Jake Knapp on Lag Putting – A Simple Lesson from Playing Lessons
Watching the Pros… and Taking Notes
Settle In. Let’s Talk Golf.
The Range
Watching the pros practice… and discovering the little things that make you think, “Wait… why don’t I do that?”
I came across a Playing Lessons clip with Jake Knapp and something simple stood out.
When he talks about lag putting, he isn’t obsessing over putting mechanics.
The focus is speed and feel – getting the ball close enough to make the next one easy.
Sometimes the Tour reminder is simple:
Good putting is mostly great distance control.
Here’s the clip that sparked the thought:
https://youtu.be/IvcYxScHjBg
This clip comes from the Playing Lessons series on GolfPass where Jim “Bones” Mackay walks the course with Jake Knapp and asks questions while the player explains strategy and technique.
In this segment, Knapp talks through how he approaches putting and lag putts, focusing on feel and distance control rather than mechanics.
On the Range with Jake Knapp – Keeping It Simple
Sometimes when you watch PGA Tour players talk about their game, it sounds like rocket science.
Then someone like Jake Knapp shows up and reminds you that a lot of great golf is actually pretty simple.
In this video, Knapp walks through parts of his game – especially around putting and practice – in a way that feels refreshingly normal.
No complicated theories.
No mystical swing secrets.
Just a player explaining how he approaches shots, reads greens, and builds confidence through repetition.
What stands out is how calm and practical his approach is.
He talks about seeing the line, trusting the stroke, and sticking to a routine – the same fundamentals most golfers hear about, but often forget once the scorecard shows up.
Watching him demonstrate putts and explain what he’s looking for makes something clear:
Even PGA Tour players rely on simple cues and feel – not some magical move only pros understand.
And that’s actually good news for the rest of us.
Because the gap between tour players and everyday golfers isn’t always knowledge – it’s usually consistency and trust.
Knapp’s attitude also feels relatable.
He doesn’t come across like a superhero golfer.
He feels like a guy who just happens to be extremely good at something he’s practiced a lot.
Which is exactly why players like him are fun to watch.
We’re not Tiger Woods.
We’re not Scottie Scheffler.
We’re not even Jake Knapp.
But watching players like Jake Knapp reminds us that great golf still comes down to the same fundamentals we’re all chasing:
• Seeing the line
• Trusting the stroke
• Rolling a few more putts than we miss
Simple ideas.
Hard to do.
But worth chasing.
The Range Tip
Small change to try next practice session:
• Focus on speed first on lag putts
• Forget perfect mechanics
• Just get the ball close enough to make the next one easy
Real Talk. Play Better.
Effort builds results.
