Putting Tips: Start By Setting Up In An Athletic Position

By Ron Patey

Putting a golf ball can be an exercise in frustration, but like all aspects of the sport, the player that makes an investment in practice time and sticks with a plan increases the odds that lower scores are in his future. Here are some steps on how to become a better putter from golf-industry veteran and teaching professional Chris Bernard.

Set up an athletic position

The first piece of the process that Bernard sends along to players of all ability levels is to set up in an athletic position. The player should be on the balls of his or her feet and the knees are to be flexed slightly. The shoulders, knees and balls of the feet should line up and the player's back must be straight. Whether a player uses an open or closed stance depends on his comfort level, and this applies to the player's posture, too.

Grip the club properly

The next step is to put a proper grip on the club by wrapping the top hand—which is the left hand for right-handed players—near the end of the club with the thumb pointing downward. Follow this hand placement by positioning the right hand on the club beneath the left hand, with the bottom of the right hand slightly covering the thumb on the left hand. The thumb on the right hand should also point downward. Keep the same hand pressure on the club for all distances of putts.

To become a better putter, the player must make sure that the ball is located directly under the dominant eye (everyone has a dominant eye) and the head must be perfectly still. Some players focus on a number or a letter on the ball to accomplish this. Be sure that the ball is situated in the middle of the feet and about eight inches in front of the toes.

Reading the slope of the green

Next up is reading the slope of the green to see which way the ball will move while rolling on its way to the hole. Place the putter behind the ball and use the markings on the club to line up the shot. Most putters feature a line or an arrow on the club head to help players line up putts.

When hitting a putt, the backswing makes up 45 percent of the stroke and the follow-through is 55 percent of the total motion. As the putting stroke is made, the face of the club should accelerate through the ball, eliminating a jerky motion. Be certain to stay focused on the ball and keep the head steady and down. By doing this, the player is pretty much guaranteed to strike the ball properly.

Hands and wrists stabilize putter

Remember that the hands and wrists should combine to stabilize the putter and use the arms and shoulders in a rocking motion when stroking the ball with the club. It's a good idea to start practicing from about two feet away from the cup and then move further away in increments of two feet to get a feel for how the greens are rolling that day.

Upon completion of the putting motion, the head of the putter should be pointing at the target.

Chris Bernard has 40 years of experience in the golf industry. He is the general manager and head teaching professional at Sand Point Golf Course in Braeside, Ontario.

Ron Patey covered the golf industry for 21 years as a special sections editor with Sun Media. During the past five years, Patey has been a golf writer for Examiner.com.