Importance of speed control for lag putt

[Shorty]

Ben Crenshaw (1980) stated:
"Most amateurs don't know how hard to hit a putt. They are too line-conscious and don't pay enough attention to the speed of a putt. Most three-putt greens are the result of hitting the first putt very long or very short, rather than far to the left or right of the hole."
Woods (2002) stated:
"One of the keys to effective lag putting is a good read with proper speed. That's particularly true on a big breaker. What good does it do me to get the ball rolling on the correct line if I knock it six feet past the hole?"
Sorenstam (2004) stated:
“If your speed is right, it’s almost impossible to three-putt.”
A key factor in determining proper ball speed to travel the distance to the hole is whether it travels uphill or downhill. Some players have a problem in determining ball speed on sloped greens. Editors of Golf Magazine (1973) stated:
"There are thousands of players who are consistently short on every uphill and consistently long on every downhill putt. And we mean every."
It's convenient to imagine a change in hole position to account for the slope of the green. If you are putting uphill, imagine a hole that is farther away. If you are putting downhill, imagine a hole that is closer to you. This imaginary hole position is termed the virtual hole, which defines the effective ball-hole distance required to putt on level ground.
A conventional procedure for reading the green for uphill or downhill putt is to position to the side of the ball-hole line (on the low side) about midway between ball and hole (see attached figure). Estimating the virtual hole location could be made at the same time since it’s slope magnitude and ball-hole distance dependent.

[GolfJunkieSr]

Re: Importance of speed control for lag putt

Don't forget to read the grain, or to put it another way, the direction the grass is growing when calculating the speed needed for the distance required for a putt. Putting with the grain results in a faster, longer putt, against the grain results in a slower, shorter putt when each are hit with the same stroke. The toughest putt most will face is a cross grain putt which is a combination of against, and with the grain. Alot of poor putting problems can be solved with good course management. GJS

[Shorty]

Re: Importance of speed control for lag putt

Don't forget to read the grain, or to put it another way, the direction the grass is growing when calculating the speed needed for the distance required for a putt. Putting with the grain results in a faster, longer putt, against the grain results in a slower, shorter putt when each are hit with the same stroke. The toughest putt most will face is a cross grain putt which is a combination of against, and with the grain. Alot of poor putting problems can be solved with good course management. GJS

You’re quite right about that “grain” influence should not be forgotten! Pelz gives an example in his book: “Grain of the grass can cause a roll difference of 10 feet or more on a 40-foot putt.” Also, Tour Pros keep track of grain direction indicators in their yardage books (see attached).