from, say, 60 feet to the pin, then — this is important — from the pin back to your original lie. “Reversing” putts like this encourages a longer stroke, especially when you’re putting away from the cup. Here, you’re not as worried about holing it as much as you are getting it close. Tip: Once you complete your “long” backstroke, let the putter “fall” on the ball. No need to add any extra force.
Now, go tap in for par.
Kellie Stenzel is a GOLF Top 100 Teacher who teaches at the Palm Beach Par 3 and Boca Raton GC in Fla.
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