Your Game
AIM
AND
GO
Square your putterface to the target line to watch
your scores fall | Photography by SCoTT K. BroWn
by roB McnaMara, Pga, with liSa D. MiCKeY
T
he notion of keeping things simple
sometimes seems difficult when it
comes to putting, but there is one key
requirement if you want to sink more
putts and improve your game.
Ultimately, the putterface needs to be square
or perpendicular to the target line, particularly
on short putts. Sound putting is a responsive
move analogous to driving a car or signing your
name. Think about it: When you’re behind the
wheel of a vehicle, you steer and react to the road.
Likewise, if you’re penning your signature, you
look at the piece of paper and let your hand use
the writing object to naturally move along the
piece of paper.
Practicing with
alignment aids will
help you build a
repeatable motion.
Good putting begins before the stroke
is made. By setting your club square
to the aim line at address, you have a
good chance of sinking a lot of putts.
The same concepts apply to
putting. Golfers who make a lot of
putts are instinctual in their motion.
YES
First, they use their eyes to aim the
top line of your putterhead to the
target line, then look back at the ball and stroke
the putt with little compensatory motion. It’s ideal
to aim the face accurately and return the head to
the same position in a square-to-square action.
Like most accurate free throw shooters in
the game of basketball, the best putters tend
to