Quickly Improve Long Putts With This One Easy Drill
Posted on: 1 June
Are you tired of the frustration that comes with long putting. Whether it’s leaving them short or blasting them past the hole, we’ve all been there (especially on our infamous 12th).
It’s time to tackle one of the most crucial yet often overlooked aspects of putting: distance control. In this blog, we’ll show you a quick and effective drill that is guaranteed to enhance your putting skills.
Lag Putting Drill: Enhancing Distance Control Through Sensation
Imagine standing on the practice putting green, ready to refine your putting skills. Instead of going through the motions, let’s introduce an element of mystery and finesse with our blind feel drill. Follow these simple steps to unlock the secrets of exceptional lag putting:
- Select your starting point: Choose a hole on the putting green and mark it with a tee, approximately 15-20 feet away. This distance will provide a challenging yet realistic scenario to work with.
- Embrace the darkness: As you prepare to hit your putt, close your eyes immediately after making contact with the ball. Alternatively, ensure that you avoid looking up and tracking the ball’s trajectory.
- Trust your instincts: The objective of this drill is to develop a keen sense of feel and instinct for the putt’s outcome. Without visual feedback, you’ll rely solely on your hands and body to gauge the distance, direction, and overall result of the putt.
- Make your educated guess: As the ball rolls towards the hole, challenge yourself to predict its final destination. Did it finish short, long, left, right, or maybe even found the bottom of the cup? Initially, keep your guesses broader, and with practice, you can become more specific and accurate.
The Science Behind Blind Feel
You may be thinking, “why close your eyes or avoid looking up during the drill?”
The answer lies in tapping into the subconscious aspects of your putting stroke. By eliminating visual distractions, you allow your body to focus on the physical sensations and subtle cues that affect distance control. This drill encourages a more intuitive and natural approach to putting, rather than getting bogged down by technical thoughts and mechanics.
Translating the Drill to the Golf Course: Lag Putting Mastery
So, you’ve completed the blind feel drill on the practice green—now what? The true value of this exercise lies in its ability to transfer your newfound sensations and instincts to real on-course situations. When faced with a long putt during your round, you can tap into the feelings and awareness you developed during the drill.
In next to no time, two putts will become a breeze, (who doesn’t love a competitive edge on the greens).
Learning Lag in Golf
Distance control is a crucial skill that separates the average putters from the exceptional ones. By incorporating the blind feel drill into your practice routine, you’ll develop a heightened sense of touch and an intuitive understanding of your putting stroke. As you apply these newfound skills to your lag putting on the course, you’ll experience more consistent and successful results.
So, the next time you find yourself on the practice green, don’t just go through the motions. Embrace the mystery and finesse of the blind feel drill, and watch as your lag putting game reaches new heights.