Putting - Alignment is Your Best Friend

 

Your putting stroke isn't great, your touch is still developing, and you have trouble reading greens. Don't feel bad. All those things take time. But you can do something now to improve your putting: proper alignment. It may not sound exciting, but you'll be surprised how many putts you can make with a mediocre stroke when your body and putterface are aimed correctly. It doesn't require athletic ability, so there's no reason your alignment shouldn't be perfect every time.


Choose an Intermediate Target
First and foremost, make sure the putter-face is pointing where it should. That's not easy to do when the hole is 20 feet away, so try this trick: Pick a spot about a foot in front of the ball and directly on the target line and align the putter-face to it. Since the spot is closer, it's easier to check for a square face. Then, simply roll the ball over the spot and it will continue to the hole.

Stance: Never Closed
Once the putter-face is square, position your body so your feet are parallel to the putt's starting line. If your feet are square, there's a good chance your shoulders are, too, so rocking them back and through produces a straight-back, straight-through stroke. Your other option is to open your stance, feet angled left of the target. This makes it easier to see the putt's line but more difficult to position the body to make a straight stroke. However, there is no advantage to setting up with a closed stance; if your feet point right of the target, your perception will be skewed, and you'll find it difficult to start the ball on the proper line.

Eyes Over The Ball
Eye position is one of the most important aspects of good alignment. To be sure the putter-face is square at address, set your eyes directly over the target line. Positioning your eyes outside or inside the target line distorts your view of the line, which encourages improper putter-face alignment. To position your eyes properly, take your stance and drop a ball from the bridge of your nose. The ball you drop should land on the target line. If it doesn't, adjust your posture accordingly.

BACK