Best Way to Learn the Putting Stance

Most club golfers make the mistake of not having putting lessons, often on the assumption that you can either putt naturally or you can’t at all. But there is plenty to learn about putting.

• Sit the putter flat on its bottom without tipping your hands forward. The ball should be positioned just ahead of centre in your stance and directly under your eyes. Use a comfortable width of stance with your feet roughly the width of your hips. The elbows should feel slightly turned backwards and into your body, the inside of your arms facing forward.

• The correct length of putter is crucial for a good address position. Your feet should be parallel to the line of your putt, the club sitting flat on its bottom, your wrists slightly arched. Your eyes should be directly over the ball, standing tall but with your head horizontal. If your putter is too long you will find it difficult to get your eyes over the ball in the correct position.
• The putter head should sit flat on its bottom. This helps to keep the club travelling back and through with a straight stroke. Make sure you position the ball in the middle of the clubface at address. You will see later how to adjust this for sidehill putts. But for a straight putt, address the ball in the middle of the clubface and hit it from the middle of the clubface.
• When you address the ball there should always be a little gap- say l cm between the putter head and the ball so there is no danger of wobbling it. Hold the club very slightly off the ground – it should feel as though it hangs from your arms and shoulders, so that you are very definitely supporting its weight before you make your swing. A putter should always swing just above the ground, never brushing the grass. Never hold the club too loosely. Always hold it firmly enough so that you are in control of the putter at address. Certainly never lean on it.

• Use a putter with a line on. Check that the line corresponds with the sweetspot of the putter and position the ball directly opposite.