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Golf instruction is ever-evolving, however the most effective recommendation stands the take a look at of time. In GOLF.com’s new sequence, Timeless Ideas, we’re highlighting a few of the biggest recommendation academics and gamers have allotted within the pages of GOLF Journal. As we speak we glance again to our April 1985 problem the place Ben Crenshaw defined his secrets and techniques for lag placing. For limitless entry to the complete GOLF Journal digital archive, be part of InsideGOLF at this time; you’ll take pleasure in $140 of worth for under $39.99/yr.
Certain, we’d all like to hit it near the pin each time we discovered the inexperienced, however sadly, that’s simply not doable. That’s why it’s important that you simply turn into a competent lag putter.
Being a terrific putter from distance is vastly useful to your scorecard. For those who can eradicate three-putts, you’ll be amazed how shortly your scores plummet. Plus, with out the stress of grinding over four-footers all day, it makes the sport a heck of much more satisfying.
While you face these prolonged putts, it’s essential you make a number of key changes in your stroke to seek out success. For extra on that, we glance again to the April 1985 problem of GOLF Journal the place two-time Masters champ Ben Crenshaw shared his secrets and techniques.
Ben Crenshaw’s lag placing keys
When you might have a really lengthy putt, stand taller to the ball. This will increase the width of your swing arc so you’ll be able to develop the additional drive essential to the stroke with out swinging sooner or utilizing an excessive amount of wrist motion.
Take a wider stance, which is able to allow you to make an extended stroke with out transferring your head from over the ball. Additionally, as you’ll see later, there must be some leg motion on lengthy putts. A wider stance permits you to transfer the legs correctly with out swaying, a fault that makes a strong hit tough.
On an additional lengthy putt, don’t turn into too line-conscious. What’s extra essential is the tempo of the putt. The extra of those putts you’ll be able to lag to inside a foot of the opening, the extra you’ll gap.
That will help you do that, visualize a circle with a four-foot radius across the gap. Then attempt to make the ball end throughout the circle.
Beneath is a step-by-step information for my lag-putting approach.
Backswing
Swing the putter again with the arms. Permit your shoulders to reply to the arm motion in order that they flip, taking the membership again to the within. Notice that the putter blade opens in relation to the goal line. Nevertheless, this isn’t one thing it’s best to attempt to do; it outcomes naturally from the shoulder flip.
Use simply sufficient wrist motion to maintain the motion fluid. You’ll additionally discover that a bit of wrist motion helps you make a easy transition from backswing to downswing.
Relating to the size of the backswing, Bobby Jones made a superb level when he mentioned all the time take a backswing that’s “lengthy sufficient.” A protracted backswing offers you adequate drive within the swing with out your having to alter tempo. A constant tempo on all putts is crucial to good contact. A protracted backswing additionally offers you a easy stroke.
The leg motion within the backswing is just like that of a chip shot of the identical size. There’s just a bit weight shift to the proper foot, with the proper leg staying agency.
Downswing and affect
On the downswing, key on swinging the arms and membership by way of the ball. The shoulders reply to this motion, bringing the membership again from the within to the ball, after which again to the within within the observe by way of.
In the identical approach the flip of the shoulders opened the blade on the backswing, so the flip of the shoulders closes the blade by way of the ball. At affect, the blade is within the strategy of closing, so it’s turning very barely over the ball. I catch the ball a bit of above the equator, and it begins rolling instantly. For those who hit too low on the ball, it skids a great distance earlier than beginning to roll.
With such an extended stroke, you want a bit of leg motion through the ahead swing. For those who tried to maintain your legs nonetheless, you’d stab on the ball moderately than making a easy stroke. By releasing the proper leg to the left, there’s no probability of flipping on the ball along with your wrists and pulling the ball left of goal.
Observe by way of
For those who examine the size of my follow-through on this putt to the size of the backswing, you’ll see they’re mirror photos. That is deliberate.
After I’m stroking a putt, I attempt to really feel as if I’m a part of a metronome: again on a depend of “One,” by way of on a depend of “Two.” This sluggish, even beat retains my stroke easy and rhythmic.
In distinction, for those who attempt to speed up the putter by way of the ball, you shorten the backswing and rush the ahead swing. On quick putts you’ll be able to typically get away with this. However it’s deadly on lengthy putts. You lose your pure tempo and your contact, leaving the ball quick or previous the opening.
A fast summing up. On lengthy putts, stand a bit of taller and wider. Intention for a four-foot circle. Swing again with the arms and shoulders. Use a “lengthy sufficient” backswing with just a bit wrist. Then swing the arms and shoulders by way of, letting the proper knee launch. Preserve the swing as easy as doable with the metronome beat. You then, too, will gap your share of “monsters.”