Tip From the Archives

Overshooting Long Putts

Problem

You always overshoot your long putts when you have a downhill lie.

Cure

Try to lag the putt so that the ball will stop a foot before the pin. Do not try hard to create a putting stroke to get the ball into the hole. Visualize the ball rolling into the hole and allow your arms to simply react to this image. Just let it happen rather than trying.

Therapy

When you have a hard time lagging your putts, it is great to work on making a smoother pendulum putt. You do not want to feel a noticeable impact when you putt. Practice with a putter that has a flat area on the back, such as a cavity back putter. Set a small coin on the flat surface of the putter and try to putt without it falling off. The coin will fall off you are hitting at the ball instead of making a smooth stroke. If this is the case, you might want to do this drill every time before you start a round.

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6 votes

 
Roy Hooper | 3 years ago, at the end of June

One thing I learned from a very good friend and teaching PGA Professional is put off the toe down hill. It may sound a little crazy, but if you align the ball on the toe it will roll softer simply because you are not hitting it center mass where all the weight is usually. It takes some practice, but if you are a weekend golfer and don't have the hours to spend grooming your stroke, try using the toe on fast down hill putts. I believe you will be surprised. Thanks GBII, this little tip you gave me years ago has won me many skins.

Harvey Sauter | 3 years ago, at the end of June

I think I remember learning at A&M at least 95% of short lag putts don't go in the hole.

johnny | 3 years ago, at the end of June

You're not trying to get it in. The goal is to leave an easy 2-putt and not making it three.

Joe Durengo | 3 years ago, at the end of June

My son learned from his high school coach to measure your distance from the hole by putter lengths. Then your backswing is equal to 1" back for every putter length, add 1" for uphill putts, subtract 1" for downhill putts. Farther from the hole means longer backswing. Accelerate through the ball using a the same pendulum swing, regardless of distance from the hole. The length of your backswing controls the distance of the putt, nothing else. Once you develop your own tempo on the practice green, use the same putting swing, adjusting only the backswing to compensate for distance. This technique has cut my number of three puts to nearly zero. Be sure to hit the practice green before each round to get a feel for the greens that day. 1" per putter length is a good start, but course conditions will vary the backswing distance. However once you have it zeroed in, it will be consistent from hole to hole.



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