| The putting stance is another area where golfers | | | | between both feet, with your feet set at a distance |
| display their individuality. Some set up slightly open to | | | | of about 12 inches apart. |
| the ball, while others use a closed stance. Some bend | | | | 3 Align your body, i.e. your shoulders, hips and feet |
| low and some stand almost straight up. The arms | | | | parallel to the line of the putt |
| may be tucked in or flared out. The feet may be | | | | 4 Alignment of the putter's club head is crucial, take |
| close together, or spread wider than shoulder-width. | | | | your time to ensure that it is aiming at the target line |
| Why all the differences? Because of two factors | | | | (which may not always be the hole, where you have |
| common to all putting styles. | | | | to allow for the "borrow" on the greens1). |
| First when putting, every golfer tries to get as | | | | 5 After you are all lined up and in position place your |
| comfortable over the ball as possible-which ought to | | | | left hand on the club, taking time to position the hand |
| breed the confidence needed to make the putt. | | | | correctly, then add your right hand to complete the |
| Second, they are trying to position their eyes directly | | | | grip. |
| over or just inside the ball-to-target line. | | | | Now a good way to practice this is to go onto the |
| So, here's how to assume that winning formula in | | | | practice putting green, and place two 8 foot lengths |
| your set up: | | | | of stringer, parallel to each other, just slight slightly |
| 1 Position the ball just inside your left heel and set | | | | wider than your putter head. Tie each end of the |
| yourself up so that your left eye is directly over the | | | | string to a tee peg to keep the string taught and in |
| ball. You can test this by dropping a ball down the | | | | place. |
| sight line of your left eye. If you are lined up | | | | Now, you can practice your putting stroke by using a |
| correctly, that ball will hit the ball on the ground below | | | | gently left to right rocking movement with the |
| you. | | | | shoulders, so taking the hand and fingers "out of |
| 2 Now try to get comfortable by letting your arms | | | | play". |
| hang naturally, flexing your knees, and bending | | | | Remember, Putt using the upper body and not with |
| forward from the hips. Now wiggle your toes inside | | | | your fingers! |
| your shoes until you balance your weight evenly | | | | |