[RoverRick]

I have been thinking about this for a week, wondering if this was worthy of a topic or not. Today, the MyGolfSpy staff reviewed the Star Putting alignment trinket and I got to thinking about it again, so here goes.

With my full shots, for many months now I have had a slightly open stance for the driver, which allows me to come throught the ball a little better, and a slightly closed stance with the irons. This helps ensure that I have a slight draw on the irons, especially the long irons, because I hate to hit a weak slice.

Last week, I started putting with a slightly open stance. I noticed, well, the iPing app, noticed that I had a pretty serious closing of the putter face at contact. When I missed a shorter putt, which happens much more than I want, I tend to miss left. OR in an effort to keep from missing left I push it but my natural tendency is to close the putter face. I am typing this as I await the delivery of my new putter so I am taking actions to change this.

But I did notice that if I open my stance slightly at address and focus keeping my putter head traveling along the line of the putt, which of course according to iPing is still opening and closing, I tend to hit the putts on a straighter line. I also can see the line better.

I feel as though my right shoulder is a little lower and I am looking down the line of the putt. And I pose with the putter just like a regular shot. With a full shot, we have all heard to pose for the picture, and I try to do this until the ball lands. With putting I think of pointing the putter at the hole, naturally I do not point it all the way at the hole because that could make me continue until waist high but towards the hole nonetheless and hold that position until the ball drops in the hole, I hope.

So, do you putt with a square stance, or open, or closed? And why?

[jmiller065]

RoverRick, on 20 August 2012 - 03:30 PM, said:

So, do you putt with a square stance, or open, or closed? And why?

I am going to make the assumption that you are talking about your feet alignment to the target line in "stance". I can't answer your questions directly if you are talking about foot alignment.


I personally focus on my upper body at address in putting and full swings. I get my chest/ shoulders square to the target line, I just let my feet fall into a place the feels comfortable to support my upper body. One time I might have a wide stance that feet align open but the shoulders are square, another I might have a narrow stance with the feet aligned closed but the shoulders square. My source of motion in putting doesn't come from my legs it is all movement in the upper body so i feel the upper body alignment in my stroke matters more then my feet.


OT For a second sorry...

I do the same sort of thing with the full swing as well, I want to hit a straight(ish) shot i set my shoulders square and let my feet fall in place. I want to hit a big draw, I'll just get my left wrist bowed down to close the face and make sure I swing a touch easier, still keeping my shoulders square to the initial target line. Cut is the opposite, if just kind to go after it a touch harder and hold the club face open a touch with my left wrist, again my shoulders start square to the initial target line. I work shot shapes by having a target A that I want the ball to start on and a target B that I want the ball to curve towards.

Some people might benefit from a target A and target B on the putting green as well, inside of being in the air visualizing the ball curve, see it rolling and curving with the break. You want to start it at target A and have it turn towards target B (the cup) I tend to use a white or red tracer line in my mind in full shots and putting to visualize the line of play better and what I am attempting to do.

[RoverRick]

Yes, I am talking about foot alignment. In putting I initially did this because it relieved pressure on my back by keeping left foot slightly back, but the line became much more visible. I also still do the Instinct Putting, looking at the hole.

[apprenti23]

Always square.... Open stance and you'll be swinging outside in, closed stance and your path will be inside out. Always square or parallel left of my target line, always..

[wdgolf]

Everything is square for me, my feet, shoulders, and awesome alignment aid on the Nome. I'm actually a damn good putter on perfectly flat surfaces . I really do need help with reading greens...

Keep up this discussion though, we've talked course management to death, definitely need more on putting.

[GolfSpy Matt]

Square putter face, square feet, square hips, square shoulders.

[RoverRick]

Well, I got the new putter and went out on the course to try it out. With the initial post in mind I tried that. This worked very well with the Scottie Squareback I was using last weekend. It has minimal toe flow so with that putter it worked best because it overcame my natural tendencies to open and close the putter.

With the new putter, I was initially shocked. My plan was simple. Tee off, get on the green and then as I walked onto the green I would throw 4 more balls to various parts of the green, putt the first ball out for score, and then throw that ball to a fifth location on the green and try to have 10 putts or fewer to get them all in the hole.

