Nina Caldwell
Golf is a game of precision, and putting is an art form that can make or break your performance on the green. Golf Digest offers a treasure trove of tips and insights to help golfers of all levels master the craft of putting. From basic techniques to secrets of the trade, Golf Digest provides the tools to elevate your game. The key to success lies in understanding the fundamentals, such as stance, aim, and hand positioning, while also exploring advanced strategies like the triangle method and harnessing the power of gravity. With guidance from experts like Joe Plecker and insights from top golfers, you can gain the confidence and skill to sink those putts with style. So, whether you're a beginner seeking to build a solid foundation or an experienced player looking to refine your technique, Golf Digest is your trusted companion on the journey to putting excellence.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Triangle shape | The putterhead creates the triangle's base and the grip end is the point |
| Triangle shape during the stroke | Keep the triangle shape intact during the stroke |
| Tension | Eliminate pressure throughout the body to relieve tension |
| Position | Place the ball slightly forward to ensure the ball is past the bottom of the arc |
| Putterhead | Let the putterhead fall |
| Comfort | Remain comfortable in your posture long after the ball has gone |
| Four lines | Check the four parallel lines of putting |
| Stance | Maintain stance width |
| Ball position | Position the ball |
| Hands | Get your palms opposing |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Position the ball
The first thing to consider when putting is aim. Putterface aim is determined by the front-to-back ball position. Each player has a front-to-back position that corresponds to perfect aim. If the ball is in front of that spot, the putter is aimed left; if the ball is behind it, the aim is to the right. A one-inch change shifts the aim by three inches for every 10 feet. Place the ball where it feels right, then ask a friend to check from behind if the face is aimed at the hole or left or right. Adjust accordingly.
Once you have established your aim, you want to take advantage of it by swinging the putter in line. This is determined by the near-to-far ball position. If you stand too close to the ball, you will make an out-to-in stroke. Most tour pros stand 2¼ to 2¾ putter heads from the inside edge of the ball to the toe line. Putter heads range from 4¼ to 4½ inches long. To confirm your distance is good, ask a friend to make sure your putter head tracks slightly to the inside on the backstroke and inside again after impact.
After you have determined your aim and distance, you must maintain your stance width. If you widen your stance, your head moves back relative to the ball, which effectively moves the ball position forward and shifts the aim to the left. Conversely, if you narrow your stance, your head moves forward, which moves the ball back and shifts the aim to the right. The best guideline on stance is to make it comfortable.
Finally, you need to get your palms opposing. The position of your hands largely determines if you return the putterface to square at impact. If the thumbs are on top of the grip with your palms opposing, or facing each other, you have the best chance of getting back to square. If the hands are too far on the left side of the grip, the face will tend to fan open on the backstroke and be open at impact, causing a miss to the right. If the hands are too far to the right side, the face will tend to over-rotate on the forward stroke and be closed at impact, causing a miss to the left.
Performance Golf: Legit or Scam?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Measure your distance
With your aim set, you want to take advantage of it by swinging the putter in line. This is determined by the near-to-far ball position. If you stand too close to the ball, you'll make an out-to-in stroke. Too far away, and the stroke path will be in to out. Most tour pros stand 2¼ to 2¾ putter-heads from the inside edge of the ball to the toe line. Putter-heads range from 4¼ to 4½ inches long. To confirm your distance is good, have a friend make sure your putter-head tracks slightly to the inside on the backstroke and inside again after impact.
Once you establish aim and ball position, your feet must stay in place. If you widen your stance, your head moves back relative to the ball. This effectively moves the ball position forward, which shifts the aim to the left. If you narrow your stance, your head moves forward. That effectively moves the ball back—and shifts the aim to the right. The best guideline on stance is to make it comfortable. Some players flare their feet, some like them toed in. Both are fine. Width is personal, too.
To get into your address position, place your feet and take your grip, then stand upright and point the club out in front of you. The shaft should be an extension of your arms. Then draw your elbows in until they touch your sides. To keep the shaft in line with your forearms, your wrists will be arched.
Golf Etiquette: Don't Be Nasty, Be Classy
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Get your palms opposing
The triangle method is a popular way to teach the putting stroke. It involves creating a triangle shape with your arms and shoulders, with the base pointing down at the ball. The goal is to maintain this triangle throughout the stroke.
To achieve this, it is important to focus on the position of your palms. One way to visualise this is to think of your palms as opposing mirrors. As you hold the club, your palms should face each other, with your right palm facing the target and your left palm facing you. This is known as the "palms opposing" position.
For right-handed golfers, the correct left-hand grip is crucial. The golf grip should cross through the fingers diagonally and exit between the pinky finger and the pad of the left palm. This gives full freedom of movement to the wrists, which is essential for power in the swing.
The right-hand grip is just as important. Align the palm of your right hand with the shaft, parallel to the clubface. This positions your dominant hand in direct alignment with the clubface, resulting in a powerful and accurate stroke.
To perfect your putting stroke, practice drills that focus on the "palms opposing" position. One such drill is the natural fall drill. Set up on a green next to the collar with the ball a foot into the fringe. Hold the putter with just your trail hand and swing it back with your wrist, then let it drop to make the ball pop up and roll. Repeat this drill with your lead hand, and finally practice two-handed putts, feeling the free-fall sensation.
Golf R: DCC Standard or Optional?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Flip the triangle
The "triangle" is a fundamental concept in golf that can significantly improve your game. It refers to the triangular relationship between your arms and shoulders during the swing. This swing thought can help you maintain the correct swing plane and aid in extension back and through the ball.
To visualise the triangle, imagine a triangle formed between your left and right shoulders and your hands. The left arm should remain straight, forming the base of the triangle, while the right arm is bent, forming one side, and the shoulders form the other. It is important to keep this triangle shape intact during the entire swing, especially during the takeaway, to generate power and consistency in your strokes.
One common mistake is using too much shoulder and arm action, which creates an inconsistent power source. Instead, you should let gravity do the work. To practice this, set up on a green and hold the putter with just your trail hand. Swing it back with your wrist and then let it drop to make the ball pop up and roll. Repeat this drill with your lead hand and then practice two-handed putts, feeling the free-fall sensation.
By flipping the triangle, you can achieve a more powerful and accurate shot. This technique emphasises using bigger muscles, which are easier to control, and creates a wider arc for the clubhead, increasing clubhead speed and generating more energy to transfer to the ball.
Golf: Brands' Next Big Opportunity?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Check these four lines
The four parallel lines of putting are the final check before you make your putt. The first line is from the ball to the target, your intended line. The second line is your eye line, which should be parallel to the first line. If your eye line points left or right, your aim will shift. The third line is the shoulder line. If your shoulders are open or closed, the stroke will go left or right. To square your shoulders, set your head above your stance centre. The fourth line is the line of your forearms. Because one hand is lower on the grip, pay extra attention to this line being parallel to the others.
To get into your address position, place your feet and take your grip, then stand upright and point the club out in front of you. The shaft should be an extension of your arms. Then, draw your elbows in until they touch your sides. To keep the shaft in line with your forearms, your wrists will be arched.
The act of making a putting stroke is a simple art. The basics can make or break you on the green. Get those right, and much of your technique will fall into place. It will free you up to focus on what's happening on the green itself, and breed the kind of comfortable confidence that all great putters have.
The feeling of the putterhead during the stroke should be one of letting the putterhead fall. All acceleration is due to gravity. When players try to jam the putter through, it twists the clubhead open or closed, affecting their distance control and direction.
Le Fleur: A Guide to the Language of Flowers
You may want to see also
