Mastering lag putting: Tips to minimise three-putts
As golfers, we've all been there - standing on the green, staring down a lengthy putt, and hoping against hope that we can navigate the break and sink the ball in two strokes or less. But for many of us, three-putting is an all-too-familiar nemesis, one that can quickly derail an otherwise solid round.
So, how can you improve your lag putting and minimize those pesky three-putts? The answer lies in a combination of proper technique, strategic thinking, and mental preparation.
To start, it's essential to develop a consistent pre-shot routine. This will help you focus and align your putter face properly, setting you up for a smooth, pendulum-like stroke. Take your time, and make sure to study the green's topography, grain, and slope to anticipate the ball's path.
When it comes to lag putting, speed is crucial. Aim for a speed that allows the ball to stop within a few feet of the hole, rather than risking a long, breaking putt. And remember, it's always better to err on the side of caution - leaving yourself an uphill putt is generally easier to control than a downhill putt.
Strategically, playing to the center of the green can help minimize the likelihood of a long, breaking putt. And when possible, try to leave your first putt above the hole, making it easier to control the speed of your second putt.
Of course, having the right putter can also make a big difference. Experiment with different putters to find one that suits your stroke and style, and don't be afraid to seek out professional advice if needed.
In addition to proper technique and strategy, mental preparation is also essential for improving your lag putting. Stay present and focused, concentrating on the task at hand rather than worrying about the outcome. Cultivate a positive attitude, reminding yourself that you're capable of making a good putt.
Finally, don't be too hard on yourself if you do happen to three-putt. Instead, take the opportunity to analyze your miss and identify areas for improvement. With practice, patience, and persistence, you can develop the skills and confidence needed to become a more effective lag. Catch you on the fairways!
-Sewgolum is a PGA AA golf professional , Golf Pro for Saudi Aramco and was voted Top 5 International PGA professional for the year 2022
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

IOL News
5 hours ago
- IOL News
Marumo Gallants found guilty – but did Cape Town City get the outcome they wanted?
Gallants in trouble Marumo Gallants have been found guilty of playing an incorrectly registered Monde Mpambaniso during last season's league campaign. Photo: Alche Greeff/BackpagePix Image: Alche Greeff/BackpagePix Relegated Cape Town City's bid to remain in the Betway Premiership has taken yet another knock after the punishment handed out to Marumo Gallants for fielding an incorrectly registered player. After the PSL initially refused to prosecute Gallants over their incorrect registration of Monde Mpambaniso, Cape Town City approached the SAFA arbitration tribunal to force the league to look at the matter. Gallants pleaded guilty when appearing in front of the PSL Disciplinary Committee for the improper registration of Mpambaniso. As a result of the guilty verdict, Gallants will have to pay a fine of R200,000, with 50% suspended for 24 months. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ 'The PSL DC ruled as follows: one, that Marumo Gallants be fined an amount of R200,000, half of which is immediately payable, and the other half suspended for 24 months, on condition that during the period of suspension they are not found guilty of the same offence again,' PSL prosecutor Zola Majavu said on Thursday. 'Should they reoffend, that suspended portion would be triggered immediately, and they will be further sanctioned for that subsequent misdemeanour.' The punishment will not go down well with relegated Cape Town City bosses, who led the charge against Gallants hoping for a points deduction. A points deduction would have seen Gallants finish bottom of the Betway Premiership, resulting in the Citizens retaining their place in the league. This case represented the Cape Town club's last throw of the dice to remain in the top flight after their attempts to buy another club's status did not succeed. It's a bitter pill to swallow for the Capetonians. While the guilty verdict confirms their concerns were valid, the absence of a points deduction means the club must now come to terms with life in the lower division. IOL Sport Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.

