How to Improve Long Putts and Master Lag Putting

The good news? Improving your long putts doesn't require a complete overhaul of your putting stroke. With the right mindset, a few proven drills, and smart tracking using the Hole19 Golf App, you can dramatically reduce three-putts and start shaving strokes off your scorecard.

Let's break down exactly how to master lag putting and take control of those nerve-wracking long-range efforts.

How can I improve long putts in golf?

To improve long putts on the putting green, focus on distance control rather than making the putt. Practice lag putting drills that emphasize getting the ball within three feet of the hole. Also, track your three-putt percentage using tools like the Hole19 Golf App to measure improvement.

What Makes Long Putting So Difficult?

Long putts are deceptive. Unlike approach shots where you're trying to hit a precise target, your short game and lag putting is about managing multiple variables - distance, green speed, slope, and grain - all while maintaining a smooth, confident stroke.

Most amateur golfers struggle with long putts for three main reasons related to their golf game:

- They lack distance control. They either blast the ball eight feet past the hole or leave it woefully short, leading to a difficult second putt and frequent three-putts.

- They overthink the line. Golfers obsess over break and miss the bigger picture: getting the speed right for next time. If your pace is off, even the perfect line won't save you.

- They need more practice. Long putting requires touch and rhythm that only comes from dedicated practice. Most golfers spend their time on short putts and neglect the lag game entirely.

Here's the reality: if you can consistently get your long putts within three feet, you'll almost never three-putt. That's the standard the golf pros set, and it's achievable for golfers at any level.

The Foundation: Building a Solid Setup for Long Putts

Before you can master distance control, you need good setup fundamentals. An important part of a good setup is alignment - your feet, hips, and shoulder line should all point toward your target line. This good technique creates a stable base for your stroke path.

Grip Pressure Matters

One of the best pieces of advice from the best putters on tour: keep your grip pressure light. Tension in your hands travels up your arms and into your shoulders, creating unstable faces at impact. Think of holding a bird - firm enough it can't fly away, but gentle enough you won't hurt it.

Your Lower Body Stays Quiet

On long putts, resist the temptation to use your lower body. Your legs and hips should remain stable throughout the swing motion. Any movement here disrupts your stroke path and makes consistent contact nearly impossible.

Find Your Proper Shoulder Path

The best putting technique drills focus on developing a proper shoulder path. Your shoulders should rock back and through on a consistent plane, with the path of the putter following naturally. This shoulder path determines whether you'll have a straight or arcing stroke - both can work, but you need to understand which one you have.

Understanding Distance Control: The Necessary Skill for Lag Putting

Distance control is the necessary skill that separates good putters from great ones. It's not about mechanics - it's about developing an understanding of distance control through practice and feel.

The Size of Your Backstroke Controls Speed

Here's a good rule: the size of your backstroke should match the distance you need to hit the putt. Longer putts require larger strokes, while shorter putts need smaller strokes. Trying to hit a 40-footer with a short, quick stroke leads to jabbing and inconsistent contact.

Less Speed, More Control

Many amateurs think they need to hit long putts harder. The opposite is true. A large enough stroke with smooth tempo produces better results than a quick, aggressive motion. The best putting drills teach you to make longer strokes rather than faster ones.

Developing Feel Through Repetition

Understanding distance control requires a lot of practice, but it doesn't need to take an exorbitant amount of time. Even 10 minutes of focused lag putting before your round builds the feel you need. This is a good practice drill that pays immediate dividends on the golf course.

Green Reading Strategies for Longer Putts

Reading greens accurately is crucial for longer putts, but here's the secret: you don't need to read them as precisely as short putts. Why? Because over longer distances, subtle breaks tend to even out, and pace dominates the outcome.

Look for the General Tilt of the Whole Green

Don't waste time analyzing every small break. Instead, identify the general tilt of the whole green. Is it sloping toward water? Away from a hillside? This macro view helps you see the general curve your putt will take.

Walk Off the Distance

Before you putt, pace off the approximate distance to the hole, considering the relative speed at which you need to hit it. One large step equals roughly three feet - a good way to calibrate distances. This gives you a physical sense of how far you need to hit it and helps calibrate your stroke.

Avoid False Speed

False speed happens when the break makes a putt appear faster or slower than it actually is. A downhill putt breaking right to left might look lightning-quick, but if it's into the grain, the actual speed could be moderate. Understanding these interactions is what separates good putters from average ones.

