So anywhere between 20 and 30 feet you should stop thinking of a single putt, and plan on leaving yourself in the best possible position for a second putt to be a tap in.



Making a long shot is as much luck as it is your skill or great aim, it is highly likely that you will miss this putt and your best chance is to make it in two putts.

Most golfers have no trouble controlling direction, recognizing the break and keeping the ball on line in a long putt.

The trouble comes in the length of the putt, leaving it either to far from the hole or hitting it way past the hole.

It is important in the instance to concentrate your efforts on distance, not necessarily the side to side movement.

Shoot for a realistic target, dont try to get it in the hole, aim it with the intention of getting it in an imaginary 6 foot circle around the hole, that way you are looking at a maximum 3 foot second putt.

Check the terrain, is it uphill, down hill or side hill, you dont have to walk all the way to the hole to determine this.

At the start of this shot, the side hill wont matter much, as the ball slows near the hole is when this will become a problem.

Try to make the same shot you would on a shorter putt, clean and smooth.

The stroke may need to be longer and you should be prepared to by generating a little lower body motion, it isnt easy to avoid this in longer putts, trying to stop it will add tension. Let yourself make a long, natural swing.