Tip From the Archives

Die Downhill Putts

Problem

You often end up with a long second putt after lagging a downhill putt to the hole.

Cure

When you lag the ball to the hole, you are likely planning to make a second putt and might be leaving yourself further from the cup than necessary. When setting up to your putt, imagine making the putt and visualize the stroke necessary to make it there.

Therapy

Know the type of putt required to make it to the hole and then practice it until it feels right. Lightly grip the putter. The slower the roll, the more likely the ball will be affected by the break. So, die the ball to the hole at the correct speed. By putting at the correct speed, you will increase your odds of sinking it or end up closer to the hole.

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16 votes

 
Bill | 3 years ago, mid-February

I don't get this. The advice is to not hit the ball too hard and to practice?

Akshat | 3 years ago, mid-February

This is either really weird advice or the concept is vaguely explained. I can be an advice doctor too. "Hit Fairways, HIt greens, practice putts. You'll be a scratch player" Wow! Request the author to follow up and explain what he means by Lag Vs. Die. To me they are the same. If I could hit the correct speed all the time .. I would not be reading this.

Jack | 3 years ago, mid-February

Probably the poorest tip I've seen on this website. Practice and hit put at correct speed, doesn't take a genius to figure this out.

king | 3 years ago, mid-February

This soo bad its funny. The only thing that seems useful is the light grip on the putter.

Bill Williams | 3 years ago, mid-February

While I get that it seems obvious to just putt at the correct speed, I'm all to familiar with this scenario. Downhill putts that miss are often costly and so most amateur players lag the putt and fall to the whim of even the slightest break, ending up worse off. It's a mental barrier that takes practice to get over, but planning a one putt, and ending up with two is better than planning a two putt and ending up with more.

Golf Medic | 3 years ago, mid-February

Bill is correct. It is often a major problem for both Pros and Ams alike when dealing with a downhill putt. The slower the ball is rolling, the more likely the ball will roll off of your line due to the break. Instead of trying to play it safe and leaving it short of the hole, it is often better to figure out the speed necessary to sink it. Otherwise, you could end up with the ball way to the left or right of the cup. I added this affect by the break into the tip so it will be easier for you to understand why it is important to die putts to the hole on downhill putts.



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