GPGE short game tip: effective lag putting
Do you have a method for successfully two-putting from long distances?
Whatever your personal methods are, Scotty has some solid advice for improving your effectiveness when putting from long range.
Ball Position
Your ball position determines how the ball rolls off your putter, that is why the best ball position for putting is forwards of middle, to create an upwards stroke and therefore a better roll. In the case of long putts, Scotty encourages you to place the ball even further forwards than normal in your address position since you need an even cleaner contact for long distances.
Stance
Widen your stance, which discourages a steep take-away and encourages a shallower approach and better contact for a longer stroke. A wider stance will also improve stability over the ball during the longer stroke.
See pic 1 for ball position & stance
The Stroke
Lengthen your stroke whilst maintaining an even rhythm in a pendulum motion. It is important to trust the length of your swing, rather than to “hit” the putt with hand speed. A great drill to practice this is to place two tees in front of your ball to mark the lengths of your backswing and follow through - Pics 2 & 3.
These principles work just as well when putting from just off the green and, as with all aspects of this wonderful game we call golf, practice makes perfect, so let’s see at the World of Putting, driven by Lexus, very soon!
