Best Way to Practice Your Putting Stance and Posture



You will see many different putting stances, even at professional tournaments. Most players, however, favour a fairly narrow stance, with not more than 12 in (30 cm) between the feet, with the ball just inside a line that is level with the left instep.

This allows the putter to travel parallel to the ground or even slightly on the up at impact, thus getting the ball off to a smooth start. Striking the ball with the club face still on its downward path can make the ball bounce slightly on the surface of the green, causing you to lose control of distance and direction.

Putting Stance Best Way to Practice Your Putting Stance and Posture

The feet, hips, shoulders and eyes should be parallel to the target line on all but the shortest putts, when the feet may be a little open (the left foot withdrawn slightly from the target line).

Many top-class players favour having more of the body’s weight on the right foot, but that is because they can stand very still when putting, and they find it easier to line up if they have their weight more on the right foot (because this causes the head to be behind the ball). As most high-handicappers have great difficulty in remaining completely still during the stroke, they should try placing more weight on their left foot.

Practicing the putting stance:

  • Narrow stance (12 in (30 cm) between feet). Hips, shoulders and eyes should be parallel to the target line. Knees slightly bent. Weight evenly divided between the heels and soles of your feet. Bend over from the waist so that your eyes are over and behind the ball.
  • This stance means that your chin is drawn in towards your body, enabling you to follow the line to the target with your eyes by simply swivelling your head, without in any way disturbing the stance that you have adopted.

Puttering Posture

Keep your knees slightly bent and your weight evenly divided between the heels and soles of your feet. Bend forwards from the waist, so that your eyes are over and behind the ball and parallel with the ground. Your head is then bent over the ball, with your chin drawn in towards your body. You need only swivel your head to follow the line to the target.

Standing correctly – One of the most difficult positions to achieve is to stand the correct distance from the ball, so that when you bend forwards in the address position, your eyes are over the target line and behind the ball.

Practicing posture

Place a ball on a flat surface. Put a small mirror behind the ball and in direct line with the target. Now take your normal putting stance, with the putter behind the ball but not touching the mirror. Arrange your position so that you can see both eyes in the mirror. Your eyes are over the target line and slightly behind the ball.

Putting Stance 1 Best Way to Practice Your Putting Stance and Posture

Move away and then repeat a couple of times until you feel that you know when you are standing correctly to the ball. Then stand to the ball without the mirror, and when you feel that you are standing correctly, get someone to slip the mirror into place. If you can see your eyes in the mirror, then you have taken the correct position.



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