Putting technique

1

Let’s start with the putting fundamentals. Your eyes don’t need to be directly over the ball. However, it’s important they are somewhere in the region of the boundaries of the ball. Stand too far away and your eyeline will be pointing too far to the right. You’re likely to then aim right and push your putts. If you stand too far over the ball, your eyes will start to track left and you’re likely to aim left and pull your putts. Drop a ball from where your eyes are, as above; if it lands on or close to the ball on the ground, you’re in a good position.

2

In putting, you don’t want a lot of excessive hip movement during the stroke. Take a hip-width stance and imagine your lower body is encased in concrete to avoid unhelpful movement. 3

This drill will establish whether you’re able to consistently start the ball on line. Place two tee pegs a foot in front of you at address, a ball to a ball-and-a-half’s width apart. Hit ten putts and see how many you can cleanly get through the gate. Most golfers have a pattern. If you’re consistently hitting the ball through the middle, then you’re starting the ball on line. However, if you hit the right peg three or four times, for example, you know that something in your set-up or stroke is causing a push.