Lag Putting Tips for Perfect Distance Control

When it comes to lowering scores on the golf course, nothing saves more strokes than mastering long putts. Three-putts are a common frustration for amateur golfers, and the difference between a confident lag and a poor golf shot often comes down to distance control.

In this guide, Adam Bazalgette, PGA Teacher of the Year and founder of Scratch Golf Academy, shares simple yet powerful lag putting tips that will help you improve your rhythm, consistency, and overall feel on the greens.

1. Stand Taller and Soften Your Wrists

The first step to better distance control is in your setup. Adam recommends standing a little taller over the ball and softening your wrists.

• A slightly taller stance frees your upper body and makes it easier to create a smooth pendulum motion.
• Soft wrists don’t mean being “wristy,” but rather allowing the golf club to swing naturally so you can feel its weight.

This simple adjustment creates more freedom in the stroke, giving you the ability to make a longer, smoother full swing on long putts without tension.

2. Focus on Solid Contact

Poor contact is one of the biggest reasons players leave long putts short. Many times, golfers think they didn’t hit the putt hard enough, when in reality, they didn’t strike the ball cleanly.

By listening to the sound of your putter striking the ball, you’ll know immediately whether you’ve made solid contact. A thin shot off the putter face will bounce and lose speed, while a true strike rolls smoothly.

Practical drill: spend time hitting putts without a target line. This allows you to focus only on the quality of contact, not the outcome. When you can consistently feel and hear solid strikes, your ability to control ball flight and distance will improve dramatically.

3. Think Pendulum, Not Power

One of the most misunderstood ideas in putting is “accelerating through the ball.” Adam explains that a pendulum naturally accelerates to its fastest point and then begins to slow down—this is what you want in your putting stroke.

Instead of thinking about “how hard” you should be hitting the ball, think about the size of your pendulum motion:

• A longer stroke equals more distance.
• A shorter stroke equals less distance.

This rhythm-based approach ensures you don’t force the stroke and keeps the club face stable through impact.

Practice with Poise

Most amateur golfers are so distracted by the outcome that they never build trust in their stroke. Adam suggests practicing sometimes without a hole—simply swing the club, listen to the sound, and feel the rhythm. Once the stroke feels natural, then move to a target.

This builds confidence, teaches you to control your swing path, and develops better touch. Remember, putting isn’t just mechanics—it’s also artistry and confidence.

Why Lag Putting Matters

Mastering these lag putting tips does more than help you two-putt consistently:

• It reduces pressure on short putts.
• It lowers scores by eliminating unnecessary three-putts.
• It teaches better rhythm and control that can carry over into your full swing.

For a visual demonstration of these techniques, check out this YouTube lesson on lag putting from Scratch Golf Academy.

A Final Word

Golf isn’t just about long drives or picture-perfect iron shots—it’s about scoring. And on the greens, scoring means distance control. When you stand taller, trust your pendulum motion, and make solid contact, you’ll find that lag putts stop being a weakness and start becoming one of your greatest strengths.

So next time you face a daunting 40-footer across the green, take a deep breath, trust your rhythm, and let the ball roll naturally toward the hole. That’s the art of confident lag putting.