Eliminating 3 putts a key to success

Last article I wrote with an emphasis on the importance of practising in a more random and variable environment than what most people are used too. Since that article, I have put many recreational golfers into variable situations after successful block practice and watched incredibly how anxiety, fear and doubt repeatedly swept over them and results diminished.

I simply feel obligated to bring you a series of drills to at least touch on putting and one on how to practice properly on the driving range over the coming weeks.

This week, I want to help you with lag putting — a “lag putt” is a long putt, because of its length, the golfer does not expect to make it but hopes to get it close to the cup. If it goes in the hole, bonus!

This is an especially important facet to practice for me as a coach because amateur golfers spend most of their time outside of 20 feet in proximity to the hole once they reach the putting surface. If you can all but eliminate your three putts in any round of golf, I guarantee you quantifiable strokes shaved off your golfing handicap.

Try this bout of random practice next time you hit the putting surface to better learn how to control your speed and limit your three putts:

— Take 11 tees and pick a hole with minimal break and slope

— Put a tee in the green every two feet from the cup until you get to 20 feet

— Put the 11th tee two feet on the opposite side of the hole

Putt a ball from the first tee, and successfully move to the next tee if: — Your ball goes into the cup — Your ball goes past the cup but not past the tee beyond the hole Move up a station (towards the hole) if: — Your ball goes past the tee beyond the hole — Your ball stops short of the cup Challenge yourself on uphill and downhill for higher difficulty, or challenge a friend to get to the end of the ladder first!

Do this drill to better control your pace on the greens. If you can eliminate your three putts, you will lower your scores guaranteed!

For last week’s article on random chipping practice and all my archived articles, visit my website caseyjohnsongolf.com.

Next article will focus on how to random practice on the actual driving range with your full golf swing.