Most three-putts don't start with a missed short putt. They start with a long first putt that finishes eight feet short or races six feet past. Lag putting, rolling long putts close enough to make the next one easy, is one of the quickest ways for club golfers to save strokes. It needs no strength and little technique, just good speed judgement and a sensible plan. Here's how to get better at it.
Why lag putting matters
For most amateurs, three-putts cost several strokes a round. Statistics show that from 30 feet and beyond, club golfers three-putt often, while good players rarely do. The difference is almost always distance control. A putt that finishes within three feet will usually be holed; one that finishes six to eight feet away often won't be. Read putting drills to stop three-putting and golf statistics to track.
Speed first, line second
On a 40-foot putt, missing the line by a few degrees leaves the ball a couple of feet to the side. Misjudging the speed by 10% leaves it four feet short or long. Prioritise speed:
- Pick a speed that would roll the ball about 12–18 inches past the hole if it missed.
- Choose a line that suits that speed. Faster putts break less; slower putts break more.
- Commit to the speed before you stand over the ball.
Reading long putts
- Look at the overall slope as you walk onto the green. Big slopes are easier to see from a distance.
- Walk the length of the putt on the side of it, feeling the slope through your feet and counting your paces.
- Look from the low side of the putt, where slopes are easiest to judge.
- Split the putt into sections: the first half, which is mostly about speed, and the last third, where the ball slows and breaks most.
- Check uphill and downhill: these change speed far more than side slope.
Read how to read greens.
A stroke for distance control
- Stand a little taller with your eyes over or just inside the ball, so you can see the line more easily.
- Keep grip pressure light. Read grip pressure.
- Control distance with stroke length, keeping the same rhythm on every putt. A longer backswing means a longer putt.
- Make the through-stroke about the same length as the backswing, or slightly longer, with a smooth acceleration.
- Strike the centre of the face. Off-centre strikes lose distance unpredictably.
- Keep your head still until the ball is well on its way.
Target zones and mental pictures
Many golfers find these images helpful:
- The three-foot circle: imagine a circle around the hole the size of a dustbin lid. Your job is to finish inside it.
- The "past the hole" zone: aim to finish just past the hole, so the ball has a chance to drop.
- The ladder: picture a line of balls stretching from you to the hole and roll the putt to the last ball.
Practice drills
Ladder drill
Place tees at 20, 30, 40 and 50 feet. Putt one ball to each tee, then back down the ladder. Score a point for every putt inside three feet.
Fringe drill
Putt balls from various distances so they finish as close as possible to the fringe at the far edge of the green, without touching it. This teaches you to control the "just past" distance.
Eyes-closed drill
Hit long putts with your eyes closed, guess where the ball finished, then look. This builds feel for how stroke length relates to distance.
Three-putt-free challenge
Play nine holes on the practice green with putts of 30 feet or more. Count three-putts. Repeat weekly and track your progress.
Read golf practice games.
Adapting to green speed
Greens vary from course to course and day to day. On the practice green before your round, roll several long putts to calibrate your stroke. On fast greens, shorten the backswing; on slow greens, lengthen it while keeping the same rhythm. Read putting on fast and slow greens.
Common mistakes
- Never up, never in: leaving putts short is a common habit; aim to finish just past.
- Hitting harder instead of longer: jabbing at the ball produces inconsistent distance.
- Over-reading the line: spending too long on break and not enough on speed.
- Ignoring uphill and downhill: elevation changes speed far more than you think.
- Looking up early: moving your head changes the strike.
Frequently asked questions
How close should a lag putt finish?
Within about three feet is a good target for club golfers.
Should lag putts finish short or long?
Slightly past is ideal, so the ball has a chance to drop, but don't race it far past on fast greens.
Is it better to putt or chip from just off the green?
If the ground is smooth and firm, putting is usually more reliable. Read chip or putt: how to decide.
The bottom line
Good lag putting is mostly about speed: read the slope, picture a target zone and control distance with the length of your stroke. Practise long putts as much as short ones, and you'll cut out three-putts quickly. For the short ones that follow, read how to hole more short putts.