Frame your Putting Stroke
Nothing’s more frustrating than putting a ball offline. Instead of sinking the putt, you leave yourself with a tap in, even though you had the right distance. If the green is sloped away from you, you drift several feet away from the hole, with a difficult putt coming back. Either way, you’re adding strokes to your score.
Lining up your ball properly is a key to putt well. No matter how close or far you are from the cup, if the put isn’t lined up properly, it has no chance of going in, even if you have the right speed. And compensating in mid-stroke for misaligning the putt seldom works, if ever.
Many weekend golfers try to push or pull the ball to get it on target instead of starting square and trusting their stroke. They sideswipe the ball, send it off line, and have problems with distance control. Instead, line up your putts by using this visual device. Try framing the ball.
Next time you’re putting, picture a framing square as it relates to your putter and your line. The vertical part of the tool should be parallel to the face of your putter, and the horizontal part should be parallel to the target line. Keep the putter on line and the face square, and the ball will go where you aim it.
Here are 5 other keys to keeping your putts on line:
- Position your eyes over the ball
- Remain still during your putt
- Square up your shoulders
- Keep you hands over (or just ahead) of the ball
- Form a neutral union of your hands
If your putting is offline, it can be frustrating. Use the framing square to line up the putt and commit to the five keys mentioned above If everything is in order, trust your stroke and make a good putt, accelerating through impact. Almost half of all your strokes during a round of golf are putts. Keep them to a minimum and your will reduce your scores.
Article used with permission from Jack Moorehouse, who has developed a unique and proven handicap slashing system. If you want to get your handicap down to a respectable level then he can help. Golf doesn’t have to be so difficult and his goal is to help you put the “fun” back in your game.
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