I hit my approach to the first green 5 feet from the hole, and was thinking my first putt with my new putter would be for a birdie. I missed the hole by almost a foot. I got a bogey, and pounded those damned balls all over the green and did not come close to the hole. I eventually had to pick up because of the group behind me.

Off to the next hole, same story, except I made my birdie putt from 10 feet but then had a hard time putting the other balls. I was varying my stance and seeing where the ball placement should be and was not comfortable.

The third hole I made my par only because I hit my approach shot to about 15 feeet and my birdie putt was a foot past the hole but still not really putting the other balls that well. I was stopping all the balls close to the hole but I really did not have the line down.

Finally, on the fourth hole, par 3, after a poor tee shot and an even poorer chip I had 30 'er for par. I decided I was overthinking the whole thing. I relaxed and took aim and with a 2 foot arc on the putt it fell in the hole.

After that I realized that what I wrote in the first post here will not work. My left foot is flared out but it is still square to the line. I made one more bogey and three birdies and played 15 holes before I had to come home in time for dinner. And in the end I was making putts from all over the green and did not miss any inside 10 feet.

I have used either a mallet or an oversized blade putter since Ping came out with the Craz-E G2 putter. This new Scottie at first felt tiny. And at the end of the day felt like a samuri sword compared to a broadsword. It was very delicate and I think I am in love with it. The offset shaft took some getting used to but I have to just ignore it and pay attention to the blade. I think this will be the final piece of the puzzle for me.

It has had all the paint removed from the letters, and has a white regular size grip, where I have always used mid or oversized grips. Towards the end of the evening I felt like I had a scalpel in my hands and could make the delicate cuts I needed with it.

[jmiller065]

Well, like I said I don't think it really matters where you feet are aligned regardless of if you look at the hole or not. Like My give a few examples.
--> Anyone can stand there with my heels and a$$ point at the target turn my chest / shoulders square to the target line and make a stroke, the follow through would be restricted but you could make one long back stroke. If you want to look at the hole turn you head more look over your lead shoulder.

--> Anyone can stand there with my toes / belt buckle pointed at the target like side saddle and turn my shoulders / chest to be square to the target make a stroke. Couldn't get much of a backstroke but the follow through would be on restricted. If you wanted to look at the hole turn your head and look over your lead shoulder.

--> Anyone can stand there with a slight open feet alignment, slight closed feet alignment, square feet alignment and make the same exact motion in the upper body to produce the stroke. Again if you want to look at the hole turn your head and look at it.



I have not seen someone that makes a putting stroke with their lower body. I would guess that most people fall into some category of the true source of motion of the putting being the wrists or arms or shoulders with the goal being to keep the rest of the body very still. I sort of putt like Steve Striker / Tiger Woods using a shoulder motion that is on a tilt which creates a slight arc, the rock turns around the ribs rather then straight back. I try to keep my arms and wrist very still in the stroke and just feel like I rock the shoulders personally.

[R.P. Jacobs II]

apprenti23, on 20 August 2012 - 04:26 PM, said:

Always square.... Open stance and you'll be swinging outside in, closed stance and your path will be inside out. Always square or parallel left of my target line, always..

This.......Always.......


Fairways & Greens 4ever........

[stevenhw8]

apprenti23, on 20 August 2012 - 11:26 PM, said:

Always square.... Open stance and you'll be swinging outside in, closed stance and your path will be inside out. Always square or parallel left of my target line, always..

This!
I noticed that when I'm not square to the target, I tend to "draw" or "cut" my putts as if I was playing an iron.

[RoverRick]

After another day with the new putter, and 22 putts during the round I have come to the conclusion that I need to focus on the hole and getting the ball in the hole. It does not matter. Take a comfortable stance and then put the ball in the hole.

[R.P. Jacobs II]

RoverRick, on 22 August 2012 - 10:55 AM, said:

After another day with the new putter, and 22 putts during the round I have come to the conclusion that I need to focus on the hole and getting the ball in the hole. It does not matter. Take a comfortable stance and then put the ball in the hole.

22 Putts!....Dude, you've replaced JB as my new hero....I couldn't get to 22 putts if I cheated...lol.....

Great job....Don't think about why or how & don't even talk about it!!..Just keep strokin......

Fairways & Greens 4ever......

[RoverRick]

Yeah, but 6 were to save bogey, and a bunch to save par. The focus becomes sharper when you have to make the shot.