PUTTING SETUP AND FITTING

Getting into a correct putting setup position and using a putter that is right for you are two aspects of putting that go hand in hand, explains PGA Professional Mark Officer.

GETTING into a correct putting setup position and using a putter that is right for you are two aspects of putting that go hand in hand.

A putter that actually suits you helps you get into a position where you’ve got the best chance of being able to see the target line correctly by having your eyes either over the ball or close to it (pic 1), which allows you to then aim the putter face correctly.

The correct putting setup requires the proximity of your body to the ball to be comfortable and with the spine angle in such a position that you can reduce the amount of rotation and the amount of arc in your stroke.

The ball position should be located somewhere between the middle of the stance (pic 2) and inside the left heel to help deliver the correct rise angle of the putter head as it meets the ball.

Tour players tend to have a posture between 110°-120° with some bend in their arms (pic 3) and the trail forearm and the shaft of the putter in a straight line, which helps minimise face rotation and make the face stay square to the path.

With these setup keys in place the putter head should be swinging up somewhere between 2°-3° (a correctly fit putter will mean this rise angle is higher than the dynamic loft).

A putter that is too long – the most common tendency for amateurs – is going to put players too far away from the ball (pic 4) and they will be unable to keep their eyes over the ball, while the appropriate lie angle also has an influence on the starting direction of putts. Around 71° is ideal for most players. An upright lie, with the heel of the putter up (pic 5) will promote a pushed putt, while a lie angle that is too flat (pic 6) will mean the putter face begins to rotate too much during the stroke, making centre contact and timing difficult.