IOL News
12 hours ago
- IOL News
New skipper Sibisi: ‘Master Chef' Mbule ready to cook for Orlando Pirates
Master Chef Former Sekhukhune United midfielder Sipho Mbule has been tipped to shine at Orlando Pirates by the club's new captain Nkosinathi Sibisi. Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix Image: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix Recently appointed Orlando Pirates skipper Nkosinathi Sibisi has backed new boys Sipho Mbule and Oswin Appollis to hit the ground running. Sibisi was speaking after the announcement of this weekend's MTN8 fixtures, which will see Ezimnyama Ngenkani begin their title defence against Polokwane City on Saturday. Sekhukhune United will also host TS Galaxy. And on Sunday, Stellenbosch FC welcome AmaZulu to the Western Cape, while Mamelodi Sundowns will tackle Richards Bay. Appollis and Mbule were signed during the off-season, and the supporters will be hoping they can play a key role as the club aims to challenge perennial league champions Sundowns for the title. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Appollis' signing has been greeted with optimism by fans, while they have been more cautious with Mbule, who has a history of poor discipline at his previous clubs. However, new captain Sibisi is confident that South African football fans will witness a Mbule that the country has not seen since his days with SuperSport United. "Of course he is happy, there is no reason not to be happy. He has come to win titles with us," Sibisi said about Mbule, as quoted by KickOff. "That is another quality player. To mention him, he is the Master Chef, so we know what he is capable of, and I think we will all get to witness another Sipho Mbule at Pirates." Sibisi was also keen to see Appollis, who has become a key player with the national team, torment defenders in the upcoming season. "Oswin is a quality player… He is going to add to what we already have. I think it's going to be a special game for him to play against his former team. "I think he is looking forward to winning titles also with us, and it starts on Saturday against his former team." MTN8 Fixtures Saturday: Orlando Pirates vs Polokwane City; Sekhukhune United vs TS Galaxy Sunday: Stellenbosch FC vs AmaZulu; Mamelodi Sundowns vs Richards Bay IOL Sport Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.

IOL News
16 hours ago
- IOL News
AmaZulu kit design styled by ambitious young designer
Oridile Twala, 22, won AmaZulu's 2025/26 kit design competition with a concept celebrating Zulu culture and will now begin a clothing design internship with Primo Clothing. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix 'I questioned if this is a dream, is this real, or am I seeing things? And they verified it with a call,' said Oridile-Thato Twala, winner of the AmaZulu 2025/26 kit design competition. The competition was a collaboration between AmaZulu and Durban-based clothing manufacturer Primo. While in the presence of club owner Sandile Zungu, management staff, media and some Amazulu players, 22-year-old Twala was visibly nervous. However, Zungu reassured him by saying he 'must not feel like an imposter' and should be proud of what he had accomplished. Born and bred in Pretoria, Gauteng, Twala said fashion was not his primary medium, but rather a canvas to showcase his graphic design talents. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading 'I work on other mediums as well — like designs for cars, company logos and motion pictures. I entered with the intention of showcasing my skills on a T-shirt,' said the University of Johannesburg graduate. Twala recently completed a Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design and was currently unemployed, but had was venturing into the business world. His father, Tebogo Twala, is a mining CEO, while his mother, Phyllis Twala, is a manager at a metal company. He also has two sisters — one older and one younger — who, he joked, 'constantly force him to exhibit middle child tendencies'. 'Yes, I have to say I'm guilty of middle child syndrome and constantly look for attention,' he admitted. With two sisters and a high-achieving household, there's little doubt that young Twala has the drive to make a name for himself — whether in art or business. Winning the AmaZulu kit design competition has given him impetus. 'I'm hoping this win can open doors for me and help other brands recognise my work. I also want to use the win to hopefully land some new collaborations and show that I am a versatile artist,' Twala said. Speaking at the event held at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Tuesday, he said: 'The submissions were probably in the thousands. "So, I did a lot of praying. Then I got an email from Travis from Primo. "Is this a dream?,'' he asked himself. 'Once everything was verified, my confidence kind of went up a bit. I reminded myself that it's okay to be here and that submitting the kit design was worth it.' Part of Twala's prize included a clothing design internship with Primo Clothing, based in Durban. Zungu praised Twala's winning design, particularly for how it honours Zulu culture through key elements such as the spear tip and the Umqhele, the traditional headgear worn by Zulu men. 'When the club was originally formed, they went to the royal family to ask permission to use the name, and they gave the team their blessing,' Zungu said. 'So, even today, all these years later, it is still very important to us as a club that we have the Umqhele on our uniform, because it symbolises the great warriors before us.' 'Even you, young Mr Twala — you must wear this win with pride. Do not feel like you have imposter syndrome, because you belong here. We chose your work out of everyone else, and I think it looks quite nice, if I say so myself,' Zungu concluded.