Can you Aim your Putter?
1. Putting Aim String
We talk much about the actual putting stroke but often neglect one of the most important aspects of putting. We often assume we aim the putter at our target just fine. Have you ever checked out how you are doing aim-wise? The hardest thing about putting (and the game of golf) is that we stand aside the ball and hit it approximately 90 degrees left or right of where our body is facing. Not being aimed at your target forces the player to make adaptations in their stroke. Better aim will limit variables allowing you to produce a more flowing putting stroke in turn making more putts.
Do the elite players have perfect aim? Not always but the majority are darn close. Tiger Woods was known to have an aiming bias of 1 degree right of his target allowing him to then rotate the putter face 1 degree left through the ball for a net of zero. The fact is he did this on every putt therefore was able to consistently start his ball rolling at his target a high percentage of the time. What does 1 degree equal?
(Distance/5) X (Error in Degrees) = Amount of Miss in Inches
Examples
- If Sam is 30 feet from the hole and aims 3 degrees left of his target he will miss his target by 18 inches left IF he does not alter his putting stroke mechanics.
- If Anna is 10 feet from the hole and aims 2 degrees right of her target she will miss by 4 inches right IF she does not alter her putting stroke mechanics.
- If Tiger is 20 feet from the hole and aims 1 degree right of his target he will miss his target 4 inches right IF he does not alter his putting stroke – fortunately for Tiger he inherently does by closing the putter face through the ball. His net is zero. His practice regimen was a little stronger than most and he certainly got away with it.
Starting the ball on your desired line is one of the “Big 3” in putting. Improving your aim will help you make more putts – especially from short distances. Do you have to be perfect? No, but the smaller number of misalignments the less you will have to compensate, which will improve your consistency. If your net is zero like Tiger you are fine but as the numbers get bigger it gets more challenging to net zero.
What can you work on?
- I recommend working on very short putts, 1-3 feet, practicing aiming the putter through the ball at the center of the hole. This may shed some light on whether you have an aiming bias. A small bias is not bad but you should know what it is.
- Practice using an above-ground aiming string. Tie two pencils, one at each end on a 6-foot string. Place one pencil in the ground behind the hole, align the string over the center of the hole, and place the other pencil in the ground. Place the ball directly under the string and ensure that the string is directly above your aim line on your putter. Roll a few putts. If the ball takes off on either side of the string you have an aiming bias.
- There are plenty of putting lasers on the market as well and with a partner, you would be able to measure your aiming accuracy. Aim your putter through a ball at an above-ground target. When you feel you are aimed swap the golf ball for a laser device and see how you did.
- Putt on a yardstick OR off of a T-Square – aiming biases will also be very apparent.
A PGA Professional can coach you on this as well. Anyone can be an elite putter – don’t just settle for mediocrity on the putting green this upcoming season. We have a great group of experienced golf instructors here at Somersett. We have 3 PGA Professionals (Rob, Corey, Stuart) and an LPGA Professional (Brandy). It would be our pleasure to assist you in playing better golf. There has never been a better time to join Somersett G&CC. Contact our Membership/Marketing Director to get current pricing.
See you soon – Stuart