🏌️ The Short Game: Distance Control in Putting
The Magic of Rolling the Ball Just Right
Imagine you’re rolling a ball to your friend across the room. If you push too hard, it zooms past them. Too soft? It stops halfway. That’s exactly what putting is about—rolling the ball just the right amount so it drops into the hole!
🎯 What is Distance Control?
Think of it like a gentle push.
When you push a toy car on the floor:
- Push hard = car goes far
- Push soft = car stops close
In putting, your putter is like your hand, and the golf ball is the toy car. You need to feel how much push to give!
💡 The Big Secret: Distance control is about feel, not force. Great putters are like magicians who know exactly how hard to tap the ball.
🐢 LAG PUTTING: The Long Roll
What is Lag Putting?
Lag putting is when the hole is far away—like trying to roll a ball across your whole living room!
The Goal: Get the ball close enough to tap it in easily next time. You’re not trying to make it (that would be amazing bonus!), you’re trying to leave yourself a tiny putt.
The “3-Foot Circle” Rule 🎯
Imagine a invisible circle around the hole, as wide as your arm spread. Your job? Roll the ball so it stops inside that circle.
┌───────────┐
│ ● hole │ ← Your target zone
│ ⭕ │ (3-foot circle)
└───────────┘
↑
Ball lands here = Success! ✓
How to Lag Putt Like a Pro
Step 1: Look at the Distance Walk halfway to the hole. Get a feel for how far it is.
Step 2: Practice Swings Make gentle practice strokes while looking at the hole (not the ball). Your arms will figure out the right size swing.
Step 3: Match Your Swing Use that same swing when you hit the ball. Trust your practice!
The Pendulum Trick 🕐
Your arms should swing like a grandfather clock pendulum:
- Smooth back
- Smooth forward
- Same speed both ways
🎯 Example: For a 30-foot putt, your backswing might be about 12 inches. For a 15-foot putt, maybe 6 inches. Bigger distance = bigger swing!
Speed Reading the Green 🏔️
The ground isn’t flat like your kitchen floor—it has hills and valleys!
| Green Type | What Happens | Your Adjustment |
|---|---|---|
| ⬆️ Uphill | Ball slows down fast | Hit a little harder |
| ⬇️ Downhill | Ball rolls forever | Hit much softer |
| ➡️ Sidehill | Ball curves | Aim away from slope |
Think of it like this: Rolling a ball uphill is like pushing it through sand—it slows down. Downhill? It’s like an ice slide—it zooms!
🎯 SHORT PUTTS: The Money Makers
What is a Short Putt?
Short putts are the close ones—usually inside 6 feet. These are the putts you SHOULD make!
Here’s the truth: Most golfers miss short putts not because they CAN’T make them, but because they get nervous and change what they do.
The Confidence Formula
graph TD A["See the Line"] --> B["Trust Your Read"] B --> C["Pick a Spot"] C --> D["Roll Through It"] D --> E["Ball Drops! 🎉"]
Step-by-Step Short Putt Magic
1. Find the Line 👀 Crouch behind the ball. See a path from ball to hole—like a tiny invisible railroad track.
2. Pick Your Spot 🔵 Find a mark on the green (a blade of grass, a tiny dot) about 6 inches in front of your ball, right on your line.
3. Line Up Your Putter Point your putter face at that spot. This is your aiming guide!
4. Eyes Over the Ball 👁️ Your eyes should be directly over the ball, like you’re looking down a well.
5. Smooth Stroke, Don’t Stab Stroke THROUGH the ball, not AT it. Imagine you’re painting a line with your putter.
The “Dead Center” Secret
For short putts, aim for the BACK of the cup:
┌─────────┐
│ Back │ ← Hit here!
│ ● │
│ Front │
└─────────┘
↑
Ball
Why? When you aim for the back:
- Ball rolls with confidence
- It holds its line
- Even slightly missed putts drop!
Common Mistakes (And Fixes!)
| ❌ Mistake | ✅ Fix |
|---|---|
| Looking up too early | Keep eyes down until you hear the ball drop |
| Decelerating (slowing down) | Finish your stroke! Putter should end past the ball |
| Changing your routine | Do the same thing every time |
| Gripping too tight | Hold putter like a baby bird—firm but gentle |
🧠 The Mental Game
For Lag Putts: Think “Zone” Not “Hole”
Don’t stress about making it. Just get it close!
For Short Putts: Think “Process” Not “Result”
Focus on your routine. Do your steps. Let the ball take care of itself.
💡 Pro Tip: The best putters in the world miss short putts sometimes. The difference? They forget about the miss immediately and trust their next putt.
🎮 Quick Practice Drills
The Ladder Drill (Lag Putting)
- Drop 5 balls at increasing distances: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 feet
- Try to stop each one within your “arm-spread circle”
- If you succeed, you’ve climbed the ladder!
The Circle of Trust (Short Putting)
- Place 4 balls in a circle, 3 feet from the hole
- Make all 4 in a row
- Move to 4 feet. Make all 4.
- Keep going until you miss. That’s your “trust distance”!
🌟 Key Takeaways
-
Lag Putting = Getting Close
- Big swings for big distances
- Smooth pendulum motion
- 3-foot circle is your friend
-
Short Putting = Confidence
- Pick your line
- Pick your spot
- Stroke through, don’t stab
-
Both Need Feel
- Practice builds feel
- Feel builds confidence
- Confidence makes putts!
🏆 Remember: Every great putter started as a beginner. The secret isn’t talent—it’s practice with PURPOSE. Roll a few balls every day, and you’ll be amazed how quickly your touch develops!
Now go make some putts! ⛳