Check the Grain

On Bermuda and similar grasses, grain can dramatically affect speed. Putts into the grain slow down, while putts with the grain run faster. Look at the grass sheen or check the hole's edge for clues about grain direction.

Best Putting Drills for Distance Control

Improving long putts requires purposeful practice. Here are the best putting drills that build distance control and confidence with the right technique:

The Circle Drill

Place tees in a circle three feet around the hole. Hit putts from 20, 30, 40, and 50 feet, aiming to stop each ball inside the circle. Don't worry about holing putts - just focus on leaving yourself tap-ins. This drill trains your eyes and hands to work together for precise distance control.

The Ladder Drill

Set up putts at 10-foot intervals: 10 feet, 20 feet, 30 feet, 40 feet, and 50 feet. Hit one putt from each distance, then reverse the order. This forces you to constantly recalibrate your feel for different lengths. It's a good way to develop versatility in your lag putting without spending an exorbitant amount of time.

The Clock Drill

Place balls around the hole at 20, 30, and 40 feet, positioned at 12 o'clock, 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock, and 9 o'clock. This gives you uphill, downhill, and sidehill putts from multiple distances, allowing you to practice your target line. It simulates real golf course conditions and prepares you for the variety you'll face during a round.

Common Mistakes That Destroy Lag Putting

Even with good technique, certain mistakes can sabotage your long putts. Here's what to avoid:

Trying to Make Long Putts

Forget about holing long putts. While draining a 40-footer feels incredible, it's not a realistic goal for consistent scoring. Your objective on long putts is simple: get the ball close to the hole, no more than three feet away.

Decelerating Through Impact

One of the most common flaws: making a large backstroke but slowing down through the ball. This creates inconsistent contact and unpredictable speeds. Commit to your stroke size and accelerate smoothly through impact.

Overthinking Mechanics on the Course

The golf course is for playing, not fixing. If your stroke path feels off during a round, make a small adjustment but don't overhaul your technique mid-round. Save mechanical work for practice sessions.

The Mental Game of Lag Putting

Long putts are as much mental as physical. Your mindset approaching a 40-footer shapes your results more than your stroke mechanics.

Embrace the Process, Not the Outcome

You can't control whether a long putt goes in. You can control your routine, your read, and your commitment to the stroke. Focus on executing your process, and good results follow naturally.

Use Positive Visualization

Before every long putt, visualize the ball rolling at perfect speed and stopping within tap-in range. This mental rehearsal primes your body to execute the stroke with appropriate force. The best putters all use this great system.

Learn from Every Putt

Whether you lag it close or three-putt, extract a lesson. Was your speed off? Did you misread the break? Building this awareness accelerates improvement without requiring a lot of practice time.

Track Your Putting Stats with Hole19

Want to know if your lag putting practice is working? Track it. The Hole19 Golf App makes it effortless to log your putting stats and monitor improvement.

Shot Tracker: Record every putt and see patterns in your putting game performance.

Advanced Performance Stats: Analyze your putting averages, three-putt rate, and putts per round. This data reveals trends that feel invisible during play but show up clearly in the numbers.

Handicap Calculator: Watch your handicap drop as your putting improves. Better lag putting leads to fewer three-putts, which translates directly to lower scores and a better handicap.

When you can see your progress in real data, you stay motivated and focused on what's working. Plus, knowing you're tracking your stats makes you more intentional during practice and on the golf course.

Putting It All Together: Your Action Plan

Long putts don't have to be a weakness. Here's your action plan to master lag putting:

Build a solid setup with proper alignment, light grip pressure, and quiet lower body. This foundation supports everything else.

Develop distance control through the best putting drills - circle, ladder, and clock drills build feel faster than random practice.

Master green reading by focusing on the general curve rather than minor breaks. Walk off distances to calibrate your sense of how far you need to hit it.

Track your progress with the Hole19 Golf App. Data reveals what's working and keeps you accountable to improvement.

Practice with purpose. Just 10-15 minutes before each round builds the necessary skill for better lag putting without requiring excessive time.

With better distance control, smarter green reading, and consistent practice, you can turn lag putting into a strength that lowers your scores and boosts your confidence. Use these pieces of advice, commit to the drills, and let the Hole19 Golf App track your journey to better putting.

Your scorecard will thank you.