How close should you be to the ball when putting?

The optimum ball position is typically around 8 to 9 inches from your toe-line, the same distance from the hollow in your neck to your eye-line. As the head of most putters are about 4 to 4½ inches long, the distance is about two putter heads.

How far should you bring your putter back?

Put one in the ground at the ball, one about 8 inches behind and one about 8 inches ahead. Try to swing your putter with an even rhythm, not going back past the back tee and not going through beyond the front tee.

Should eyes be over ball when putting?

You might have been told that when you putt, your eyes should be over the ball (above, right). But if you set up that way, your perception of the putting line can get distorted.

Should hands be in front of ball when putting?

It is a good idea to set your hands in front of the ball because such a position will usually lead to a clean roll. If your hands are farther back, you can actually hit a mini-chip shot which bounces along the green before it starts to roll.

Where should you hit the ball when putting?

It should always be in the front center of your stance. For really long putts which require a longer stroke, you can move it back slightly back. But for the most part, keep it consistently front of center. This will help you hit the ball at the right of your stroke and produce the most topspin.

What is the proper stance for putting?

Putting Stance – Video Summary

The width of your stance should be roughly hip-width with the feet pointing forward (not splayed out). The golf ball should be positioned slightly ahead of the centre of your stance – similar to the position you'd address it with a 6-iron.

Should putter be flat on ground?

Perfect Fit

You know your putter fits you when the sole of the club lies flat on the ground when your eyes are over the ball at setup. You're ready to roll the ball off the sweet spot— just as the putter was designed!

Should your elbows touch your body when putting?

Interlace your fingers, clasping your hands in front of you. Then, get into your putting posture, and place your hands over your belly button, your elbows bent outward at 45 degrees. Keeping your lower body quiet, engage your core muscles and use them to rock your arms and shoulders back and forth.

How far apart should your feet be in a golf swing?

Your feet need to be shoulder width apart, with the weight on the balls of the feet. This will help provide good stability. Stand too narrow and you'll fall over - or subconsciously swing less to stay balanced. Stand too wide, and your body won't be as free to strike the ball powerfully.

Should you break your wrists when putting?

There is an exception to not breaking your wrists. In a long putt you may need to break them in order to generate enough power to get your ball to the hole. However, in long (lag) putting it is the correct distance rather than pin-point accuracy that you are seeking.

Should you choke down on a putter?

The longer the putting stroke, on the short putts, the more chance there is for a deceleration into the ball and the putter face getting offline. Choking down on the putter will allow you much more solid struck putts when attempting those important winning putts.

Does Sergio Garcia putt with his eyes closed?

Sergio Garcia has used a technique of putting with his eyes closed during his career. He discusses the method and why it's worked for him in the past.

Where should your eyes be in putting mirror?

Ideally, you would like your dominate eye over the top of the ball. If you are right eye dominate, then your left eye would be slightly in front of the ball and out of the mirror.

How far off ground should putter be?

The standard face height of putters is one inch and this puts the sweetspot vertically at a height of half an inch. A golf ball is 1.680 inches in diameter with its equator at a height around 0.84 inches. If you place your putter against the ball, the sweetspot of your putter will be lower than the equator of the ball.

Where should my weight be when putting?

Your weight should be on the balls of your feet rather than on your heels or toes. If your weight is either too far back on your heels or too far forward on your toes, your putter path will tend to follow the direction that your weight is tilted rather than that of your aimline.

How long should a putting stroke be?

The length of your backswing should be the same as the length of your follow through. The rhythm of your putting stroke should always stay the same. You'd have the same rhythm for short 3 feet putts as you would for long 30 feet putts – the length of your putting stroke will determine the distance you hit each putt.

Does a wide stance help in golf?

Benefits Of A Wide Golf Stance

When you have a wide base, your lower body is going to be well planted into the ground, and you will have a stable base of support to get the speed that you need. In addition, golfers often find that they can get a more powerful and wider turn when they have a wider golf stance.

Where do you place your feet to drive a golf ball?

For each of the longer clubs, place the ball about a half an inch toward your front foot. Place the ball slightly inside the front foot using a driver.

Is my golf stance too wide?

Check Your Right Shoe. Looking at the swing from down the line, if you're stance is too wide you will typically be pushing off your right side in an effort to get your weight back to the left. You can check for this by seeing how your right foot looks at follow through.

How can I make my putter head steady?

KEEP YOUR SPEED CONSTANT. Picture a pendulum swinging back and through, and note how the length of the backswing and follow-through are the same. That's exactly how you want to swing your putter. This will encourage the putterhead to travel at an even pace and reach its top speed just before impact, not after.

Why does Dustin Johnson touch his elbow?

By holding his right arm against his body, he's effectively pinning his arm against his body, so it stays tucked close to his torso. That allows the arms to swing the putter more inside on the backswing and start the ball on line as it comes through. “I've been working hard getting more comfortable over it,” DJ said.

How should putter sit at address?

The correct set-up is one in which the golfer is bending the upper body from his hips so that his eyes are positioned parallel to the target line. In this position, the golfer's forearms and the shaft of the putter should be in a straight line with the elbows and upper arms connected to the sides.

What happens if putter is too flat?

"A lie angle that is too flat will cause a player to reach for the ball and his hands will move out from under the shoulders," Pelz told Golf World in 2010. "That leaves the putter swinging around the body instead of along the proper path.